Sun spots on your skin are sometimes called age spots, liver spots, or solar lentigo. These discolorations appear as a flat, brown area that resembles a freckle, but larger, and are caused by exposure to the sun. These spots usually appear on the areas of your body most often exposed to the sun: the face, backs of the hands, chest, and forearms.
Preventing Sun Spots
UV rays from the sun that come into contact with your skin cause damage. Most of us don’t realize that our skin is damaged on some level unless there is a noticeable result, like sunburn. But any sort of skin darkening is the result of cells being damaged by the sun. Melanin production makes our skin appear darker in areas where it was exposed to the sun. Even when the sun is hidden by clouds, or if it’s cold outside, UV rays are still coming into contact with your skin wherever it is exposed.
Preventing sun spots means keeping UV rays away from your skin. There are different ways to protect your skin, and they work best when used together.
- Sunscreen – Always wear sunscreen. Every day that the sun rises is a day your skin may be exposed. Apply more than you think you need since it’s not easy to see if there is enough or whether you’ve missed a spot. Consider a mineral-based sunscreen like zinc oxide to avoid any possible skin irritation.
- Makeup – If you wear makeup or use moisturizer, choose products that include sunscreen. It’s an easy way to create a good habit.
- Protective Clothing – Cover up, if possible. Wear long sleeves and a hat to minimize sun exposure. Even though the sun can bounce off pavement, concrete, or water and into your face, a hat does offer some protection.
- Keep It Shady – When you are outside, seek shade. From umbrellas to porches, shade will help keep the sun spots away.
- Come Out at Night – The best way to protect your skin from the sun is to stay out of the sun. Minimize the time you spend outside during the hottest, brightest times of day.
Treating Sun Spots
Step one in treating sun spots is preventing more of them. In addition to the prevention techniques mentioned above, there are several effective ways to treat sun spots, depending on your budget and how numerous and severe the spots are.
- Natural Treatments – These involve gentle bleaching of the skin through natural ingredients. This includes lemon juice, aloe vera plants or gel, honey, vitamin E, green tea, and buttermilk. These are all great for your skin alone or in combination, but it may take some time to see a difference.
- Over-the-Counter or Prescription Bleaching Creams – Stronger creams that bleach the skin will fade sun spots faster than the natural treatments we mentioned. Hydroquinone is one effective chemical found in fade creams. Retinoid cream and antioxidants also work well.
- Laser Treatments and Intense Pulse Light (IPL) – For the fastest and best results, light therapy by laser or IPL (photorejuvenation) can eliminate sun spots and sun damage, promoting healthy, glowing skin. In these therapies, the top layer of skin is stimulated so that new growth replaces the damaged skin.
The Atlantic Center of Aesthetic & Reconstructive Surgery offers advanced skin treatments and procedures by our experienced and talented physicians. Call the Atlantic Center today at (954) 983-1899 or request an appointment online. We have locations in Florida in Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Weston, Boynton Beach, and Naples, and in St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands.
