Dark Spots / Aging Spots
What causes dark spots or age spots?
They are usually cause by pigment cells that are overactive. It's a normal sign of aging. It's exacerbated by sun exposure, as UV rays speeds up the production of melanin, a natural pigment that gives skin its color. With aging skin, age spots appear when melanin begins to clump or is produced in high concentrations.
The best and most effective ways to help fight age spots and hyperpigmentation.
As a person gets older they begin to notice signs of aging including the appearance of age spots and other pigmentation from various factors including years of sun damage to the skin. Depending on the severity of the hyperpigmentation and the condition of the individual’s skin, some dark spots may diminish completely, as others may only lighten slightly.
What are the best ways to fade or diminish age spots?
Chemical Peels. A powerful approach to removing the top layers of skin, taking several treatment sessions to see results. Salicylic, Glycolic, Lactic Acids and TCA are superficial peels used to lighten and at times diminish dark spots and hyperpigmentation on the skin.
Glycolic. This fruit peel is done roughly every 3 weeks for up to 6 sessions.
Lactic. With several treatments every 3 weeks, this peel is gentler for those with more sensitive skin.
Salicylic. Removes the top layer of skin, reduces inflammation and can reduce the chance of post inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
TCA. With a deeper penetration damaging and removing more skin cells, this treatment will need monthly sessions to show ideal results.
Turmeric. This bright yellow antioxidant contains the active ingredient curcumin which is responsible for the many health benefits that turmeric provides, including its natural anti-inflammatory properties. By applying topically on the skin, turmeric not only helps prevent free radical damage but also removing dark spots. Restore your skin’s natural glow by adding lemon juice into a mixture, applying the paste for fifteen minutes then rinsing.
Medications. These prescription bleaching creams are at times paired with mild steroids and retinoids and gradually fade away the hyperpigmentation with continuous use. Ingredients such as Hydroquinone which is known to lighten dark patches and age spots on the skin and is suggested by most skincare professionals to achieve a more even complexion. Typically, it’s instructed to apply on the entire face rather than as a spot treatment which may leave skin looking blotchy and uneven.
Cryotherapy. A swab of liquid nitrogen is placed on the specific area destroying the dark spot cluster after several seconds with this pain free approach.
Microdermabrasion. This less aggravating approach to the removal of hyperpigmentation is done by a series of sessions sanding the surface layer of the skin exposing a fresh and even looking skin tone each time.
Antioxidants
In whatever form you take them, antioxidants fight sun damage exposure and melanin issues. Antioxidants will go so far as to clear skin completely and remove dark spots. There are a lot of foods, supplements and serums that will provide the needed antioxidants to correct this. It just depends on which forms (food, supplements, serums) you'd like to word with. For ideas, see our page on antioxidants.
Benefits of Antioxidants in minimizing dark spots:
Improves elasticity
Reduces the appearance of wrinkles
May improve psoriasis
Detoxifies the body
Boosts the immune system
Are there foods to eat that will help speed the lightening process up?
Some foods are known not only to leave skin looking and feeling healthy from the inside out but are effective at gradually diminishing dark spots and hyperpigmentation when paired with other treatment options.
Berries. These encourage collagen production and cell turnover leaving skin with a brighter, healthy glow. Strawberries and blueberries are great for improving the skin.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids. With healthy circulation and keeping skin hydrated, these Omega-3’s also have the ability to defend against free radicals that can cause unwanted dark spots.
Tomatoes. A dose of vitamin A (retinol) will help produce new skin cells allowing for newer, healthier looking skin to take over. Adding tomatoes to a spinach salad containing other skin healthy vitamins and antioxidants can not only improve the appearance but also the texture.
How soon will dark spots typically fade?
Fading dark spots takes time and patience as well as approximately six to twelve months for a more noticeable change with dark spots that appear several shades darker than their skin tone. Those dark spots that are deep down in the skin will most likely take much longer to fade as they’re not as close to the surface and are instead penetrating deeper under layers.