Age Spots Home Remedies & Treatments
Age spots or liver spots are the blemishes on the skin, which occur most frequently on the back, shoulder, hands, and face of the people. These flat brown or black spots are more common in those with a fair complexion. There are many factors leading to the occurrence of age spots in people over the age of 40, but the common ones include overexposure to UV rays, increasing age, and genetics. Although these spots may look like cancerous growths, more often than not, they are harmless.
Age Spots Diagnosis
There are two ways in which an age spot can be diagnosed. One is through a visual inspection by your doctor, and the other one involves a skin biopsy. If your doctor finds anything suspicious during the visual inspection, he can suggest a lab test. For this, a sample of the affected skin area is taken for lab examination to test for cancer and other abnormalities.
Age Spots Symptoms
Age spots have many symptoms with which they can be easily identified. Some of them are as follows:
- The appearance of flat, oval areas of increased pigmentation on the skin in black, brown and tan colors.
- Occur mostly on the skin exposed to the sun; like the back of hands, top of your feet, face, shoulders and upper back.
- Can vary in size – from as small as a freckle to ½ inch. Sometimes, age spots group together to form more prominent appearances.
- Have the same texture as the rest of the skin.
- Are painles
Age Spots Causes
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, age spots are formed due to prolonged exposure to the sun. This causes deposition of melanin beneath the skin, which leads to the appearance of age spots on the skin. No exercise, unhealthy diet, consumption of stale oils and faulty liver functions are some other reasons that can lead to age spots. Overexposure to ultraviolet rays from tanning beds can also result in these spots, thereby making it necessary to take extra precaution while getting yourself that tan, naturally or unnaturally.
Medical Treatments
There are also a number of medical treatments available to lighten or remove the age spots. The pigment causing age spots is located at the base of the epidermis (the topmost layer of the skin), making it necessary to penetrate this layer for any treatment.
Chemical Peel
This involves the application of an acid that burns the outermost layer of your skin, and so the age spots. After the treatment, new and flawless skin forms while replacing the burned skin.
Laser and Intense Pulsed Light Therapy
This therapy works to destroy melanin-producing cells without causing any damage to the skin’s surface. This treatment requires more than one sessions to fade away the age spots. Laser Therapy also has a few side effects, like slight discoloration of the skin.
Home Remedies For Age Spots
There are several effective medical treatments recommended by dermatologists for removal or reduction of age spots. They are effective, but can sometimes be harsh. This is because the treatments are done using chemicals that may be detrimental to your health in some way. Fortunately, there are several home remedies known to reduce or remove age spots. They sometimes take a little longer in treating age spots but are not heavy in your pocket and have no side effects as well. Let’s take a look at some of the proven home remedy options to get rid of these unwanted blemishes;
Freezing (cryotherapy)
In this treatment, liquid nitrogen is applied to the age spots. This destroys the extra pigment and thereby helps the skin to get rid of spots. A point to note here is that freezing can also pose a slight risk of permanent scarring or discoloration.
Lemon Juice and Yogurt
Both lemon Juice and yogurt act as a bleaching agent as they help in lightening these spots. Other properties of lemon like citric acid, anti-antioxidants, etc. also help in fading away from the dark spots.
Onion and Apple Cider Vinegar
Blend an onion and drain it, with the help of a strainer, into a bowl. Mix an equal amount of apple cider vinegar to this and apply over the spots with a cotton swab dipped in this decoction. This will certainly help in removing the age spots. You can also apply onion separately on the spots given to its Vitamin C rich
Olive Oil and Vinegar
A mixture of olive oil and vinegar can be used to erase the age spots. This mixture should be washed off with water within half an hour of its application.
Buttermilk and Tomato
Due to the presence of acid in buttermilk and tomato, they prove to be very beneficial in removing age spots. Not just that, they also act as an effective cleanser.
Orange Juice and Apple Cider Vinegar
2 to 3 spoons of orange juice can be mixed in a half spoon of apple cider vinegar. If this mixture is applied on the spots for about a month, you can expect a visible result.
Papaya
Papaya pulp can be rubbed on the spotted area. Wash it off after 15-20 minutes of its application. Daily use of this remedy will help yield maximum results.
Watermelon
Rich in antioxidant compounds and vitamin C, rubbing the rind of a watermelon on the age spots will help improve the condition.
Rose Water and Sandal Powder
Make a paste of these two and then apply it on the affected areas. Leave it to dry for some time, and then wash it with fresh water.
Radish, Vinegar, Lime Juice and Rosemary Oil
A concoction of lime juice, radish, rosemary oil and vinegar is prepared and applied to the affected area. This not only cleanses the skin but also brightens its color and glow.
Cucumber Juice
The bleaching properties of cucumber’s organic compounds help improve the appearance of the skin by reducing age
Garlic
Paste made of garlic has been observed to be efficient in treating age spots.
Watermelon
Rich in antioxidant compounds and vitamin C, rubbing the rind of a watermelon on the age spots will help improve the condition
