Age Spots

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One of these days, do you find yourself glancing worriedly at your own hands, face, shoulder and neck.Unprotected skin, on being excessively exposed to UV rays- whether from a tanning booth, a sunlamp or years of going without sunscreen, protects itself by producing an overabundance of melanin-the pigmented cells in your skin- resulting in uneven patches.

Age spots known medically as lentigos and seborrhoeic keratoses are brown patches which commonly appear on the back of the hands the face and the back.There are certain chemical substances called psoralens, present in foods such as parsley, limes and parsnips that may cause age spots.

When you handle these foods and then go out in the sun, your skin may be more sensitive and burn more easily where the psoralens touched it. When perfumes or lotions containing musk or bergamot oil are applied to sun-exposed areas, they can produce age spots.

Antibiotics such as tetracycline (Achromycin), some diuretics (water pills) and antipsychotic medicines such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine) will also cause your skin to produce age spots when it is not protected from the sun.

Heredity, to some extent is also responsible for excess melanin production in the skin.
If you have just a few age spots that are not too dark, you can try an over-the-counter remedy. But for a persistent crop of age spots, your dermatologist has several very effective treatments.

Bleaching creams

Prescription bleaching creams containing kojic acid or hydroquinone cause age spots and irregular pigmentation to fade so that they blend with the color of the surrounding skin. Reversa HQ and Neo Strata HQ are examples of over the counter gels containing glycolic acid and bleaching agents which are effective in lightning age spots and other irregular pigmentation in the skin. It is important to protect yourself against the sun with a broad spectrum sunscreen such as Ombrelle 15 otherwise you will defeat the purpose of the bleaching creams. If you develop a burn of any sort, see your doctor immediately.

Try a fade cream

Porcelana and other creams, including Esot¨¦rica and Palmer's Skin Success fade creams, contain hydroquinone, which interferes with your skin's production of melanin. These products work slowly, however. Prescription-strength hydroquinone preparations might work faster.

Medicated creams

Tretinoin in preparations such as Retin ¨CA, Stieva ¨CA, Rejuva ¨CA, Retisol-A, Renova and vitamin A acid when applied to the back of the hands daily over a period of months gradually causes age spots to disappear, evens out irregular pigmentation, and reduces fine wrinkles giving the hands a more youthful appearance.

Chemical peels

Acid containing solutions are also effective in removing age spots. They cause irritation and the spots peel away from the skin. The new underlying skin is pink and fades to a normal hue after a few months.

Comouflage makeup

Opaque makeup can be used daily to camouflage age spots. Given the excellent medical options for removing or lightening these discolorations of the skin, makeup becomes a less desirable alternative.

Prevention

Protection from sun damage is the best prevention for age spots.
Use sunscreen (typically SPF 15) on sun exposed areas. If you see the beginnings of age spots or melasma, switch to a higher SPF sunscreen than the one you are currently using

Wear protective clothing and avoid tanning beds.
Reapply sunscreen after swimming or excessive sweating.
Wash your hands thoroughly after handling foods that contain psoralens and reapply sunscreen before going outdoors again.
Apply your perfume or lotion to areas of your skin that will not be exposed to sun.
 

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