Age spots are marks that commonly appear on the skin after prolonged sun exposure. They are harmless, but some people wish to remove them for cosmetic reasons.
Age spots happen due to excessive production of melanin by the body. Melanin is the brown pigment that gives skin its color. When we expose ourselves to sunlight the body produces extra melanin to protect the skin from harmful UV rays. As a result the skin becomes darker when more amount of melanin is produced.
This melanin clumps together in the skin and appears as age spots.
Symptoms
Age spots usually appear in the areas most commonly exposed to sunlight mainly
- Face
- Back of the hands
- Shoulders
- Back
- Arms
- Top of feet
They can occurs singly on in clusters with varying sizes ranging from 0.2-2 centimeters in diameter. Generally found in people over the age of forty years, though they can also occur in younger individuals.
Treatment
Though they are asymptomatic if a person wants to remove a confirmed age spot for cosmetic reason; they have a variety of options.
We at singhania skin clinic …….multi-modality……
Treatment comprising of topical creams along with one of the following procedure
Chemical peel which involves fruit acids over the skin to help exfoliate the layer, peeling away the dead cells.
Micro- dermabrasion which involves use of a special applicator with an abrasive surface to gently exfoliate away the thin outer layer of the skin to rejuvenate it.
Laser treatment which involves using high intensity beams.
