If you are over the age of 60, chances are you have at least one age spot. In fact, recent research suggests as many as 90% of people over the age of 60 experience liver age spots.1 But what are these aggravating dark patches that seem to appear on skin overnight? And why does it seem that every morning I wake up with a new liver spot? In this article, we will find the answers to these questions and look into practical solutions that can help target and eliminate your liver spots starting today.

What Are Age Spots, and Why Do I Have Them?

Age spots are pesky, dark patches of skin that materialize on our face, arms, and legs as the years go by and form due to a combination of sun exposure and natural aging processes.2 Unless you experience a condition such as albinism, most individual's skin contains melanin, a colored pigment that acts as a natural sunscreen by absorbing the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays.3

As we age and our skin is exposed to more UV radiation, the melanin in our skin starts 'clumping' together in patches.4 And while our skin has natural processes to dispel these colored patches, as we grow older, our skin's regenerative properties slow, making these dark spots more noticeable. This is why age spots are sometimes called 'sun spots' or 'solar lentigines.'4 In essence, they are visible indicators that your skin has accumulated sun damage throughout your life. Think of them as your skin's way of saying, "Hey, I've been around the block a few times!"

Age Spots and Skin Health: Should I Be Worried If I Have Them?

Age spots are common, especially as we get older, but should you be worried if you start to notice them appearing on your skin? In most cases, the answer is no. Age spots, also known as liver spots or sun spots, are primarily a cosmetic concern rather than a health issue.5 They are a very common indication that skin has been exposed to UV rays over the years, but are not in and of themselves harmful in any way.

While age spots themselves are harmless, it's important to monitor any changes in your skin. If you notice a spot that changes in color, size, or shape, it's a good idea to consult a dermatologist. However, on the whole, age spots are typically an aesthetic issue for people, with many simple, at-home treatment options that have been shown to keep skin looking vibrant and healthy. So, while age spots might be a natural part of aging, they don't have to be a permanent part of your look!

How Do I Fade My Age Spots?

If you're bothered by the sudden appearance of age spots on your skin and are looking for ways to fade uneven skin tone, there are many well-researched options that have been shown to help reduce the appearance of hyperpigmented skin. Fading age spots can be a straightforward process with the right tools and treatments, many of which you can easily incorporate into your at-home skincare routine. Here are some of the most popular methods people are choosing to correct age spots:

• Add Vitamin C Into Your Skincare Routine: Incorporating vitamin C into your skincare is one of the most common and most cost-effective ways of reducing the appearance of age spots. Vitamin C erases dark spots by inhibiting melanin production and promoting collagen synthesis, leading to a brighter and more even skin tone.6 At My Derma Dream, our No-Tox Skin Serum is blended with Stay-C®, a stabilized form of vitamin C designed to last longer on the skin and penetrate more deeply for better results.7
• Find a Retinoid Cream that Works for You: Another skincare ingredient that has been studied and shown to be effective in reducing the appearance of age spots is retinoic acid, or retinoids.8 A retinoid is a derivative of vitamin A that helps speed up cell turnover and fades hyperpigmentation by promoting the shedding of old, pigmented skin cells. Retinoids are also found to be helpful in unclogging pores and reducing acne, so if these are also skincare concerns for you, retinoids may be worth exploring.9
• Use LED Light Therapy to Target Hyperpigmentation: A newer method of clearing your complexion and hyperpigmentation is the use of LED light therapy. LED light is a specialized form of skin therapy that uses different wavelengths of light to target various skin concerns.10 Research has shown that LED light has been effective in treating hyperpigmentation disorders.11 While historically LED treatments have been offered at medical spas, this technology can now also be used in the comfort of your own home through devices like our DermaGlow LED Mask.
• Ask For A Dermabrasion at the Spa: For a more aggressive tactic, dermabrasions and chemical peels done by professionals at the spa can help speed up the process of reducing age spots. These treatments remove the top layers of your skin, and in the process, can also remove hyperpigmented cells and speed up the growth of newer, healthier skin.12 However, there can be some redness, swelling, and peeling after these treatments, so expect some downtime and be sure to follow the guidance of a trusted esthetician.
• Wear Sun Protection: As they say, the best offense is a good defense! And in this case, a good defense requires taking preventative measures against sun damage. By wearing SPF daily and keeping your skin out of the sun, you can help prevent the sun damage that causes age spots to accumulate.

Conclusion

Overall, age spots are a normal but sometimes vexing part of aging. But as frustrating as it may feel when signs of sun damage come to the surface, there is still a lot you can take to help fade dark spots. I hope this article has helped introduce you to some of these solutions and given you a better overall understanding of age spots. Remember, with the right care and treatments, you can keep your skin looking radiant and youthful. So, don't let those spots get you down-think of them as nothing but a speed bump on your journey to your best skin!

References

1. MedScape article on solar lentigo (also known as liver spots): https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1068503-overview#a6?form=fpf.
2. Article defining age spots and describing how they occur: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/exd.13203.
3. Cleveland Clinic article discussing melanin in detail: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22615-melanin/
4. Study describing how our skin's pigmentation changes as we age: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/article-abstract/559374.
5. Healthline article which describes age spots as harmless in and of themselves, and that states age spots do not develop into cancer: https://www.healthline.com/health/age-spots#treatment.
6. Study that describes vitamin C as effective in its ability to inhibit melanin production: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-62703-167-7_6.
7. My Derma Dream's No-Tox Serum, which includes information on Stay-C®: https://shop.mydermadream.com/products/timeless-skin-serum.
8. Study that found a tretinoin (retinoid) cream significantly improved the appearance of liver spots: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199202063260603.
9. MedicalNewsToday article discussing retinoids: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/retinoids
10. Healthline article discussing LED light therapy as a skin treatment: https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/led-light-therapy#pictures.
11. Study showing that the use of 660-nanometer LED light has been found to inhibit melanin synthesis: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27696509/.
12. Study which found dermabrasion resulted in a significant reduction of hyperpigmentation by decreasing the number of pigmented cells in the epidermis: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11195869/.