Age Spots

Age spots develop when ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight or tanning beds stimulate pigment overproduction in your skin. At their offices in Covington and Hammond, Louisiana, the Soine Dermatology & Aesthetics team offers effective solutions to unsightly age spots. Lightening or removing age spots with bleaching preparations, dermabrasion, or laser therapy, can contribute to a more youthful appearance. Call Soine Dermatology & Aesthetics for more information on age spot treatments, or schedule a consultation today by completing the online booking form.

What are age spots?

Age spots (also called sun or liver spots) are a common aging problem, but younger people can have them too.

Brown, black, or tan age spots mostly develop through sun exposure, so they often appear on areas that you don’t cover up so much, like the:

• Hands  
• Face
• Arms
• Shoulders

The more you expose your skin to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, the more likely you are to develop age spots. People who use tanning beds frequently are just as likely (if not more so) to develop age spots.

What causes age spots?

Age spots develop when harmful UV rays penetrate exposed skin. Your skin’s upper layer (epidermis) contains a pigment called melanin that provides your skin with its natural color. However,UV rays repeatedly enter your skin over the years, increasing melanin production.

Your body accelerates melanin creation to protect the deeper skin layers from UV rays. It’s how you get a tan after spending time in the sun. However, the melanin sometimes clumps together, forming age spots.

Age spots aren’t cancerous, but if you have them, it could mean your risk of skin cancer is higher. UV exposure causes skin cancer and age spots, so check your skin regularly for any unusual lesions or changing moles.

Age spots are essentially harmless, so you don’t need to worry about treating them. However, if you don’t like how they look, you can visit Soine Dermatology & Aesthetics for expert treatment. Treating age spots makes you look younger because they’re uncommon in young people.

How are age spots treated?

The Soine Dermatology & Aesthetics team offers several age spot treatments to help you regain youthful, glowing skin.

With ongoing treatment, hydroquinone  bleaching cream and a retinoid preparation can fade your age spots. Combine these medications with regular sunscreen applications (sun protection factor or SPF of 30 or more) to help protect your skin from additional damage.

DiamondGlow® dermabrasion removes age spots and promotes healthy skin growth. Laser therapy is another age-spot treatment that can do wonderful things. The laser’s light energy destroys the melanin-producing cells without damaging your skin. After several sessions, your age spots fade until they’re just a memory.

Call Soine Dermatology & Aesthetics today to discuss your age spot removal options, or go online to book an appointment with a highly skilled dermatologist.