3 Effective Ways to Get Rid of Age Spots

Some of us miss our youthful, glowing skin, which may now be visible with tell-tale signs of aging such as wrinkles, sagginess, fine lines, and dark spots.

If you’ve reached middle age, you may observe that your skin is sprinkled with flat pigmented marks. These spots known as age spots are not only annoying and stubborn, but they can make you quite self-conscious and less confident about your looks.

Are you dealing with numerous age spots? If yes, we guess you’re seeking answers on how to fade them in little to no time. And the good news is that we’re here to help.

Let’s shine some light on age spots and how you can deal with them.

What are age spots?

As you grow older, some blemishes may appear on your skin. These spots which can either be light/dark brown or black are referred to as “age spots.” Age spots are commonly called senile freckles or sun spots. They are called “sun spots” because they are often caused by
prolonged sun exposure.

What causes age spots?

A leading cause of age spots is increased production and accumulation of melanin triggered by chronic sun exposure.

When your skin is exposed to the sun, the harmful ultraviolet rays hit your skin and stimulate melanocytes (melanin cells) to produce excess melanin. Over time, the dark pigment forms a cluster of hyperpigmentation known as sun spots/age spots.

How can I tell if I have age spots?

Many skin concerns such as freckles, acne spots, sunburn, melasma, melanoma, may appear as darkened areas on your skin, making it difficult to tell if they’re age spots or not.

To know if you have age spots, these are some signs to look out for:

• Spots that are visible on areas that are exposed to the sun – face, feet, hands, and neck. Also, harder-to-reach areas such as behind the ears and back of the legs can also develop age spots.
• Spots that appear as brown or dark marks and are flat on the skin.
• Spots that are larger than freckles.

How can I remove age spots?

Age spots do not pose any danger to your health, but you may seek removal options if you want your complexion to look even-toned and radiant. Below are some simple and effective ways to remove age spots.

Invest in Topical Brightening products

To fade stubborn pigmentation and sun spots, opt for products which contain tyrosinase inhibitors and brightening actives such as vitamin C, niacinamide, kojic acid, retinol, and plant extracts.

Below, we’ve listed out a range of topical brightening products from Clean Beauty by AnaK which target sun spots and other pigmentation concerns.

• Using a Vitamin C Moisturizer prevents tyrosinase (the enzyme responsible for melanin formation) from producing more melanin.
• Niacinamide stops the transfer of melanin from the melanin cells to the cells of the outermost layer of the skin. It is essential to include a Blemish Be Gone Serum in your age-spot control arsenal.
• Kojic Acid weakens the amino acid, tyrosine which is known to play a crucial role in melanin formation. Try a you should try out the Illuminating Serum with kojic acid, to fade existing spots and to prevent the formation of new ones.
• Retinol speeds up cell turnover and boosts melanin loss via the skin. Wake up to fresh, youthful skin with the Encapsulated Retinol Serum.
• Antioxidants such as green tea inhibit melanin formation and prevent free radical damage caused by sun exposure. If you want to keep sun spots at bay, start your daily beauty routine with a Firming Facial Wash.

Slough off spots with chemical peels

Tired of age spots interfering with your glow? Peel them off using Exfoliators. Exfoliators are either physical or chemical based. Physical exfoliators such as sugar and salts are superb for smoother, even-toned skin but they can cause micro tears. On the other hand, chemical peels such as glycolic and lactic acid work wonders but they may be too potent for your skin. It’s advisable to opt for milder forms of chemical peels such as Enzyme peels. A good way to start your exfoliation regimen is to use an Exfoliant Powder with bromelain and papain.

Stay Consistent with Sunscreen

Sunscreen is a pivotal step in every skincare regimen. But when dealing with age spots, you have to stay religious to your sunscreen. Sunscreen does not only improve the appearance of age spots, but it will prevent photodamage and the formation of spots.

Choose a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or more such as mineral sunscreens which defend your skin from harmful solar radiation. Apply any of the 4 sunscreens 30 minutes before you step out and reapply every 2 hours if you are under the scorching sun.

 

Article written by Caroline Okoh.