Overview
Age spots, which are also called solar lentigines or liver spots, are flat, tan, gray, or brown areas of skin discoloration that develop on sun-exposed areas of the body, such as the hands. They occur in people of all ages but are most common after the age of 40. Age spots are nearly always harmless, according to the Mayo Clinic, but they may be of cosmetic concern. Although treatment of age spots is not necessary, numerous options are available to lighten or remove them if desired.
Step 1
Visit your doctor to confirm that the spots are benign and not skin cancer or another condition. Your doctor may perform a biopsy to rule out malignancy if your spots itch, bleed, peel, or appear abnormal in any other way.
Step 2
Use an over-the-counter cream to lighten age spots on your hands. Creams containing lipoic acid, retinoids, alpha-hydroxy acids, and vitamin C can fade dark spots. To be effective, you must use these creams long term, according to the New Zealand Dermatological Society.
Step 3
Ask your doctor for prescription medication to lighten your age spots if over-the-counter treatments are not working. A lightening agent, called hydroquinone, removes age spots by breaking down and decreasing the production of melanin in the skin. Age spots should begin to lighten after four weeks of hydroquinone application, according to the New Zealand Dermatological Society. The University of Virginia states that the prescription retinoid cream, tretinoin, may also minimize the appearance of age spots.
Step 4
Undergo cryotherapy, a procedure that involves an application of liquid nitrogen to the skin to destroy the skin’s pigment. Cryotherapy has a high success rate for age spot removal, but it may cause permanent scarring.
Step 5
Try laser therapy to remove your age spots. According to the Mayo Clinic, laser therapy lightens areas of skin discoloration by destroying extra melanocytes in the skin. This treatment option is generally safe and effective, but it may require multiple sessions to completely restore the skin’s natural color.
Step 6
Visit your dermatologist for a chemical peel to remove age spots on your hands. Chemical peels involve the topical application of salicylic, carbolic, glycolic, or another acid to burn the top layer of skin. This causes the skin to separate and peel away, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Peels are effective at lightening age spots on most skin tones, but permanent scarring is a potentially serious complication of the procedure.
