As people grow older they experience many physical changes. Our skin is exposed to damage from weather and the sun every single day. For people over the age of 40, age spots, also known as liver spots become increasingly common, particularly those that spend time in the sun. While these age spots are benign and require no treatment, many find them to be unsightly, causing them seek out anti-aging and age spot removal methods. However despite their name, age spots are not related to a person’s age but rather their exposure to UV rays.
Human skin has two main layers; the epidermis and the dermis. The epidermis is the outer level and faces the most regular damage. It is also the epidermis that develops age spots as the skin loses its natural ability to repair itself from sun exposure. In order to keep the skin looking and feeling healthy, a variety of anti-aging methods are available.
Many cosmetic products promise to fade age spots and help retain skin’s natural, youthful appearance. These cosmetics come in the form of creams and are available in both prescription and over-the-counter forms. The most effective fading creams use a concentration of the chemical hydroquinone, with the prescription form being more reliable in age spot removal than the over-the-counter variety. In general these creams can help fade age spots but are unlikely to erase them completely.
For more permanent age spot removal, a dermatologist may recommend one of several different anti-aging methods including:
Laser Therapy
Effective and non-invasive; photodynamic therapy, better known as laser therapy uses focused pulses of intense laser light to selectively destroy damaged and blemished skin. Laser therapy eliminates age spot discoloration and is favored by dermatologists for their safety and reliability. Treatments are performed by a trained technician and are typically brief requiring no anesthesia. The recovery time for this sort of procedure can be as short as a few hours.
Superficial Chemical Peels
Also known as derma-peeling works by applying a chemical layer to the skin and removing the damaged outer layer. For anti-aging and age spot removal, a superficial chemical peel that only penetrates the outermost layers of skin is all that is required. As opposed to deeper chemical peels, anti-aging treatments require very little down time, however it can be weeks before significant results are apparent. During this time the patient has a slightly increased risk of infection and must limit exposure to the sun.
Microdermabrasion
A cosmetic procedure to manually remove the outer-layer of a person’s skin. Microdermabrasion is a non-surgical procedure that can be performed by a skin-care professional or even at home. Specialized tools fire a stream of tiny crystals made up of aluminum oxide and sodium chloride to break up the dead layer of skin which is then collected and washed away, leaving a clean layer of skin beneath. Because microdermabrasion can bruise or discolor the skin if done incorrectly it is best left to a professional dermatologist. While microdermabrasion is unsuitable for treating deep wrinkles and deep tissue skin damage, it is very effective for anti-aging and aging spot removal.
Cryotherapy
A minimally invasive procedure that freezes spots of the epidermis. A dermatologist will typically use a sub-zero liquid nitrogen spray to flash freeze age spots, allowing the natural act of freezing to destroy the damaged skin. Patients typically experience a mild stinging or burning sensation during the treatments but recovery time is usually brief. It is important to take care of the affected tissue to avoid getting the skin wet and by using moisturizer to prevent scarring and infection. The damaged skin must be allowed to heal on its own, which takes approximately two weeks depending on the size of the affected skin.
Anti-aging can be a very important treatment for maintaining self-esteem as the body naturally ages. Age spot removal can be a simple and inexpensive way to look better and feel better.
Contact Island Dermatology for more information on age spot removal and anti-aging treatments. Schedule an appointment today.
