Ever since the beginning of time, there have been a few things that include everyone. Examples of this would be death, taxes, and age spots. Everyone has to deal with age spots at some point in their lives. There are many different ways to remove these pesky minor marks from our skin. It is tough to determine which you should remove age spots and remove them with so many options available. Age spots are formed from a build-up of melanin on the top layer of skin. The melanin causes dark patches to appear on the skin. These spots can show up on anyone, but they usually affect those exposed to the sun more often than others. If you have age spots that do not go away, you should consider visiting a Fort Worth age spots specialist. Here are some tips on how you can get rid of them.
Bleaching Creams
The most common way to get rid of age spots is with creams designed to bleach the marks. The bleaching cream usually contains hydroquinone, a potent antioxidant that reduces melanin production in the skin. You can find these creams at beauty supply stores or any drugstore, but they are also available on prescription from your doctor. The bleaching cream can cause dryness, redness, and peeling skin. To combat these side effects, you should make sure to use a good moisturizer, avoid going in the sun after applying, and wear sunscreen when going outside.
Microdermabrasion
Another option is microdermabrasion for people who have dark spots from years of being in the sun. This procedure uses a brush or vacuum-type device to remove the top layer of dead skin cells. In most cases, you can remove the thick layers of dark spots along with this top layer. Microdermabrasion should not be used on people that have active acne or eczema.
Laser Removal
One of the newest ways to remove age spots is with laser removal. Two types of lasers can be used to treat age spots, pulsed dye lasers and Q-switched ruby lasers. These lasers are designed to destroy melanin cells and stop them from producing pigment. Laser removal can cause bruising, swelling, crusting, blistering, and skin scarring. The laser procedure may need to be repeated several times before any effects are seen.
Chemical Peels
Another option is chemical peels. These age spots are usually superficial and can be removed by getting a chemical peel at your dermatologist’s office. There are two main types of chemical peels, trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and phenol peels. The TCA peel causes the top layer of skin to peel off over a week, leaving new skin to grow in its place. This peel is usually milder than phenol peels and can be used on larger areas because it causes less irritation. Phenol peels are more potent than TCA peels and cause more damage to the top layer of your skin. If you have several age spots, you should consider getting a TCA peel to be applied to more areas. This option is usually less expensive than laser removal.
In summary, there are many different ways to remove age spots. It all depends on the person and how dark the spots are. The darker your age spot is, the more durable it will be. This means that you may require a newer technology such as laser removal or chemical peels to achieve results. Remember that you should never try treatment without talking with your doctor.
