age spots part 2

Are age spots treatments permanent?

No, age spots can recur after any treatment.

How does one prevent age spots?

Prevention is a lot easier than a cure. If one avoids the sun, age spots can be prevented.

What other conditions look like an age spot?

Asides from cosmetics, one major reason why an individual may seek advice from a health care professional is to ensure that the skin lesion is not a cancer. Other skin conditions can mimic an age spot. Moles, various skin cancers, seborrhea keratosis and even some types of melanomas can appear very similar to age spots.

How is the diagnosis of age spot made?

While one can make a diagnosis by looking at the skin lesion, even a physician can mistake an age spot for a skin cancer.

Who should get treatments for age spots?

If there is certainty that the lesion is not a cancer and does not bother the individual, it can be left alone. For those who find the lesion cosmetically unacceptable, bleaching is one way to hide the spot. There are various chemical peels that can also be used to diminish the age spot. For those who want the age spot removed, one can use a laser to destroy the spot.

What is cryotherapy?

Cryotherapy is another way to remove the age spot- a small amount of liquid nitrogen is applied on the age spot 1-2 times a week and over a few weeks the lesion will disappear. Cryotherapy can also cause scarring.

How does dermabrasion remove age spots?

Dermabrasion is one of the oldest treatments for age spots- it basically involves sanding/polishing down the lesion. The superficial skin layer is removed and replaced by new youthful looking skin.

Does laser work for age spots?

Of all the treatments, laser is the most effective but also the most expensive.

To prevent age spots, it is best to wear a sunscreen when going out. One should also wear protective clothing and a wide brim hat. Today, there are even clothing available with special fabrics that can reflect back the UV light.

Final point

Age spots do not need any treatment unless one has problems with aesthetics.