How to Remove Sunspots for Good

What might start off as cute freckles or sun freckles, can turn into permanent sunspots as we age. So, let’s investigate how to remove sunspots for good. We’re serious!

What Are Sunspots?

While sunspots is the cute name for them, they are also known as age spots, but what exactly are they and what causes them? Age spots are flat brown, gray, or black spots on the skin and they usually occur on sun-exposed areas. Age spots are also called liver spots, senile lentigo, solar lentigines, or sunspots. An excess of melanin or skin pigment is what causes age spots. Skin aging, ultraviolet (UV) light exposure such as tanning beds, and everyday sun exposure can cause sunspots. You’re most likely to develop age spots on the areas of your skin that receive the most sun exposure, including:

• face
• the back of hands
• shoulders
• upper back
• forearms

Sunspots can affect anyone, at any age or race. Individuals that are more at risk include those over 40, have prolonged sun exposure, fair skin or have a history of frequent tanning bed use. You all know who you are, tanning bed worshippers! These spots can be light brown to black in color. Now that we know what they are, who they affect and how we get them, let’s get rid of them. Next up, how to remove sunspots.

How to Remove Sunspots

Always wear sunscreen under your makeup, in the winter, any time you go outside and every day. This is the biggest prevention of sunspots. Even if you have sunspots, wearing sunscreen is essential. At the first signs of sunspots, a daily lotion that contains vitamin C or Retinol A can help lighten the spots. You can ask your Medical Aesthetician their recommendation for a product that is appropriate for your skin.

Go for a power peel! Chemical peels help take years off your skin. Smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles, correcting color, and revealing smoother, more vibrant and softer skin. Chemical peel patients only feel a mild tingling sensation during the procedure. Chemical peels range from a light peel to a deep peel, each with their own recovery time. A light peel has no downtime, and you can resume regular daily tasks that day, while a deep chemical peel usually requires a week off from work, so your skin can heal.

If you need a more intense treatment, you can book an IPL treatment (Intense Pulsed Light) also known as a photofacial. Photofacials are a great and safe way to treat pigmentation, sun spots, rosacea, broken capillaries, uneven skin tone/complexion and rough skin texture. It has been shown that women with uneven skin complexions can look years older than they are even if they are not showing other signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles.

After your laser treatment, the spots gradually lighten and fade over the next several weeks to months. Results are not immediate. After this treatment, it is essential to wear a high SPF to protect your skin. Now that we know how to remove sunspots, you’ll notice the same theme popping up again and again; hopefully, you’re seeing the pattern as well and realize just how important sunscreen is in your everyday routine.

Sunspots are preventable and treatable with an effective routine. Don’t let these spots show your age, be proactive with your skin care routine and focus on sun care!