If your face, arms, or hands have started accumulating age spots, you may be wondering whether you can safely fade—or completely remove—them. The answer is probably yes. But before you start trying to erase anything, see a dermatologist.
What people casually call an “age spot” could be one of several different skin changes, some of which require medical attention rather than a brightening serum. Erum Ilyas, a board-certified dermatologist in King of Prussia, Pa. A true age spot, also known as a solar lentigo, is a harmless patch of excess pigment often caused by cumulative exposure.
It’s usually flat, evenly tan or brown, and has a smooth, well-defined border, says Dr. Rebecca Dufner, a board-certified dermatologist in Plano, Texas. It also tends to “sit there quietly year after year.” But people often use “age spot” to describe all sorts of marks that become more common over time.
These can include seborrheic keratoses, which are benign growths that may look raised, waxy, or “stuck on,” as well as actinic keratoses, precancerous growths that are often rough or scaly. More concerningly, certain skin cancers—including melanoma—can resemble an ordinary brown spot. That’s why it’s important to have a dermatologist examine your spots before cosmetically treating them, particularly if you’ve never had them checked.
Pay close attention to a spot that appears suddenly; changes in size, shape, or color; becomes raised; or starts itching, bleeding, crusting, or refusing to heal. Dufner also recommends using the “ugly duckling” rule: If one spot simply looks different from all of its neighbors, it deserves professional attention. Dermatologists can inspect it with a dermatoscope, which reveals patterns and features that aren’t visible to the naked eye.
If necessary, they can biopsy it. Once a dermatologist has confirmed you’re dealing with harmless age spots, you can try fading them at home. Just prepare to be patient: Topical treatments are “a slow game—think months, not days,” Dufner says.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
