Pigmentation and age spots can be a serious blow to self confidence. Hormone changes and sun exposure mean these pesky brown marks can appear any time. Happily there are ways to prevent and treat them. We look at their causes and treatment, plus great at-home products to start using now.
Pigmentation and age spots needn't be permanent. Establish a routine today that will tackle them and prevent further flare-ups.Age Spots - What Are They? Also known as liver spots, age spots are flat brown or black marks that normally appear on older skin. They can be any size or shape but usually appear on the face and hands and any parts of the body exposed to a lot of sun (such as the back and shoulders). They're very common, extremely normal and not usually a cause for concern (although any new marks appearing on the skin should always be checked out by a medical professional).
When we talk about pigmentation, we usually mean smaller brown marks that appear at random, often on the face, such as freckles. In the picture above you can see numerous smaller pigmentation marks.
What Causes Pigmentation And Age Spots? UV light (ie the sun) is the main cause of pigmentation, however tanning beds and hormonal changes can also contribute. As the skin is exposed to UV light, it naturally produces melanin to protect it. Over the years pockets of melanin 'clump together' to form areas of darker skin that don't fade (age spots). The good news is these occur in the top layer of the skin so can be treated (although age spots that have been present for a long time may be resistant).
Pigmentation that's due to hormone changes (melasma - see image below) such as during pregnancy, is the result of female hormones over-producing melanin. On exposure to the sun these form darker, random patches in the skin. They can be as small as a freckle or larger as shown.
Pigmentation And Age Spot Treatment Good news! Pigmentation and age spots occur in the upper layers of the skin. This means they can be treated. At the drastic end is treatment by laser which literally blasts away top layers of skin, removing dark marks. IPL (intense pulsed light) targets dark marks with bursts of light and is a less intense method. Or you can opt for skin peels or microdermabrasion to wear away the surface of the skin. If you're willing to take the slower (less painful!) route then a course of home treatment over 8 to 12 weeks should yield results.
For treatment at home we recommend a monthly peel, with weekly exfoliation (or a microdermabrasion kit if the budget allows - also great for ageing and general skin health). Daily use of a dark spot serum or skin whitening treatment, plus a retinoid cream to encourage cell renewal. And most importantly of all daily use of sunblock. Treatment will make the skin more sensitive to the sun. In addition, you also need to stop further pigmentation. Sunblock is vital, even in the winter, so make it part of your daily routine.
At-home peels should use AHAs and preferably contain glycolic acids. For a mild option that won't upset the skin, try L'Oréal's Revitalift Laser Renew Night Peel or Olay Regenerist Night Renewal Elixir. We also love Skin Doctor's Gamma Hydroxy Skin Resurfacing Cream that's gentle enough for daily use yet powerful enough to see a result.
Retinol Creams encourage faster turnover of the skin, which means faster results. They're great for anti-ageing and tackling acne scars, so you'll see many benefits. A stronger product such as La Roche-Posay Redermic R Intensive Anti-Ageing Concentrate is ideal, or for a milder option try thisworks Skincare No Wrinkles Extreme Moisturiser 48ml
You can shop all products we recommend for pigmentation and age spots here. Delivery is worldwide, with products available for every budget.
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