Age spots, also known as ‘liver spots’ or ‘sun spots’ are a frequent concern amongst people seeking a youthful and more even skin tone. These darkened patches or spots on the skin, which appear more prominently as we age, can be a cosmetic worry for many.
However, as aesthetic medicine advances, a wide range of cutting-edge treatments have emerged which can successfully improve the appearance of age spots. In this blog, we’ll delve into what age spots actually are and explore a variety of effective non-surgical treatment options.
What are age spots?
Age spots are areas of increased pigmentation cells, known as hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation occurs when a natural pigment in the skin (called melanin) is produced in excess. This can lead to an uneven skin tone and spots that can range from light brown to dark brown or black in colour.
But what causes this hyperpigmentation to occur?
There are a few different reasons why sun spots might develop:
- Sun exposure: given away by their name, sun spots can be caused by years of exposure to UV radiation from the sun. When the skin is exposed to UV light, melanocytes (pigment-producing cells in the skin) are stimulated to produce more melanin as a defence mechanism to protect the deeper layers of the skin from damage. Over time, this increased melanin can accumulate to visible age spots. These spots are most likely to occur in areas which are exposed to the sun, such as the hands, face, arms, and shoulders.
- Hormones: changes in the body’s hormones can lead to the pigment-producing cells in the skin overproducing pigment (melanin). These hormonal changes are especially common in pregnancy and menopause. Hormone-induced pigment is clinically known as ‘melasma’.
- Inflammation: Sun spots can also be the result of inflammation or injury to the skin. This is often called ‘post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation’. Irritation to the skin, such as through acne, eczema, or trauma, can cause pigment-producing cells to overproduce and lead to darkened spots.
While age spots themselves are not usually dangerous, it’s important to consult a specialist if you develop a darkened patch of skin. This is to ensure that it is not melanoma – a type of skin cancer. If you develop hyperpigmentation or have a pigment spot that is changing in size, colour, or is bleeding or itchy, make sure to see a skin specialist such as a dermatologist for a further analysis.
Treatment for sun spots
If you have confirmed sun spots, there are a range of different treatment options that can help to improve their appearance. However, the most appropriate treatment for you will depend on the cause of your pigmentation.
At Health & Aesthetics, we have a range of treatment options to suit a variety of needs, and undertake a full medical consultation with each person to make sure we understand the reason behind your sun spots.
Skincare products
As always, it’s important to establish a good skincare routine using medical-grade products which are targeted for your specific needs. At Health & Aesthetics, we can help to identify the right regime for you. Depending on the cause of your sunspots, we may recommend products such as:
- ZO Skin Health Brightalive: a non-retinol treatment which uses multiple actions to improve age spots and skin pigmentation.
- ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener: a blend of retinol, vitamin c, antioxidants, and melanin inhibitors to help minimise pigmentation, brighten skin tone, and maintain restored skin.
Retinol (vitamin A) helps to thicken the dermis by increasing the production of collagen and promoting cell turnover. It’s important to prepare the skin for using retinol and follow retinol use with sunscreen.
In fact, daily sunscreen should be a core component of all skincare routines. Protecting your skin against UV rays as much as possible will help to minimise damage to your skin.
Non-surgical treatments
Chemical peels
A peel is a chemical exfoliation that works by gently removing a controlled amount of the skin’s outer layers. This process removes dead skin cells on the surface, promoting cell regeneration and repair. In time, you can expect a rejuvenated complexion and improvements to the skin’s overall health.
At Health & Aesthetics, we offer a range of chemical peels. When tackling sun spots, we look to:
- ZO Skin Health Stimulator Peel: a gentle peel which boosts cell turnover to even skin tone, reduce lines, and rejuvenate skin.
- mesoestetic Melanostop Peel: a multi-ingredient peel that targets pigmentation. By accelerating epidermis renewal, this peel removes surface pigmentation.
- Cosmelan Peel Program to treat melasma
Excel V+ Laser treatment
Excel V+ Laser treatment uses laser energy to target pigmentation on the skin. The energy within the laser targets the pigmented cells, drawing them to the surface without harming surrounding tissues. The area of pigment will appear darker after treatment and will then flake away over time as part of natural cell turnover.
Excel V+ laser treatment is an effective and cutting-edge treatment effective for a wide range of concerns like age spots and sun damage. However, laser treatment is not suitable for age spots which are linked to hormonal changes (melasma), and could even make these age spots worse. This is why it’s crucial to have an in-depth consultation to establish the root cause of your age spots.
Polynucleotides
Polynucleotide treatments are a type of regenerative medicine. They work by encouraging the body’s own natural mechanisms to stimulate cell repair and rejuvenation, leading to the formation of healthier skin cells. For instance, when injected into the skin, polynucleotides (which are essentially building blocks of DNA) can increase collagen and elastin production and reduce inflammation in the skin. In time, the skin cells regenerate to offer improved overall skin health.
When combined with other age spots treatments such as chemical peels or laser treatments, polynucleotides can help to enhance and maintain overall results.
Exosome Treatment
Exosome therapy is a non-invasive treatment that can effectively reduce the appearance of age spots. By delivering proteins and growth factors directly to skin cells, exosomes stimulate collagen and elastin production, promoting a more even skin tone and texture. This natural regeneration process helps diminish hyperpigmentation, resulting in a youthful, radiant complexion.
Age spots reduction at Health & Aesthetics
Whatever the cause of your pigmentation, we’re here to help. Our highly-skilled team are proud to specialise in a wide range of aesthetic medicine techniques to bring you the most effective results possible.
To explore your options and take the first step towards improved skin health, schedule a consultation with our team today.