HEALTHY LIVING Fix Your. . . Age Spots
WHY YOU HAVE AGE SPOTS You’re 50 or older. Those flat,
tan to dark brown spots on skin, which are also called liver spots and sunspots, are common in adults older than 50. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light increases the production of melanin — the natural pigment that colors skin — which can clump and produce age spots. They usually appear on areas that have been exposed to the most sunlight, including face, back of hands, and shoulders. You spend a lot of time in the sun. Although age spots are more common in older people, younger people — even those in their 20s — can get them if they spend a lot of time in the sun. You have light skin. Just like
freckles, age spots are more common in people with light skin. Unfortunately, unlike freckles, they don’t fade if you avoid the sun. You’ve used tanning beds. Tanning
beds emit damaging UV rays that age skin and darken age spots as well as increase the risk for skin cancer.
WHAT TO DO Minimize sun exposure. Stay out of the sun when the rays are most
intense, which is between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., and avoid tanning beds. Cover up. Wear hats, long sleeves,
and other clothing that covers arms and legs, and check out sun-protective clothing that gives a UV protection factor of at least 40. Use buttermilk. Buttermilk, as
well as yogurt, contains lactic acid, which can help lighten skin. Apply directly to skin and rinse off after 20 minutes. If you’d like, you can let it dry overnight and rinse off the next morning. Dab with apple cider vinegar. Alpha
hydroxy acids in apple cider vinegar can help lighten age spots. Mix with olive oil and dab on skin for 20 minutes, then rinse. Try horseradish. Horseradish contains vitamin C, which slows the production of melanin, the natural pigment that causes skin to darken. Make a paste, apply to skin, and rinse after 20 minutes. Use papaya. Papaya contains alpha
hydroxy acids and enzymes that can help fade age spots. If you’re not allergic to papaya, take a slice, or mash into chunks, and place on your skin. Leave for 20 minutes before rinsing.
WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS Although not dangerous, if your age spots persist and they bother you, see your doctor. Physicians may recommend a prescription bleaching cream, which typically takes several months to work. The creams usually contain hydroquinone and may also contain retinoids, which stimulate the production of skin-plumping collagen. Medical procedures that can be effective against age spots include chemical peels, dermabrasion, or cryosurgery, which remove outer layers of damaged skin and reveal new, clearer skin beneath.
SOURCES: Mayo Clinic;
healthline.com; WebMD; clevelandclinic. org;
drbaileyskincare.com;
onegoodthingbyjillee.com; AARP;
MedicalNewsToday.com.
Could That Sunspot Be Cancer?
A
lthough unattractive, most sunspots are harmless and
PROTECTION Stay out of direct sun as much as possible and use a 40 SPF sunscreen.
never become cancerous. However, beware of age spots that exhibit the ABCDEs of melanoma; see a doctor right away if you observe them: Asymmetric — oddly shaped or one half of the spot is not like the other; Border — irregular or jagged; Color — uneven, speckled, black, or white in the center; Diameter — larger than 6 millimeters (size of a pencil eraser); and Evolving — changing in size, shape, or color, or beginning to bleed, itch, or crust. Also, be wary if the spot is new, since only about a third of melanomas form from an existing mole. And you may be at higher risk for melanoma if you have a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) who has been diagnosed.
86 NEWSMAX MAXLIFE | MAY 2022
WOMAN/MESQUITAFMS©ISTOCK / SPOT/AFRICA STUDIO/SHUTTERSTOCK
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