Have dark spots suddenly appeared out of nowhere on your face or another part of your body? If you’ve developed new spots on your face in particular, you may be a bit irritated by their unwelcomed arrival, right where everyone can see them! What are they exactly? Are they age spots? Are they sun spots? Is there a difference?
While we can’t say for sure if you have age spots without seeing you in person, we can discuss them, what they are, what causes them, and the treatment options available. While age (sun) spots can affect people with all different skin types, they’re most common in adults who have light skin. They are not the same as freckles, which fade as children grow up. Instead, age spots remain and don’t fade over time.
Age Spots, Sunspots & Liver Spots
Age spots, sunspots, and liver spots – they’re three different terms for the same thing. Age spots are flat, small, and dark and they usually appear on parts of the body that are exposed to the sun. While they’re common in people who are 50 or older, younger adults can get them too, especially if they spend a lot of time in the sun.
Age or sun spots usually appear on the face, shoulders, arms and hands because those places are commonly exposed to the sun. They can look like a cancerous growth, but a true age spot does not require treatment.
Age spots are simply a sign that a certain area of the skin has been exposed to the sun a lot; they are the byproduct of the skin trying to protect itself against further sun damage. If you have age spots and they’re bothering you, there are ways to have them lightened or removed.
Age spots are tan or dark brown, flat, oval-shaped, and appear in areas of the skin that have been exposed to the sun. They often show up in the hands, tops of the feet, the face, shoulders, and upper back. They can be as small as a freckle to about 1/2 inch in width.
Getting Rid of Age Spots
A lot of people feel that age spots are a telltale sign that they’re past their prime. If you’d like to fade your age spots significantly, you may want to look into the possible ways to reduce if not get rid of them entirely. There are several treatment options available for age spots, including:
- Chemical peels
- Laser treatments
- Cryotherapy
- Microdermabrasion
With there being different treatment options available for age spots, we recommend meeting with Dr. Yuly Gorodisky to determine which one is right for you. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation!