Age Spots—Is There Any Way to Get Rid of Them?

With the cold weather upon us and the sun playing hide-and-seek, I was perusing the tanning lotions at the store when a clerk offered to help me. “This one works great,” she said, holding up the “Banana Boat” brand. “Only problem is, it turns your age spots darker, too.”

Age spots. As if our expanding waistlines and fine wrinkles weren’t enough, many of us are plagued by these dark spots that seem to appear out of nowhere, popping up on the face, neck, hands, and shoulders. They aren’t typically a health hazard (though unusual looking ones should be screened), but they sure can shoot a hole in our self-esteem. Fortunately, aesthetician Victoria Khabinsky knows how to help.

Q. Victoria, what causes age spots?

A. We all start aging from the moment we’re born—and the sun is enemy number one. Everyone knows that tanning is dangerous, yet we all love that tanned appearance. Just look at the glamour magazines where models have that “Caribbean” complexion! Unfortunately, many young women ignore the danger of sun exposure and rush to tanning salons. Even if you’re careful, however, it’s nearly impossible to completely avoid pigmentation, since we all live under the sun every day. Therefore, it’s your doctor’s responsibility to let you know about it.

Q. When do age spots typically show up? 

A. Most women over 40 years of age show signs of hyper-pigmentation, especially on their neck and hands, since they typically don’t use sun block in those areas. (If you drive a car, be aware that the left side of your face is more affected by the sun, and use your visor and sunscreen.) For younger people, age spots are practically undetectable, but that doesn’t mean they’re not there. Using cutting-edge technology, specialists can detect areas of dry skin or dead cells even in people under age 35.

Q. What does cosmetology offer to fight age spots?

A. From the very first visit with a patient, I examine the skin to define its type and any possible problems, including pigmentation. Then I’ll recommend a variety of procedures tailored for the best results. For example, recent studies suggest that traditional peeling combined with application of vitamin C as well as other breaking technologies are very successful in fighting age spots. Some see great results with just a high-concentration vitamin C night cream. The main thing is to professionally design the treatment for a specific skin type.

Q. Sometimes age spots have a tendency to grow. What do you in these cases? 

A. The phenomenon of pigmentation is like a tip of the iceberg. When starting treatment, we often expose deeper layers of the skin, which can illuminate more pigmentation—and make it look like the spot is getting bigger. But this is only temporary. Peeling and LED (light machine therapy), for example, work from the outside in and the inside out, rejuvenating and activating the mechanisms of skin regeneration. The result is younger, healthier-looking skin. Naturally, we use an individual approach in each case, so the treatment is always different from one patient to another.

Q. How often does one need to undergo these treatments?

A. As a rule, one complex treatment per season is enough. However, it becomes even more important, after treatment, to use sunscreen. Newly treated skin is more susceptible to damaging UV rays, and without protection, you can go right back to where you started. So the use of SPF creams is a must—every day, any day, even on rainy days!

Q. So it sounds like women can improve their skin with the help of these non- invasive procedures?

A. Oh, yes, and look years younger!