Maintain healthy hands

Melissa Erickson

As we age, our skin becomes drier, more wrinkled and age spots appear. “Age spots are exceedingly common,” said Dr. Carolyn Jacob, director of Chicago Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology. “It’s probably the most common thing I see.” The best prevention for sun-related age spots “is sun block, sun block, sun block,” stressed Jacob. “I can not say it strongly enough: Use sun block. Be adamant about it.” One thing sunblock won’t prevent is seborrheic keratoses, or skin growths. Because they can look unsightly, even like cancerous growths, most people will want to treat age spots. Here are four common treatments.

1. Medications

Prescription and over-the-counter bleaching creams that contain hydroquinone may gradually fade the spots over several months. Relatively inexpensive, these creams may be ineffective and take a long time to work. They must also be used in combination with sunscreen that contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.

2. Laser therapy

This treatment uses a laser to destroy the extra melanin pigment without damaging the skin’s surface. The laser’s energy is absorbed by the color of the spot and the spot will first turn darker before it peels off after several days or weeks. Laser therapy has few side effects, but it can require several treatments and can be expensive.

3. Freezing

Called cryotherapy, this procedure uses liquid nitrogen at a temperature of 200 degrees below zero to destroy the pigment and kill off the top layer of skin cells. This effective method is best used for single or small groups of age spots. There is a sight risk of scarring.

4. Chemical peels

The skin’s appearance can also be improved by applying a chemical solution of acid that burns the outer layer of skin. The age spot will peel off, and new skin cells will grow in its place. Sun protection is necessary after this treatment.