Age spots, also known as sunspots, liver spots, and solar lentigines, are tiny, flat dark spots that can vary in size and typically develop on skin that has been exposed to sunlight, such as the face, hands, shoulders, and arms.
Age spots are very common in people over 50, but they can also appear on younger people who spend time in the sun.
True age spots don’t require treatment, but they are a sign of extensive sun exposure and the skin’s defense mechanism against further sun damage. For aesthetic reasons, they can be lightened or removed.
Symptoms
Contrary to freckles, which are common in children and go away with no sun exposure, age spots don’t go away and can affect people of all skin tones, but they tend to affect adults with light skin more frequently.
Age spots:
- Are there elongated, flattened areas with more color?
- are typically light to dark brown.
- afflict skin that has spent the most time in the sun, such as the upper back, shoulders, backs of the hands, and tops of the feet.
- freckles that are up to half an inch (13 millimeters) in size
- can assemble in clusters, increasing visibility.
Causes
Age spots develop on skin that has been exposed to the sun for a long time when melanin becomes clumped or is produced in high concentrations, which is accelerated by ultraviolet (UV) light and is the cause of age spots.
Risk factors
- Have light skin
- have a history of getting sunburned or exposed to the sun frequently or intensely
Prevention
Follow these recommendations for limiting sun exposure to help prevent age spots and new spots following treatment:
Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.Try to plan outdoor activities for other times of the day since the sun’s rays are at their strongest during this time.
Use sunscreen.Apply sunscreen liberally 15 to 30 minutes before venturing outdoors, reapply every two hours, or more frequently if swimming or perspiring, and use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.
Cover up.Wear tightly woven, arm- and leg-covering clothing, along with a broad-brimmed hat to protect yourself from the sun. This offers more coverage than a baseball cap or golf visor.
Consider donning sun-protective clothing; for the best coverage, look for clothing with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 40 to 50.
HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT
SEPIA OFFICINALISSepia is a great treatment for liver spots, dark circles under the eyes, and yellow saddles across the upper portion of the cheeks and nose. Sepia is best for people with dark hair and rigid fiber.
LYCOPODIUM CLAVATUMAnother successful treatment for liver spots is lycopodium. This herb is used to treat liver spots that appear as grayish-yellow discolorations on the face, blue circles under the eyes, and liver spots on the abdomen. Patients of lycopodium also frequently experience flatulence, prefer warm foods and beverages, and have a particular craving for sweets.
ARGENTUM NITRICUMIn cases of liver spots, argentum nitricum is prescribed to treat the brown, tense, and hard skin, the sickly, sunken grayish appearance, and the pale, old, and bluish hues on the face.
CADMIUM SULPHThe liver spots, which range in color from yellowish to brown and are visible on the nose, cheeks, and other areas of the skin, can be treated with cadmium sulfate to relieve facial itching.
COPAIVA OFFICINALISBrown spots on the face and hands, the presence of concentric lenticular patches, itching, and a mottled appearance are all symptoms of liver spots, for which copaiva is prescribed.
CAULOPHYLLUM THALICTROIDESWhen leucorrhea, moth spots, and skin discoloration affect women with uterine and menstrual disorders, caulophyllum is prescribed.
THUJA OCCIDENTALISThe herb Thuja occidentalis works wonders on liver spots, which are characterized by pale, waxy, shiny, dark under-eye circles, and veins that resemble spiders. The skin also has brown spots and appears dry and desiccated.
PLUMBUM METALLICUMFor liver spots with yellow, corpse-like spots on sunken cheeks, greasy, shiny skin, and other symptoms like paleness and emaciation, plumbum met is prescribed.
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