Aging Dark Spots: How To Treat Them?

Date posted:2023. 08.01

Reading time: 4 mintutes

As we age gracefully, our skin may encounter the emergence of age spots, a common occurrence over time. While it is a natural part of the journey, many individuals seek to proactively address and treat these dark spots, preserving a radiant and vibrant complexion throughout the years.

As we grow older, our skin records various events like a unique personal diary. Old scars show when we fell and got up again, sunspots tell us about certain beach holidays, while liver spots, like the annual rings of trees, immortalize our age.

Liver spots, also known as age spots, are yellowish-brownish, larger, and oval-shaped spots, depending on the skin color. They occur most often in the areas of the skin that are most exposed to sunlight. These include:

• Face
• Neck
• Hands
• Feet

Aging leads to the development of dark spots on the skin through a complex interaction of factors. With age, the production of essential components such as collagen and melanin in the skin gradually decreases. This process, combined with life-long exposure to ultraviolet (UVA and UVB) radiation, leads to irregular pigmentation and the formation of yellowish or dark spots.

In addition, age-related changes in cell turnover and repair processes in the skin contribute to the accumulation of melanin, leading to the appearance of these spots. While it is a natural process, understanding the underlying mechanisms gives us the ability to approach skin care with wisdom, kindness, and targeted treatments.

Are age spots dangerous?

Even though age spots usually do not pose a risk, it is worth going for regular dermatological examinations, especially after the age of 40. During these check-ups, your doctor will assess manually or with a device to make sure that you do not have bulging, irregularly shaped dark spots that could lead to melanoma.

Age spots mainly appear on the face and hands

Although age spots can form anywhere on the skin that has been exposed to sunlight for an extended period, they appear on the face and hands of most people over 40.

Fun fact: Drivers have been observed to burn more easily on one arm and this is also where their liver spots first appear in older age. This is because the arm closer to the side of the car is almost always in the sun, while the other arm is almost always in the shade.

After the age of 40, skin cells start to produce more lipofuscin and melanin for various reasons, but mostly due to excessive sun exposure. This increased production results in the formation of yellowish-brown age spots.

Age spots come in a wide range of colors and sizes. They might be little spots or more than several centimeters, ranging in color from yellowish to dark brown. On healthy skin, they have a smooth, even surface.

Most dark spots are completely harmless, but to the naked eye, they are almost impossible to distinguish from skin cancer (melanoma).

Several factors can contribute to the development of dark spots. These include genetic predisposition, exposure to chemicals and drugs, and unprotected exposure to the sun.