What Are the Different Types of Products for Age Spots?

Products for age spots typically include topically applied creams and lotions, laser skin treatments, and chemical peels. Cryotherapy and dermabrasion are also sometimes used to minimize the appearance of these brown spots on the surface of the skin. Age spots, also known as solar lentigines or liver spots, usually occur as a result of sun damage to the skin. While not normally considered a cause for alarm, many people find these spots unsightly and wish to remove them. Most products for age spots can't remove the spots entirely, but many can cause significant fading of the discoloration, making the spots less noticeable.

Cryotherapy, dermabrasion, chemical peels and laser skin treatments can all be used to help reduce the appearance of sun spots. These treatments typically work by removing the uppermost layers of the skin. Removing these damaged upper layers of the skin can allow the healthier underlying layers to emerge. These treatments should typically only be performed by a professional dermatologist, although most can be done on an outpatient basis.

Each of these treatments typically carries its own risks and side effects. Some of them may cause scars or further undesirable skin discoloration. They may make skin more sensitive to sunlight, so that regular use of sun block will often be necessary after recovery is complete.

Creams or lotions containing certain skin-lightening ingredients are generally considered the easiest, safest, and most affordable products for age spots. There are several such creams available. While mild creams may be available without a prescription, a dermatologist can write a prescription for stronger formulas.

Some of the main ingredients in skin-lightening cream products for age spots include kojic acid, alpha hydroxy acids, hydroquinone, and retinoids. Most retinoid products for age spots can only be purchased with a prescription, and they may increase the risk of sun burn, since they typically work by gently dissolving the uppermost skin layers. These products will typically contain adapalene or tretinoin.

Products containing hydroquinone, kojic acid, or alpha hydroxy acids are generally available without a prescription. Kojic acid is made from fungus, and usually works by inhibiting the production of melanin, or natural coloration, in the skin. Alpha hydroxy acids, usually extracted from citrus fruits and milk, also help to exfoliate the skin, removing sun-damaged uppermost layers and fading discoloration. Hydroquinone helps to inhibit melanin production in the skin, gradually causing discolorations to fade.