Age Spots

One sign of aging skin is the appearance of “age spots”. These are small spots on the skin that are of darker colour than the surrounding area; age spots resemble freckles, however they are slightly larger, and appear on areas that are exposed to the sun, including the face and the back of hands.

To better understand what age spots are, it is important to understand some basic skin anatomy. Our skin has two layers, the epidermis (outer layer), and dermis (inner layer). Within the deepest layer of the epidermis, there reside cells that produce melanin (pigmentation) known as melanocytes. When skin is exposed to the sun over prolonged periods of time, or when UV index is high, melanocytes are stimulated to produce extra melanin in an attempt to protect the skin from UV damage. This results in areas of skin where darker spots appear. These are age spots.

Age spots are best prevented by avoiding excessive sun exposure. However, options are available to help reduce the appearance of age spots once they do appear. Because they are produced by cells of the epidermis, treatments that encourage skin renewal would help to reduce age spots. These include dietary modifications and possible nutritional supplementations to ensure adequate nutrients for skin regeneration. Additionally, interventions that protect the skin from oxidative damage will discourage excess melanin production would be helpful, these can include coQ10, vitamin C and glutathione. Vitamin C and glutathione also have inhibitory effects on melanocytes, which reduces melanin production directly. Vitamin C and glutathione can be administered intravenously to allow higher doses and quicker results.

Other procedures that can help reduce the appearance of age spots include PRP, peels, microdermal abrasion and laser treatments.