Topical treatment for age spots
Sun-induced skin damage can cause brown age spots, especially on oft-exposed areas like the hands and face. At one time, the only remedy was to cover them up with cosmetics. Now, there are therapies that help reverse the signs of photoaging at the physiological level. One approach is physical removal by surgery, microdermabrasion, or chemical peel. But many women prefer something gentler, and topical medications can help, reports the December 2007 issue of Harvard Women’s Health Watch.
The topical drugs used for treating age spots work mainly by interrupting the formation of melanin, the pigment responsible for tanning. To get the best results, you should also use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Harvard Women’s Health Watch describes the following commonly used agents.
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