Those Pesky Age Spots

I had freckles as a child and now I have "age spots." Apparently these brown spots typically appear on the backs of the hands in a person's forties or fifties, caused by years of direct exposure to the sun's ultraviolet radiation. I have them also on my arms, shoulders and face. It seems that the sun's ultraviolet radiation damages the color-producing cells of the skin, which are called melanocytes. They then go into overdrive and produce too much color.

Even if you lighten them, they will come back with re-exposure to the sun, says Joni Loughran, an esthetician, cosmetologist and aromatherapist in Petaluma, California. If you're trying to fade age spots, you should wear a sunblock with an SPF of 15 on your hands or other exposed, spotted areas whenever you go outdoors.

In extremely rare cases, the area of a spot can develop a life-threatening cancer called a melanoma. If one of your age spots, or the area around a spot, has turned black and is irregular in shape (signs of melanoma), see a medical doctor immediately.

The following remedies can be tried to reduce or eliminate age spots:

Aromatherapy:

The essential oils of lemon and benzoin have bleaching properties that can help age spots fade, says Barbara Close, an herbalist and aromatherapist in East Hampton, New York. Combine two or three drops of one of the oils with a vegetable carrier oil such as almond, then apply the mixture to the spot twice a day.

Licorice and Glycolic Acid:

Although it may be hard to find, a beauty product containing glycolic acid and licorice extract can work beautifully to lighten or eliminate age spots, says Close.

Glycolic acid consists of natural sugar acids derived from citrus, papaya or other foods. It gently exfoliates the top layer of skin, while the licorice bleaches the spot. To apply, follow the instructions on the label.

Honey and Yogurt:

A mixture of honey and yogurt creates a natural bleach that can help lighten age spots, says Pratima Raichur, N.D., a naturopathic doctor in New York City.

To 1 teaspoon of plain yogurt, add 1 teaspoon of honey and mix thoroughly. Apply the mixture to your hands, let it dry, then wash it off after 30 minutes. Do this once a day.

Gotu Kola:

The herb gotu kola may help fight age spots by stimulating the growth of new, healthy cells and the production of collagen, the protein that holds skin together, says Brigitte Mars, an herbalist and nutritional consultant in Boulder, Colorado. She recommends daily use of a tincture or capsule form of the herb. Add one dropper of tincture to 1/4 cup of water and take three times daily, or take one or two 60-milligram capsules a day.

Source: Alternative Cures: The Most Effective Natural Home Remedies for 160 Health Problems by Bill Gottlieb, author of New Choices in Natural Healing.