Age spots at a glance
- What they are: flat, darker patches on the skin, most often on the face, hands and shoulders – the areas most exposed to the sun
- Cause: excess melanin at sites of long-term UV exposure; more common after the age of 50, but they also appear in younger people who spend time in the sun
- Important: not every dark spot is an age spot – lesions that grow, change colour or bleed need an examination before any cosmetic treatment
- Treatments: laser pigment removal and chemical peels, with adapted home care; the result depends on the depth of the pigment
- Prevention: daily SPF prevents new spots and re-darkening of treated areas
How do age spots form?
Age spots, also called sun spots or lentigines, are caused by long-term exposure to UV radiation. In the most exposed areas – the face, hands, shoulders and décolletage – melanocytes produce excess melanin, forming flat darker patches with clear borders. They are more common after fifty, but also appear in younger people who tan frequently without protection.
How do they differ from other lesions?
Age spots are flat, brown, relatively symmetrical and stable. However, not every dark spot is harmless: a lesion that grows, changes colour, develops irregular borders, itches or bleeds does not belong to the cosmetic category. That is why an examination is carried out before any laser or peel treatment of pigmentation – only when the nature of the lesion is clear do we choose a treatment.
Which treatments help?
Laser pigment removal breaks down excess melanin and lightens the spot, while chemical peels accelerate the renewal of the surface layers and even the tone. Depending on the depth of the pigment and skin phototype, treatments are combined. The result is gradual – spots first temporarily darken, then flake off and fade over the following weeks.
Care and SPF after treatment
After any pigmentation treatment the skin is more sensitive to the sun. High SPF and avoiding direct sun are mandatory so that the spot does not return and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation does not develop. Good home care and daily protection are as important as the treatment itself.
Frequently asked questions
Can age spots be removed completely?
Many spots can be fully or almost fully removed with one or several treatments. The outcome depends on the depth of the pigment, phototype and consistent sun protection.
How many treatments are needed?
Often 1-3 treatments for a single spot, a few weeks apart. Larger or deeper spots may need a series.
Do the spots come back?
They can, if the skin is exposed to the sun again without protection. Daily SPF is the basis of maintaining the result.
Is laser removal painful?
The sensation is usually mild stinging or a rubber-band snap. The treatment is short, and afterwards the skin may be red and the spots temporarily darker.
Read more
- Sun-damaged skin: signs and treatments
- Chemical peels: evening the skin tone
- Cosmetics: SPF and daily protection
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