How To Understand Age Spots

Age Spots are flat, brownish black skin discolorations that are often seen on people who are advancing in years. Age spots are also known as liver spots, sun spots, lentigo, etc. Remember one thing - even though age spots are sometimes referred to as liver spots, they have nothing to do with your liver.

We have collected some ways in which you can understand what are age-spots:

1. Age spots are are characterized by an excess of melanin being concentrated in one area. Age spots generally appears in areas that have been exposed to the sun.
2. Unsightly age spots can begin appearing as early as the late twenties but are most common after the age 55.
3. Eating a diet rich in orange vegetables (carrot and yams) and green leafy vegetables (collard greens and watercress) may help reduce your chances of developing these spots as you age.
4. Hydroquinone is a mild bleaching agent that helps lighten the appearance of all kinds of dark skin discolorations including age spots, scars and freckles.
5. Laser resurfacingcan also be used where the age spots are literally burned away using a sophisticated, targeted laser.
6. One cost effective and natural way to reduce age spots is to simply keep out of the sun and wear long sleeved shirts
7. Limiting your intake of alcohol can also discourage a propensity towards developing the unattractive skin discolorations.
8. The photosensitive chemical compounds known as psoralens occur naturally in plants such as limes, lemons, parsley, figs, celery and parsnips.  Because these compounds are photosensitive, they make your skin more sensitive when you go out in the sun, and thus more likely to produce age spots. 
9. More traditional means of removing age spots have mostly used acidic fruit juices applied as daily washes, or applied by laying pieces of fresh fruit on the affected skin.
10. Whatever treatment options you select, be sure to take good care and good judgment: if you experience redness or other irritation discontinue the treatment; if the spot you are treating looks unusual or appears to grow, see a medical personnel immediately.
11. Some common treatment options includes Bleaching creams, Fading creams, Medicated creams, Chemical peels, and surgical options such as Cryotherapy, Laser therapy, etc.
12. The best way to cure age spots is to stop them from happening at the first place. For that, keep a healthy diet, quit smoking and quit alcohol.