Have you ever noticed dark areas forming on different parts of your body? This typically happens as you get older. These spots may change the outward appearance of your face and affect your confidence and sense of self-worth. Continue reading for more information about Fort Worth age spots and what to do about them.
What are Age Spots?
Liver spots are darkened areas around the skin that vary in size around the body. These spots usually form in the regions directly exposed to the sun, like the hands, arms, shoulders, and face.
Adults older than 50 are most guilty of getting affected by age spots, although staying a long time exposed to the sun can also lead to age spots in younger people.
Sometimes age spots may appear like cancerous growths. Age spots usually don’t require treatment. They can be cosmetically removed or lightened, but they are usually an attempt by the skin to protect itself from sun damage from prolonged exposure.
Signs and Symptoms of Age Spots
Although they affect people of all skin types, lighter-skinned people are more likely to get affected by age spots. Unlike freckles, age spots do not fade away. Age spots:
- Range from sizes of 4 millimeters to about 13 millimeters
- Are flat oval patches of enhanced pigmentation
- Affect areas that receive the most sun exposure, such as the face, shoulders, back of hands, and upper back.
- Can conglomerate make them quickly noticed
- They are usually dark brown to around tan in color
When should you see a doctor?
Since age spots do not require any treatment, you should see a doctor if you suspect the growths are cancerous. This is when the spot:
- Has an irregular border
- Is bleeding
- It is growing in size
- Is black
- It has an unusual combination of colors
What Causes Age Spots?
When your skin undergoes a lot of sun exposure, the melanin is produced in high concentrations, coming out in clumps. Melanin, the natural pigment giving the skin its color, is accelerated by ultraviolet light from the sun.
You are much more likely to get age spots if you have a history of intense exposure to the sun or are light-skinned.
Prevention of age spots can be attained through:
- Use of sunscreen
- Avoiding the sun between 10 am and 1 pm
- Covering up parts of your body easily exposed to the sun
Diagnosis and Treatment of Age Spots
Diagnosis of age spots is commonly made through visual inspections by your medical practitioner to differentiate age spots from other skin conditions to determine the correct form of treatment. Biopsy for additional tests may also be performed.
Treatments are aimed at making the age spots less noticeable. Some of these treatments include:
- Cryotherapy
- Chemical peel
- Microdermabrasion
- Application of prescription creams such as hydroquinone
As you get older, age spots are much more likely to appear on your face and parts of your body. As more of them appear, their combination may start to become noticeable. To get more information about age spots and possible treatments, call the offices in Fort Worth, TX.
