Age Spots - Spotting the Best Treatments to Fade SkinDiscolorationBy James Fairfield, MD

Age Spots, Part I: You Can Lighten Them Up with a Chemical PeelFreckles were cute when you were playing T-ball, but now you're thinking...What isthat - an age spot?!? Although age spots really have little to do with aging, they doappear over time when the cells that produce melanin (skin pigment) go bad. You'll geta freckle, or more likely a blotch that's bigger than a freckle, and it just won't go away.If you think it's too early to be noticing age spots but you see them on family members- well, the bad news is, those darkened, discolored spots that appear on faces andhands over the years are hereditary, so you may be likely to get them.The good news is that you can take steps now to minimize the appearance of thisdiscoloration. Better yet, the science of dermatology keeps evolving with new cosmeticdermatology treatments. This means all of us, at any age, have options to fade skindiscoloration. In this article, I'll give you the information you need on the treatmentgenerally known as the chemical peel (or facial peel).But first, let's talk about what you can do to try to avoid age spots: Sunscreen! (Youknew I'd say that.) Sun damage brings out these spots and blotches, and for those of us already blessed with the unsightly marks, sun exposure will make them darker andmore prominent. No question: wear protective clothing and use a UVA/UVB sunscreenmarked at least SPF 30. Protect your skin from the sun - every day, even if it's cloudy!But, what if the pesky age spots have already blossomed on your skin? Among thetreatments cosmetic dermatologists offer, chemical facial peels provide effective fadingof age spots and other skin discoloration, along with other benefits. The facial peelworks by loosening the connections between surface cells and speeding up the"turnover rate," bringing new cells to the skin surface. Since these spots begin withdefective pigmentation in deeper cells, this procedure lets your skin get rid of thesecells, along with sun-damaged surface skin. A side benefit: the process also smootheswrinkles and increases collagen production, thereby improving skin tone.Chemical treatments offer an advantage over surface procedures like dermabrasion:peels work at a deeper level in your skin. Of course, you'll want to talk with your owncosmetic dermatologist about the best treatment for your unique needs. A few peoplehave chemical-sensitive skin, so preliminary testing will make it clear if this treatmentis right for you.Your cosmetic dermatologist can also recommend the level of treatment appropriatefor the condition of your individual skin type and schedule requirements. Theprocedure involves the carefully controlled application of an acid or other solution tothe skin, and there's a range of chemical peel formulations, from heavy-duty to gentler.To start with the big guns, one popular combination includes fluocinolone,hydroquinone, and tretinoin. It's topical (applied to your skin) but does require adoctor's prescription. Fluocinolone is a steroid; hydroquinone blocks the production of melanin, the dark skin pigment; tretinoin is a form of vitamin A. Together they stronglystimulate skin cell turnover and prevent the formation of new pigment.