Over time, the skin changes tone , and small brown circles appear, especially on the face and hands. Age spots may seem unsightly, but they are normal and quite common.
If you want to get rid of them, there are several home remedies that can help. We’ll present them to you in this article.
Age spots
The changes that occur in the body as we age are undeniable. Among them are “solar lentigines,” also known simply as “age spots.” They are one of the most common signs of aging , but they appear much earlier: by age 40 they are already present.
These spots are larger than freckles, dark in color and flat, and develop mainly on:
- The back of the hands
- The forehead
- The arms
- The face
- The upper part of the chest.
Although they do not have serious health consequences, many people want to avoid or remove them for aesthetic reasons.
Cause of age spots
Although humans need exposure to ultraviolet rays to produce vitamin D, excessive exposure can damage the skin. In fact, excessive sun exposure is the main cause of skin blemishes.
Spending many hours outdoors, especially in summer, damages the superficial layers of the skin and accelerates the degenerative process .
Another trigger for skin blemishes is photosensitizing substances (found, for example, in some perfumes ), which cause an allergic reaction upon contact with sunlight. Some people are also more prone to lentigines due to genetic predisposition.
How to prevent age spots
Many women (and some men) worry about spots on their hands or face only after they have already appeared.
However, early prevention of this problem is very important. Starting around age 30 or 35, it’s recommended to change some habits to reduce the appearance of those unsightly brown marks:
1. Avoid excessive sun exposure
It is very important to protect yourself from UV rays to avoid skin damage. When the sun is very intense (for example, at midday in summer), it causes mild burns on the skin that later turn into spots.
2. Use sun protection factor
On sunny and hot days, it’s recommended to use a cream with at least SPF 30. Sunscreens and sunblocks for children can also be very helpful if you have very fair or sensitive skin.
