Age Spot: What Is It And How To Prevent It
Dark marks on the skin surface are commonly known as age spots or liver spots. Scientifically speaking, age spots are due to being exposed to the sun and thus called as solar lentigines. These can be black, gray, or brown in color. The sizes range from freckle-like spots to spots that measure one centimeter across. Besides those that stand by themselves, there are age spots that come in cluster.
Parts of the body that have prolonged sun exposure display age spots. The hands, arms, face, and shoulders are the most typical areas. Age spots normally appear in people who are more than 40 years old. However, the appearance may also show up in younger people depending on the amount of exposure to the sun over a span of time.
A spot on the surface of the skin may be a manifestation of a more serious mark, so the attention of a medical physician like a dermatologist is necessary in order to verify the mark. Whenever there is an increase on the pigmentation in the skin, age spot is most likely to show up. An age spot typically has a flat and rounded look.
One good way to determine whether the mark is a more serious mark is to check if it has different colors, if it has an irregular shape, and if it is raised. You can request for assistance from a physician in determining this. Keep in mind that having a harmful mark may be a trigger for a health risk like skin cancer.
Age spots can be prevented by using sunscreen. Sunscreens are able to prevent the ultraviolet rays coming from the sun. The dark discoloration of the skin is caused by melanin. Without an aid on protecting the skin from UV rays, there is a boost of melanin production in the skin.
The development of age spot may also be brought about by genetics. Those who have freckles or fair skins are more likely to have dark spots like this. Conversely, those who have lighter skins has less natural protection from the UV rays.
Aging in itself can also be the cause of appearance of age spots in the skin. Because of aging, there is an increase of the production of melanin, which manifests marks.
Age spots can be removed in many ways. Many people do not consider its being harmless because they are not good to look at. Laser removal, chemical skin peels, dermabrasion, and cryotherapy are just some of the treatments for age spot removal. However, proactive prevention like the utilization of broad-spectrum sunscreens is recommended by skin doctors over expensive treatments.
