Treating Sun Spots Is Just as Important as Wrinkle Care!
Women ages 30 and older are growing increasingly aware of new wrinkles with each passing year. Yet, evidence suggests that sun spots may have as much of an impact on age-related appearance as wrinkles.
Nearly 63 percent of women older than age 35 experience sun or age spots, discolorations and uneven skin. The dark side? The problem reflects your apparent age or an on going skin damage.
“Getting a clear, even skin tone without discoloration is just as important as wrinkle-fighting to achieving a rejuvenated, youthful appearance,” says Dr. Ellen Marmur, prominent New York City dermatologist and author of “Simple Skin Beauty.” “To some patients, it’s even more important.”
Dermatologists like Marmur call it hyperpigmentation, but its various types are commonly known as age spots, sun spots, liver spots, freckles and melasma, brown patches of skin triggered by a hormone imbalance. Age spots, sun spots and liver spots are all the same ailment — pouches of melanin where the skin pigment has overproduced and dumped uneven amounts, the majority of which are a result of sun damage.
According to Marmur, the two most used topical treatments for discoloration are hydroquinone and retinoids, but to treat the long-term problem, sufferers of dark spots should also heed the following sun-related advice:
• Wear sunscreen year-round with an SPF of 30.
• For prolonged sun exposure, get a wide-brimmed hat to wear outdoors.
• Neutralize stubborn spots with peach-toned concealer while using products to slow down melanin production.
• Beware of products that bleach skin, as this can cause white spots, another form of discoloration.
Having a better understanding can help find a balance inside your skincare routine; Overall getting to 30 years plus means other kind of skin needs. Make sure to always make a research about the ingredients you add in your routine.
Here are ingredients that are commonly used for hyperpigmentation and age spots:*
Most plants have these nutrients in varying amounts. They can counter "free radicals," tiny particles that harm DNA inside of cells. Skin cells with that kind of damage can speed up aging, leading to wrinkles, dry skin, dark circles under eyes, dull skin, and more.
Foods that are rich in antioxidants are good for your skin and your overall health. You can also apply products that have them. Those with the most antioxidants that have been shown to repair damage and slow the aging process include:
- Acai oil
- Alpha-lipoic acid
- Green tea extract
- Retinol
- Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
- Caffeine
Other plant-based or natural treatments for aging skin found in skin-care products include:
- Alpha-hydroxy acid
- Salicylic acid
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Your body makes this natural chemical, and it’s in every cell you have. As an antioxidant, it attacks free radicals throughout the body. In skin care products, companies use it as a substance that can erase fine lines and wrinkles, diminish pores, and give skin a healthy glow.
Green Tea Extract
Tea is loaded with nutrients called polyphenols, which have been shown to fight free radicals.
Early studies have found the ingredients in tea can ease sun damage and may protect you from skin cancer when you put it on your skin. Use green tea extract under sunscreen to double the protection. Polyphenols in creams and lotions may also slow signs of aging and reduce sagging skin and wrinkles.
Retinol
Made from vitamin A, retinol is added to creams that go on your skin. It boosts the amount of collagen your body makes and plumps out skin, reducing fine lines and wrinkles. It also improves skin tone and color and reduces mottled patches.
Many dermatologists prescribe retinol's stronger counterpart, tretinoin, or similar products, to slow skin aging, improve irregular coloring, and clear up acne. Over-the-counter products that have retinols may be weaker, but they can still improve how your skin looks.
Using a retinol-based product may make the top layer of your skin dry and flaky. It’s best to apply it at night and wear moisturizer and sunscreen the next morning, or ask your dermatologist about alternatives.
Vitamin C
As you age, your body makes less collagen and elastin, which keep skin strong, flexible, and resilient. The antioxidants in vitamin C may boost the amount of collagen and minimize fine lines, wrinkles, and scars.
Vitamin C is in some skin care products such as creams and lotions. If you want to try one, ask your dermatologist for some options.
Coenzyme Q-10 (CoQ-10)
Your body naturally makes this antioxidant to zap free radicals in cells. As you age, you make less. That may make skin cells more vulnerable to damage. That's the reason it’s in skin care products such as toners, gels, and creams, which you can use on their own or with a moisturizer. One study shows that CoQ10 helps reduce “crow’s feet,” the wrinkles around the eyes.
Caffeine
It's also an antioxidant, but experts don't know whether it can reverse aging on your skin. Still, companies have added it to lotions and creams based on research that shows caffeine could help prevent the growth of skin cancer and, when applied to the skin, may make wrinkles less defined, especially ''crow's feet'' around the eyes.
Other Popular Ingredients
When you shop for makeup and skin care products, you may see other ingredients on their labels:
Alpha-hydroxy Acids (AHAs)
This group includes glycolic, lactic, citric, and tartaric acids. They’re in many products.
*Information extracted from WebMD
