Dark spots on the skin can happen at any time but most commonly appear in middle age.
Dark spots are also called age spots, hyperpigmentation, or liver spots.
This is especially true if you didn’t use sunscreen and other sun-protective measures consistently earlier in life.
Verywell / Zoe Hansen
However, UV exposure alone may not cause hyperpigmentation.
Rather sun exposure combined with other factors cause the skin to develop dark spots.
For instance, the risk of pregnancy-related hyperpigmentation may be increased with sun exposure.
Is It Skin Cancer?
Dark spots are generally harmless, but there are times when they could becancerous.
However, these are not the same as age-related dark spots.
Others can be faded or removed completely with topical treatments, but these may require several months of use.
Side effects, including redness, swelling, and skin irritation can occur with any topical medication.
Skin lightening products contain abrasive ingredients that also make the skin extremely sensitive to UV exposure.
So it’s essential to wear sunscreen with SPF consistently throughout treatment.
They are often used along with topical treatments.
However, some may not be appropriate for people with sensitive skin.
Options include:
Prevention
As you age, dark spots may be inevitable.
They are often the result of past sun exposure.
But they can also be due to some skin conditions, medications, and certain medical conditions.
Often your healthcare provider or dermatologist can diagnose dark spots by looking at them.
But in some cases, they may do a skin biopsy to be sure.
Dark spots are usually harmless.
Even so, some people choose to have them removed for cosmetic reasons.
Treatment options include skin-lightening creams and cosmetic procedures.
You may not be able to prevent dark spots entirely.
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