Age spots develop in many places on the body particularly the tops of the shoulders, upper back, chest and back of hands. They are generally caused by the sun exposure of our youth.
Remember that burn you had on your shoulders, back or chest? Well, there it is again!
The backs of our hands are constantly exposed to the sun as well as the magnified sun in the car while we drive.
Other signs of sun damage in these areas including the backs of the hands are:
- Deep wrinkles
- Dry, rough skin
- Fine red veins
- Thinner, more translucent-looking skin
Although not something we want, age spots are generally harmless. Have a doctor check evaluate any that become dark or have changed appearance.
To get rid of or at least minimize the spots there are pigment lightening gels, microdermabrasion, peels and for extreme cases lasers. All of these remedies will target the melanin in the brown spots to fade or remove them.
To prevent age spots, prevent them from getting worse, and particularly after we've faded them - use a good SPF 30 with a physical block like zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. And, you might want to consider wearing gloves while driving.
