You may think of age spots as an inevitable and very unattractive sign of skin aging.

For most of us those little brown patches that pop up on our hands, arms and chest are very unwelcome visitors from our thirties and forties onwards. 

But did you know that age spots aren't really a result of aging? And if you've got them there are things you can do to get rid of them and stop them coming back

So if you've always hated those little brown marks - here's the most frequently asked questions about age spots to put you in the picture:

1. When do we get them? For some of us age spots happen as early as thirty, others don’t see age spots appear until their later forties and into their fifties. As you increase the sun exposure to your skin over the years, you become more prone to age spots, so it may take a while for them to develop. Heavy sun exposure, more delicate or more susceptible skin will result in earlier age spots. What is fairly certain though is that somewhere along the line, you will see the results of sun exposure in your face and body - and it may not be pretty.
2. What causes age spots? Contrary to popular belief, age spots just a result of living longer. They are the visible effects of sun damage - if you lived to be 100 years old and had never been exposed to the sun, you would not develop age spots.
3. So why are they worse for some people? The more sun exposure you’ve had, the more likely it is for the age spots to emerge. Age spots can develop as you get older simply because you have lived longer and been exposed to the sun for longer. Genetics also matter – age spots seem to be more likely if you have parents that have had them.
4. Are they dangerous? Most age spots are painless and harmless, so there’s no need to worry about them as a health risk. However, you might want to keep an eye on them with the help of your doctor because they can be easy to confuse with melanomas and certain types of skin cancer.
5. So should I just put up with them? No - not if they worry you. Blemishes on the skin can cause you to feel less happy about your appearance and undermine your overall self-confidence and nothing adds more years than lack of confidence about how you look. Age spots or sun spots are naturally associated with age and you may be self-conscious about them because of that. Don't put up with them if you are unhappy - taking action to deal with something so apparently trivial as age spots can be a huge boost to your self-esteem.
6. How can I get rid of them? To start with, you may want to consider a fade cream which is simply a topical anti aging skin treatment that contains a skin lightening agent. In America this is often hydroquinone but in Europe hydroquinone is not an approved ingredient and so natural alternatives like liquorice extract are often used. Other topical remedies are based on Retinol again at very high doses to help lessen the sun spot's appearance over time
7. How long will fade creams take? The effect of a fade cream will be to lighten the age spots gradually so they become less noticeable. Fade creams are unlikely to fully remove your age spots and could take anywhere from 3-6 months to have any noticeable effect.
8. Is there anything quicker? You could try a chemical peel - perhaps after an initial application of a good fade cream. Chemical peels use glycolic acid to remove the outer layers of skin and the age spots together. You may need repeated treatments depending on how bad your age spots are.
9. What about lasers? Lasers offer a highly effective form of treatment for age spots.  Laser resurfacing works in a simular way to a chemical peel by removing the outer layers of skin and the age spots. Laser resurfacing is also likely to be much more long term than a chemical peel but it will cost you.
10. How do I stop age spots coming back? That's easy - use a broad spectrum sunscreen every day. By putting on anti-aging sun protection before heading outdoors - whatever the weather - you give your precious skin a barrier against any further damage as well as protection from the UV rays that can cause skin cancers. Look out for anti aging moisturizers and make up with as high an SPF as you can get.

So - the message is clear - you don't have to put up with your age spots unless you choose not to.  And whatever you do make sure your age spots don't get worse - protect your skin from further sun damage.

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