Dr. Mona expands upon the insights she shared in her recent Body Network feature: 10 Quick Remedies for Age Spots.

“Age spots” are small, flat, brown patches that typically appear on areas of the body that have been exposed to a lot of sunlight over time. Common areas include the face, hands, shoulders, chest and arms. If you are wondering how to remove age spots, Dr. Mona is here to share her top tips.

Some quick remedies that you can do to make the spots less noticeable include:

• Applying over-the-counter skin-lightening creams and lotions
• Using physician-prescribed topical creams
• Undergoing laser or light treatments
• Cryotherapy
• Microdermabrasion
• Chemical peels

In addition, sunscreen and some skin cafes can help prevent age spots from coming up.

Skin-Lightening Creams and Lotions

There are numerous skin-brightening options available in drugstores, retail stores, and doctor’s offices that can be used to minimize the appearance of age spots.

Your first line of defense should be a good broad-spectrum sunscreen. This can help protect your skin from both UVA and UVB rays. One of my favorites is Colorscience Sunforgettable ® Total Protection ® Face Shield Flex SPF 50 a mineral-based sunscreen that magically autocorrects to your skin tone. A great 2-in-1 product that combines antioxidants with a sunscreen is  SkinMedica Total Defense + Repair SPF 34.

A second line of defense should be antioxidants such as Vitamin C serums and retinoids. You could splurge for  Skinceuticals Phloretin or choose a more affordable option with La Roche Posay’s 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum l La Roche Posay. Retinoids are well known for their anti-aging benefits but can also help with brown spots. RetrinAL Advanced Correcting Serum is a good over-the-counter choice because it combines retinols, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid.

My third line of defense is to use a pigment brightener. This helps to not only lighten brown spots but also prevent brown spots from forming.

To prevent more brown spots from coming to the surface, look for creams that contain tranexamic acid, niacinamide, or kojic acid. Splurge on SKinMedica’s Even & Correct Advanced Brightening Treatment. It’s important to keep in mind that consistent use of creams for weeks or months is necessary for them to be effective on the skin.

Physician-Prescribed Medication or Remedies

If you have already tried over-the-counter products in your search for how to remove age spots, it may be time to consider prescription options. Some patients might require special formulas or creams that are stronger than drugstore options. In such cases, physicians can prescribe more effective remedies, such as hydroquinone or retinoids to treat age spots.

Hydroquinone is a bleaching cream that can be effective at treating superficial age spots, but it should not be used for more than 8-12 weeks at a time without taking a “hydroquinone holiday” for 8-12 weeks before incorporating it back into your skincare routine. It is not recommended to use anything higher than a 4% hydroquinone cream since this can actually cause more brown patches to form, a condition called ochranosis.  As mentioned above,  retinoids are well known for their anti-aging benefits but can also help with brown spots. Prescription Retin-A, or tretinoin, can be an effective way to treat some age spots. 

Age spot procedures

If you want to get rid of dark spots quickly, opting for a procedure that eliminates layers of discolored skin may yield better results compared to using a lightening cream. These techniques include light and laser-based treatments, cryotherapy (freezing), microdermabrasion, and chemical peels. It’s important to note that procedures typically entail higher costs than creams and carry additional risks. 

Laser Treatments

Laser treatment, also known as laser therapy or laser resurfacing, is a medical procedure that uses concentrated light beams to target and treat various skin issues. Narrow beams of light are used to get rid of the cells that cause age spots without damaging the rest of the skin. Treatments such as picosecond lasers have minimal to no downtime, whereas resurfacing lasers may require some preplanning. Depending on the treatment chosen and the amount of sun damage or age spots, desired results may require one to multiple sessions.  Initially, laser treatments may lead to skin crusting or darkening of spots, yet these temporary side effects typically go away quickly. 

Intense Pulse Light Treatments 

IPL or BBL (Broadband light) is a great way to treat both brown age spots and redness from sun damage.  Filters are used to isolate the correct wavelength to target either redness or brown discoloration inyour skin. You can treat the face as well as other areas of the body that have age spots.  This is a very popular treatment because it has minimal downtime and is not painful.  You will need multiple sessions to achieve the best results. 

Chemical Peel

In a chemical peel, a solution containing acids is applied to the skin to eliminate layers where age spots are present. Peels can range from superficial glycolic or salicylic acid peels, which cause dry flaking skin for a few days, or stronger medium-depth peels, such as TCA or phenol peels, that are done by a done by a medical professional and cause more significant peeling with over a week of downtime. Fresh skin will subsequently regenerate, resulting in a more even skin tone. Achieving desired outcomes may necessitate multiple sessions. Although generally considered safe, deeper chemical peels have risks, including scarring, infection, or alterations in skin pigmentation.

Freezing (Cryotherapy)

Cryotherapy is a medical procedure that uses extreme cold temperatures to treat various skin conditions or lesions. Liquid nitrogen is applied to the skin for a few seconds to freeze the areas where the spots are. As your skin heals, it will develop a small crust revealing lighter skin underneath, but the treatment can cause irritation, swelling, blisters, or redness.

Cautery 

Electrocautery can be used to treat some age spits.  In this treatment, an electric current is used to create injury to the superficial layers of skin. This causes an age spot to crust and scab and fall off.  This is a controlled injury using very low energy and should only be used by an experienced health professional. It can be a more effective way to treat some age spots in people of color. 

Dermabrasion

For this procedure, a rapidly spinning brush is used to sand down the spotted skin area so new skin can replace it. Multiple sessions may be necessary for this procedure to be effective. Potential side effects include redness, scabbing, and swelling. Additionally, it may take an extended period for your skin to fully heal and regain its normal appearance. This is not a common way to treat most age spots.) 

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion uses tiny crystals to exfoliate the skin instead of a spinning brush. It’s gentler on the skin compared to dermabrasion. However, achieving the desired results for age spot reduction may require multiple treatments spread over several months. This treatment will only treat the most superficial age spots and will not go below the surface of he skin. One advantage is it will leave your skin feeling more smooth and allows your skin care products to penetrate better.  Possible side effects include temporary redness or flakiness of the skin.

Microneedling

For this procedure, fine needles are used to create small, evenly distributed punctures in your skin. Your body reacts to these minor wounds by producing new collagen and elastin. These are essential components for youthful skin, to facilitate healing. Although this is a great way to rejuvenate the skin and improve overall skin texture and quality, it is not the best way to target age spots.   

Age Spot Prevention

Prevention can be the most effective way to address age spots. First and foremost, avoid excess sun exposure and tanning beds from a young age. Incorporating proper skin care early can also be a great defense.

To maintain lighter age spots and prevent the formation of new ones, try to minimize sun exposure. This is particularly important during peak hours of intensity. Apply a high-quality, broad-spectrum sunscreen before heading outdoors and reapply it frequently. Using gloves, hats, or other clothing on age-spot areas can help shield them and prevent new ones from forming.

Dr. Mona Foad expands upon the insights she shared in her recent Good Housekeeping feature: Your Summer Beauty Survival Guide.

What is cryotherapy skincare?

Cryotherapy skincare is a cold therapy that uses extremely cold temperatures to treat various conditions and improve skin health. There are multiple methods for cryotherapy: cryogenic chambers, cryo facials, cryo tools, or cryo masks. The cold temperature constricts blood vessels, reduces inflammation, tightens pores, and promotes collagen production, improving skin tone and texture. It’s often used for rejuvenation, reducing puffiness, and decreasing inflammation. 

What are the benefits of cryotherapy skincare, and how does it work?

There are several potential benefits regarding how cryotherapy works on the skin. When the skin is cooled it causes the blood vessels to constrict. This constriction reduces blood flow to the area, which can help decrease inflammation and swelling, which is particularly beneficial for conditions like acne or rosacea.  Cold temperatures also help to tighten the skin and reduce pores by contracting the skin temporarily, leading to a temporary tightening effect.  

While cold temperatures initially constrict blood vessels, blood flow increases once the skin warms up again, leading to improved circulation. This can contribute to healthier, more radiant-looking skin by delivering essential nutrients and oxygen to the skin cells. The cold temperature can also stimulate blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, which may help eliminate toxins and debris from the skin, resulting in a clearer, brighter complexion. 

What skin types is cryotherapy skincare best for?

Cryotherapy skincare can benefit various skin types, but its effectiveness may vary depending on skin conditions and concerns. Cryotherapy can benefit oily or acne-prone skin due to its ability to reduce inflammation, minimize pore size, and temporarily decrease oil production. Cold temperatures can help soothe acne-related inflammation and redness while providing a refreshing sensation. Cryomodulation is a newer treatment that targets disorders of inflammation such as rosacea and melasma. It downregulates inflammation by decreasing pro-inflammatory mediators and increasing anti-inflammatory mediators. Melanin transfer is impaired, and pigmentation is normalized to help even out skin tone.  Individuals with sensitive skin may also find cryotherapy skincare beneficial, mainly if the treatments are gentle and tailored to their specific needs. Cryotherapy can help calm sensitive skin by reducing redness, inflammation, and discomfort.  

Cryotherapy skincare can temporarily benefit combination skin, addressing various concerns such as oiliness, enlarged pores, and inflammation. However, it’s essential to customize cryotherapy treatments to target specific areas of concern without over-drying or irritating other parts of the face. Individuals with normal skin may also benefit from cryotherapy skincare, which includes improved circulation, brighter complexion, and temporary pore reduction. 

Is there anyone who shouldn’t use cryotherapy skincare?

While cryotherapy skincare can offer several benefits for many individuals, certain situations and conditions may not be suitable or advisable. For example, individuals with cryoglobulinemia, a rare condition characterized by abnormal proteins in the blood that thicken in cold temperatures, should avoid cryotherapy. Exposure to cold temperatures can trigger symptoms such as skin lesions, joint pain, and numbness in these individuals. Some people may have cold urticaria or cold-induced hives, a condition characterized by an allergic reaction to cold temperatures. Cryotherapy can exacerbate symptoms in individuals with this condition, leading to itching, swelling, and hives.

People with poor circulation, particularly in the extremities, may be at risk of complications from cryotherapy due to reduced blood flow. Cold temperatures can further constrict blood vessels, potentially exacerbating circulation issues and causing discomfort or tissue damage. Individuals with 

peripheral neuropathy or other nerve damage should avoid cryotherapy, as they may have decreased sensation and impaired ability to detect cold-related injuries. If you have open wounds or skin infections, you should avoid cryotherapy as the cold temperatures can slow down the healing process and increase the risk of infection. Individuals with heart conditions or who are pregnant should consult with their healthcare provider before undergoing cryotherapy. 

Do you think cryotherapy skincare is effective?

The effectiveness of cryotherapy skincare can vary depending on individual factors such as skin type, concerns, and the specific treatment protocol used. While some people may experience temporary improvements in skin texture, tone, and overall appearance, others may not see significant results.

Many people report positive outcomes immediately after undergoing cryotherapy treatments, including reduced inflammation, improved skin firmness, and a brighter complexion. However, we have limited research on the efficacy of cryotherapy skincare. We will need to conduct more studies to fully understand its benefits and mechanisms of action. There is not enough evidence to support the use of whole-body cryotherapy (WBC), and the American Academy of Dermatology warns against the use of this, citing reported injuries such as frostbite, frozen limbs, and rashes. Whole-body cryotherapy has been used to decrease muscle soreness and inflammation in athletes, but there is not enough evidence to support its use in the aesthetic world at this time, and the FDA has not cleared or approved WBC as a safe or effective treatment for any medical condition. 

What cryotherapy skincare products do you recommend?

When choosing cryotherapy skincare products, consider your skin type, concerns, and any specific ingredients or formulations that you prefer. I always recommend to my patients to patch test new products before using them extensively, especially if they have sensitive skin or allergies. 

Some popular cryotherapy skincare products that have received positive user reviews include Cryo facial tools, Cryo Masks, Cryo Serums and Moisturizers, and Cryo Facials. 

I like cryo facial tools, such as cryo rollers or cryo globes. These devices deliver the benefits of cold therapy to the skin in an at-home setting. Brands like StackedSkincare and ESARORA offer cryo facial tools that can massage the skin, reduce puffiness, and promote circulation. Results are temporary, but these can make your skin feel more refreshed.

Cryo masks are formulated with ingredients that provide a cooling effect on the skin, but they are not actually cryotherapy.  Ingredients such as menthol, peppermint, or eucalyptus can feel cooling and may help to soothe and refresh the skin, but these are not actual cryotherapy treatments. Always make sure to test products on non-facial skin to make sure you do not develop an allergic reaction. 

Some skincare brands offer serums and moisturizers that aim to deliver the benefits of cold therapy to the skin, but not the actual cold therapy. These products may contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, and botanical extracts to hydrate, soothe, and rejuvenate the skin.

Many spas and skincare clinics also offer cryo facial treatments. During a cryo facial, a trained esthetician uses a cryo wand or cryo probe to apply cold temperatures to the skin, providing various benefits such as reduced inflammation, improved circulation, and a brighter complexion. One option that we offer at our office is Glacial Rx. Glacial Rx is a medical-grade facial treatment that uses Cryomodulation to decrease inflammation and target pigment. This can help treat rosacea, melasma. We also use cryo facials to decrease inflammation after laser treatment.