Age Spots
Age spots — also called liver spots and solar lentigines — are flat tan, brown or black spots. They vary in size and usually appear on the face, hands, shoulders and arms — areas most exposed to the sun.
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Symptoms
Age spots typically develop in people with a fair complexion, but they can be seen in those with darker skin.
- Are flat, oval areas of increased pigmentation
- Are usually tan, brown or black
- Occur on skin that has had the most sun exposure over the years, such as the backs of hands, tops of feet, face, shoulders and upper back
Age spots range from freckle size to more than 1/2 inch (13 millimeters) across and can group together, making them more prominent.
Home remedies
- Rub fresh Aloe Vera juice on the spots twice daily for two months.
- Rub castor Oil on the spots every morning and evening.
- Mix two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar with one teaspoon of orange juice. Apply on a cotton pad and bandage it to the area.
- Radium Weed : The milky sap can be applied to sunspots for 2-4 days. You do not need a lot of the sap just a drop on the area to be treated. The site will fester and be quite unsightly, followed by a scab, then fresh pink skin. Fresh aloe gel can be applied to aid healing.
- Eat four fresh bilberries daily, or take 80 to 160 mg of bilberry extract.
- Apply organic Buttermilk to the spots. The lactic acid in buttermilk helps to restore the skin.
- Raw Apple Cider Vinegar & Onion : Mix equal amounts of Apple Cider Vinegar and onion juice together in a glass bowl. Dab a cotton pad into the solution and apply it directly onto the age spots. Leave this on the skin for 30 minutes. Repeat this twice a day for 6-8 weeks.
- Every evening mash about 1/3 cup of chickpeas and make a paste by adding a little water. Leave it on until it completely dries, and then wash it off.
- Break the stem off a dandelion and rub the sap on the spots two to three times a day. It is said that Will Greer (Grandpa Walton) used this method successfully in treating his age spots.
- The Chinese herb, Gotu Kola, is said to clear up age spots, sometimes in only a few days. Add 1/8 teaspoon of the powdered herb to herbal tea, or you can just add it to hot water, mixing it with 1/8 teaspoon of ginseng and a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- Apply fresh lemon juice to the spots twice daily.
- Papaya is a valuable fruit for fighting against wrinkles and blemishes. Papaya is rich in vitamin A, E, C enzymes, and antioxidants, which clean the skin of dirt, acne, and dark spots, and moisturizes it giving the skin a clean and clear complexion.
- Vitamin A reduces wrinkles and erases those dark spots. It also makes your skin smooth.
- Coconut prevents wrinkles, sagging skin, and age spots.
- Spirulina : The combination of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and carotenoids within spirulina make it very good for skin care. It is remarkable for improving aging spots, eczema, acne, & rashes.
- Vitamin B10 has shown to prevent premature aging such as wrinkles, sagging or age spots on the skin
- Ozonated Oil
- Thuja Occidentalis can also be found in ointment form and has been used to treat warts and brown age spots.
- Oranges in particular are suggested to promote skin health. Dr. Balche explains that their high vitamin C content helps repair cell damage in the skin as well as prevent any new damage from developing in the first place. It's also good to know that the George Mateljan Foundation's web site, The World's Healthiest Foods, says that oranges have been shown to fight certain cancers, including skin cancer.
Warnings
You may not like the way they look, but age spots are usually harmless and don't require medical care. However, your doctor should evaluate spots that are dark or have changed in appearance, because these changes can be signs of melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer.
It's best to have any new skin changes evaluated by a doctor, especially if a spot or lesion:
- Is darkly pigmented
- Is rapidly increasing in size
- Has an irregular border
- Has an unusual combination of colors
- Is accompanied by itching, redness, tenderness or bleeding
Medical Disclaimer
This information is not meant to be substituted for medical advice. Always consult a medical professional regarding any medical problems and before undertaking any treatment or dietary changes.
