When you spend countless hours outside soaking up the sun without the proper protection, it won’t just create fine lines and wrinkles—it will also cause age spots, also known as sun spots, to appear. They can develop on the face, hands, neck, arms, and other places of your body, and can cause your skin to look unhealthy. Fortunately, there is a way to get rid of these sun spots and protect your skin down the road from excessive UV ray exposure.

What Are Sun Spots & How Do They Form?

Sun spots, also sometimes referred to as age or liver spots, are created by overactive pigment cells as a result of UV light exposure from the sun. When you sit outside and expose your skin to sunlight for long periods of time, it speeds up the production of melanin, which is a natural pigment that gives each person’s skin its own, unique color. After years of exposure, age spots can begin to appear where melanin is produced in high concentrations—this is especially the case for those who have lighter skin or are prone to sunburns.

How Should You Protect Your Skin When Spending Time Outdoors?

The best way to prevent the formation of sun spots is to limit your time outdoors during the summer and on sunny days with little to no cloud coverage. Here are some other preventive tips:

• Avoid being outdoors when the sun’s rays are most intense, which is typically between 10am and 2pm each day.
• Apply a liberal amount of sunscreen to your face and body before you go outdoors. It’s recommended to at least use SPF 30, but if you’re prone to sunburns or have lighter skin, which are both risk-factors for sun spots, consider using a higher SPF, like 50 or 75.
• If you must spend time outdoors due to your job or if you’re going on a vacation, be sure to cover up by wearing a wide-brimmed hat and light, long-sleeved shirts and pants, being mindful to not overheat.

Is There a Way to Get Rid of Sun Spots?

Ablative skin resurfacing with a special device called the Forte Laser can help treat sun damaged skin and encourage the growth of new, healthy skin cells, providing drastic improvements in both the appearance and texture of the skin. It helps remove surface layers of skin that have been severely damaged by the sun and stimulate collagen production to provide a smooth, even surface in as little as two treatments.

After having your sun spots treated, you’ll be able to start off with a new, healthy canvas of skin. With the proper protection and care, you can easily maintain it’s youthful glow.

About the Author

Dr. Irvin Wiesman is a board-certified plastic surgeon who has a special interest in skin rejuvenation. He has completed countless years of advanced surgical training and has presented many papers published in peer-reviewed journals around the country. He offers a wide array of skin rejuvenation treatments in a relaxing and comfortable office where his patients can get the most out of each of their treatments. For questions or to schedule an appointment for skin rejuvenation, visit Natural Beauty Med Spa’s website or call 312-981-1291.