No matter what you call them - liver spots, sun spots, or age spots, they are all the same and they are all unsightly.
These spots are generally found on folks starting in their fifties.
Of course, depending on how much sun a person gets, they can start appearing much sooner - say in the twenties - for those who are outside and in the sun on a regular basis.
If these spots change in size, this could be an indication of skin cancer, so be sure to get to a dermatologist if this is happening with your liver / sun spots / aging spots.
Assuming your spots are indeed age spots, here are the top 7 strategies in concealing, fading them and perhaps preventing them: 1.
Lighten Up If your age spots are on the smaller size and aren't too terribly dark, over the counter bleaching agents can go a long way in fading them.
Excellent products for this are products that contain 2 percent hydroquinone such as Porcelana, and Palmer's Skin Success Cream.
Apply twice a day, carefully following the manufacturers instruction.
Be sure to use a cotton swab when applying so that you don't bleach the pigment of unaffected areas of you skin that are nearby your aging / sun spot.
Keep in mind that you won't see results immediately.
In fact, it may actually take up to 6-12 months to completely do the job.
2.
Sunscreen To The Max Even if you already have age / sun spots, loading up on sunscreen will help keep them from darkening further and will help prevent more from popping up.
Go with a minimum of 30SPF and apply it 10 to 15 minutes prior to going out in the sun.
3.
Cover Your Head Regardless of where you are going, if you are going to be in the sun, be sure to wear a hat with a brim that is at least 4 inches so that the sun will stay off your face and neck.
Stay away from baseball hats because they don't offer protection for your ears, the back of your neck or most of your face from the full effects of the sun.
Straw hats don't provide a whole lot of protection either.
If the hat is unlined or loosely woven, there's another problem because the sun will shine right through.
Check out Tilley Hats at tilley.
com 4.
Protection For Your Lips Most people don't even consider protecting their lips from the sun.
But guess what? Age spots can and DO show up on lips.
Don't be fooled ladies - lipstick won't do an adequate job when it's a lighter shade and it typically wears off during the day, leaving your lips completely unprotected.
Be sure to apply a lip balm or lipstick with an SPF of between 15 and 30.
Any less, and you are looking for trouble.
5.
Limit Your Sun Exposure The best way to avoid age spots is to avoid the sun - especially between 10am and 4pm during the spring, summer and fall and between 10am and 2pm in the winter.
If you've got outdoor chores to complete such as gardening or other yard work, do it in the morning or evening.
And don't forget - you still need sunblock in the winter and on cloudy days.
6.
Take Breaks In The Shade If you find yourself out in the sun due to your job or for recreational purposes, be sure to take regular breaks in the shade.
At the beach or backyard BBQ? Grab some shade under an umbrella or a tent.
Sure, it sounds pretty simple, but you'd be amazed at the number of people who simply don't heed this advice.
Sunblock and staying out of the sun are the absolute best ways to prevent new age spots from appearing.
7.
Cover Up The Spot If you aren't interested in the previous six steps, be sure buy plenty of cream or water based concealer.
Simply pick a lighter version of your skin tone to provide you with the best opportunity to hide age spots.
Age spots can certainly be unsightly.
The important thing to remember is that if you take these 7 tips - and especially the first 6 - you'll have a great chance to not only concealing and fading them, you'll be able to prevent them from appearing in the first place.