Adopting an anti-aging skincare routine is the best way to prevent signs of aging such as wrinkles, fine lines, and age spots. Age spots are dark spots that appear on the skin, and occur due to repeated sun damage. Sun protection should be a non-negotiable in your daily skincare routine, so if it’s not yet, it’s time to get sun smart. Here are 9 ways to prevent age spots, plus how to hide them.
What Are Age Spots?
Age spots, also called liver spots, are flat, rounded dark areas on the skin. They vary in size and are associated with aging and exposure to UV rays from the sun. They typically appear on the face, shoulders, and on the back of the hands, and can appear as a single mark or there may be a few clustered together. While age spots can pop up at any age, even during childhood, they’re more common in middle age and older adulthood, especially in people who spend a lot of time in the sun. Age spots aren’t cancerous and they don’t develop into cancer, but it’s important to note that they can be mistaken for signs of cancer, so it’s important to get them checked by a dermatologist.
What Causes Age Spots?
Age spots are caused by overactive pigment cells. UV rays speed up the production of melanin, a natural pigment that gives skin, eyes, and hair their colour. Age spots often develop due to an overproduction of melanin, and typically on skin that has had years of sun exposure. You may also be more likely to develop age spots if you have light skin. And they can also be hereditary, so you may have a higher chance of developing age spots if they run in your family.
Can You Get Rid of Age Spots?
There are essentially two ways to fade age spots. The first is with creams and lotions, and the second is with treatments. Treatments including lasers, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels tend to work faster and are more effective. But keep in mind, they cost more and have a higher risk of side effects.
If you want to go the cream or lotion route, you should book an appointment with your dermatologist. They can confirm that your age spot is actually an age spot and rule out other serious skin conditions such as skin cancer. A dermatologist can help guide you in finding a cream or lotion that will help fade your age spots, or they may even suggest a prescription-strength cream. Creams and lotions require discipline and commitment since they’re not a quick fix, but you can see good results with consistency.
4 Ways to Prevent Age Spots
1. Avoid Excessive Sun Exposure
The best way to prevent age spots is staying out of the sun as much as possible, especially between 10 am and 2 pm, when the sun’s rays are the most intense. If you’re going to be outside in the sun, wear sunscreen, a hat, and try to stay in the shade as much as possible!
2. Wear Sunscreen Daily
Apply a face sunscreen daily and diligently. Even if you already have sunspots, wearing sunscreen will help prevent them from getting bigger and darker. Your daily sunscreen should have an SPF of at least 30 and should be worn even on cloudy days.
3. Cover Up with Protective Clothing
Another way to prevent age spots is with protective clothing. We already mentioned hats above (a broad-brimmed style is best), but wearing tightly woven clothing that covers your arms and legs is also helpful. It’s also possible to find clothing with an ultraviolet protective factor (UPF) for days you’ll have sun exposure.
4. Preventative Skin Care Products
When it comes to preventing age spots, an anti-aging skin care regimen is key. Use a gentle cleanser, vitamin C, retinol, moisturizer, and SPF 30+ sunscreen every day. Age spots and other dark spots can be prevented with a simple yet effective anti-aging routine.
5 Ways to Hide Age Spots
1. Regular Exfoliation
When it comes to concealing age spots, proper skin prep is essential. Make sure you’re exfoliating your skin on a regular basis (around three times a week for chemical exfoliants). This will get rid of dead skin cells and bacteria, and provide the best canvas possible for makeup application. Exfoliation also helps fade age spots since it removes dead skin cells that contain pigment.
2. Use a Primer
Before going in with your base product, use a blurring primer. This will smooth out the skin’s surface and help your makeup stay put for longer. You can also try a brightening primer or liquid highlighting primer to even out skin discolouration and reduce redness. A good primer will help you achieve a more radiant and even-toned complexion and minimize any discolouration.
3. Apply a Colour Corrector
A colour corrector will help minimize the appearance of age spots. For fair to light skin, look for a peach-toned corrector, for medium skin tones opt for a bisque shade, and go for a darker orange for deeper skin tones. Use a concealer brush to layer the colour corrector onto your skin, then apply your concealer.
4. Go In with Concealer
Once you’ve applied your colour corrector, place your concealer on top, using your finger to gently tap and blend it into your skin. Be careful not to remove any of the colour corrector product while applying your concealer. The combination of the two will do a great job masking your age spots.
5. Foundation and Powder
Add a layer of foundation over your colour corrector and concealer. The best foundation for covering age spots are ones with thicker consistencies such as stick or cream foundations. These tend not to wear off as quickly as liquid formulas, staying put throughout the day. If you want even more coverage, you can use a tinted moisturizer before applying your foundation. Set everything in place with a setting powder to maintain the coverage.
We hope you enjoyed these tips whether you’re looking to prevent age spots or want to hide them!
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