What are liver spots and how are they treated?
Liver spots are darkened patches of skin. They often develop on areas that have been exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light. Contrary to the name, liver spots don’t have to do with your liver’s function. While liver spots don’t usually need treatment, you may want to treat them for cosmetic reasons. A dermatologist can provide treatment options.
Why do I have liver spots on legs?
They can appear on any part of the skin, but prominently they are observed on exposed areas of the body such as the hands, arms and face. Liver spots on legs appear among those who frequently keep their legs exposed to UV rays of the sun, especially those who keep the legs uncovered for long duration during the heat of summer.
What is the best serum for liver spots?
“Vitamin C, Azelaic Acid, Alpha Arbutin, AHA’s and Retinoids are all great options if you are looking to reduce the appearance of liver spots.” This new super serum contains vitamin C, a potent antioxidant and effective skin-brightener, designed to boost radiance and improve collagen production.
What are other names for liver spots?
Other names for liver spots include age spots, sun spots and solar lentigines (len-TIJ-a-neez). Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.
What causes liver spots on your legs?
Age spots are caused by overactive pigment cells. Ultraviolet (UV) light speeds up the production of melanin, a natural pigment that gives skin its color. On skin that has had years of sun exposure, age spots appear when melanin becomes clumped or is produced in high concentrations.
What is the best treatment for dark spots on legs?
Your doctor can prescribe bleaching creams that contain hydroquinone, a skin lightening agent. These can be combined with prescription retinoids and mild steroids. With these prescription treatments, the dark spots may gradually fade over the span of a few months to a year.
Is there a cure for liver spots?
Chemical peels: This treatment uses a chemical solution to safely remove your outer skin layer. Your dermatologist may recommend chemical peels along with microdermabrasion or cryotherapy for maximum results. Cryotherapy: Your dermatologist freezes age spots to damage the melanin-producing cells.
Why am I getting brown spots all over my legs?
Age Spots Age spots are the most common cause of this discoloration on the legs. These spots develop from constant sun exposure, hormonal changes, pregnancy, or some types of medications. Age spots are typically not a medical concern and can be removed with laser treatments.
Can you remove age spots from legs?
Age spot treatments include: Medications. Applying prescription bleaching creams (hydroquinone) alone or with retinoids (tretinoin) and a mild steroid might gradually fade the spots over several months. The treatments might cause temporary itching, redness, burning or dryness.
Which cream is best for black spots on legs?
Hydroquinone cream is considered the gold standard for dark spot treatment because it works by inhibiting the production of melanin. It is one of the most well researched lightening agents, and when used properly, has the ability to effectively treat dark areas of skin and maintain an even skin tone.
How do you get rid of liver spots naturally?
Their vitamin D, vitamin B12 and lactic acid can remove the dead skin cells and lighten pigmentation. Vitamin A, vitamin B6 and biotin can boost collagen production. You can apply buttermilk or yogurt directly to the skin to fight age spots. Saturate cotton balls with the milk to make it easier to apply.
How do dermatologists get rid of dark spots?
A dermatologist may recommend one of the following treatments for dark spots on the skin:Laser treatment. Different types of lasers are available. ... Microdermabrasion. ... Chemical peels. ... Cryotherapy. ... Prescription skin-lightening cream.
Can a dermatologist remove age spots?
Microdermabrasion (procedure): During this procedure, a dermatologist will smooth away age spots. Studies show this can be quite effective, especially when a patient also has a chemical peel. In one study, some patients were treated with microdermabrasion once every two weeks for 16 weeks.
What do liver spots look like on legs?
The condition involves the appearance of pale brown to dark brown spots on the skin called solar lentigines, liver spots, or age spots. Age spots are flat, usually oval areas of the skin that have increased pigmentation. In other words, they're darker than the surrounding skin. They may be brown, black, or gray.
What is the fastest way to get rid of age spots?
If you want to get rid of dark spots fast, a procedure that removes layers of discolored skin may work better than a lightening cream. These techniques include laser treatments, freezing (cryotherapy), dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, microneedling, and chemical peels.
What Causes Liver Spots On Legs?
Although people feel still young, forties is considered as a transitional phase where everything is declining; health, fertility and not to forget changes on the skin such as wrinkling etc. Liver spots or solar lentigo is most common among people after the age of forty.
Natural Remedies To Get Rid Of Liver Spots On Legs
Liver spots do not require any treatment as they are harmless spots. However, many people feel agonized of having them on their body because of their unsightly appearance. For these people, there are several ways to get rid of them completely or at least fade them and make them less visible.
How long does it take for a laser to remove a spot?
These approaches typically require two to three sessions. Wounding (ablative) lasers remove the top layer of skin (epidermis). Freezing (cryotherapy). This procedure treats the spot by using a cotton-tipped swab to apply liquid nitrogen for five seconds or less. This destroys the extra pigment.
How to get rid of red veins on face?
If you have rosacea or tiny red veins on your face, this technique could make the condition worse. Chemical peel. This method involves applying a chemical solution to the skin to remove the top layers. New, smoother skin forms to take its place.
Is age spot treatment covered by insurance?
Because age spot treatments are considered cosmetic, they typically aren't covered by insurance. And because the procedures can have side effects, discuss your options carefully with a doctor who specializes in skin conditions (dermatologist).
How to prevent lentigo?
To prevent lentigo, try to avoid sun exposure, especially during the peak sun hours between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. When you do go outside in the sun, always wear sunscreen with UVA/UVB protection. Also, put on sun-protective clothing and a wide-brimmed hat.
What is a PUVA lentigo?
PUVA lentigo starts after psoralen and ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapy, which is used to treat conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Tanning bed lentigo appears after exposure to an indoor tanning bed. Radiation lentigo happens in areas of the skin that have been exposed to radiation — for example, from cancer treatment.
Can you get lentigo spots?
In some people, lentigo is related to other health conditions. How severe the lentigo is in these cases depends on the condition that’s causing the spots. Last medically reviewed on August 7, 2017.
Can Lentigo simplex go away?
Lentigo simplex often starts at birth or during childhood. The spots can go away in time. Solar lentigo is caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. This type is common in people over age 40, but younger people can get it, too.
What is the best treatment for liver spots?
It has antioxidant properties and hence is quite effective. 2. Lemon Juice. Lemon juice contains citric acid, which usually acts by improving skin tone and in this case would reduce the high pigmentation in the liver spots and eventually fade them. 3.
How to get rid of age spots on legs?
Horseradish. When horseradish is ground and mixed with milk, it can be applied on the lower legs to clear age spots. It has antioxidant properties and hence is quite effective. 2.
How to get rid of brown spots on feet?
Microdermabrasion is a method where the brown spots on legs and feet are smoothed out, and microdermabrasion is sometimes used together with a chemical peel. It causes swelling afterward, and the skin peels for a few days, but eventually, the results are quite effective and permanent. If you want to know more about the treatment options then you ...
What are brown spots on legs?
Brown spots on legs and feet are also referred to as liver spots, age spots and also as Solar Lentigines. The condition causes the appearance of brown patches on the skin, especially the lower legs and is usually common in people of Caucasian descent. These spots are common in older individuals usually between the age of 40 to 55 ...
How does laser surgery work?
Here are some of the common method; Laser surgery is one of the methods used, and it works by scraping off the affected cells using a laser and leaving the legs with a uniform look. Hydroquinone is a skin lightening agent that works by removing the darkened cells.
What is liver cancer?
In many cases, the appearance of liver spots is similar to a type of skin cancer referred to as melanoma, which is hyperpigmentation of skin cells. In such cases, the person might require a skin biopsy in order to confirm the diagnosis and to that it is always adviced best doctor online consultation .
Diagnosis
Treatment
- If you want your age spots to be less noticeable, treatments are available to lighten or remove them. Because the pigment is located at the base of the epidermis — the topmost layer of skin — any treatments meant to lighten the age spots must penetrate this layer of skin. Age spot treatments include: 1. Medications.Applying prescription bleaching c...
Lifestyle and Home Remedies
- Many nonprescription fade creams and lotions for lightening age spots are available for sale. These may improve the appearance of age spots, depending on how dark the spots are and how often you apply the cream. You might need to use such a product regularly for several weeks or months before you notice results. If you want to try an over-the-counter fade cream, choose one …
Preparing For Your Appointment
- You're likely to start by seeing your primary care doctor, who may then refer you to a dermatologist. Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, such as: 1. When did you first notice the spots on your skin? 2. Did the spots appear gradually or quickly? 3. Have you noticed any other changes in the appearance of your skin? 4. Is the condition itchy, tender or oth…