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Do Brown Spots on Your Hands Give Away Your Age? Let Us Zap Them Away
You take great care of your skin. You schedule your skin cancer screenings. Maybe you wear sunscreen, moisturize, and stick to a solid skincare routine.
But then you notice them: small brown spots that seem to have appeared overnight, especially on your hands. These “age spots” can make your skin look older than you feel.
The good news? You don’t have to live with them.
At Goodman Dermatology and Mohs Surgery, Drs. Seth and Matt Goodman offer advanced treatments to fade or remove age spots and other signs of sun damage in Sun City, Sun City West, and Wickenburg, Arizona.
Here, they explain how age spots develop — plus ways to combat them, if you want to.
Why do age spots appear?
Age spots (also called liver spots or sun spots) form after years of sun exposure. UV rays speed up melanin production and can lead to dark patches on sun-exposed areas like your hands, face, shoulders, and chest.
You’re more likely to see them if you have light skin, have a history of sunburns, or use tanning beds. Oxidative stress and even your genetics can contribute to the development of age spots.
While age spots are harmless, they can be frustrating when they make your skin look prematurely aged.
Zap away age spots with expert care
At Goodman Dermatology and Mohs Surgery, we offer laser treatments to help you zap away age spots for clearer, more even-toned skin.
Laser therapy targets excess pigment beneath the surface of your skin. The concentrated light energy breaks down melanin (the pigment that causes brown spots). After the light energy breaks down the pigment, your body naturally flushes it away.
Laser treatments are safe, precise, and highly effective, and they often require just a few sessions to reveal brighter, more youthful-looking skin.
Drs. Seth and Matt Goodman customize each laser plan based on your skin tone, type, and cosmetic goals for the best possible results.
Other options to fade brown spots
While laser therapy is one of the most popular options in our three Arizona offices, it’s not the only one. Depending on your skin’s needs, we may also recommend:
- Retinoids (compounds derived from vitamin A) to minimize the appearance of hyperpigmentation
- Chemical peels to exfoliate away discolored cells
- Prescription bleaching creams to gradually lighten dark spots
- Cryotherapy to lightly freeze and remove individual spots
- Microdermabrasion or dermabrasion to resurface your skin and fade stubborn pigmentation
Fortunately, you don’t have to make this decision alone. Our team guides you toward the safest, most effective treatment (or combination of treatments) for a more radiant, even complexion.
Keep age spots from coming back
After treatment, daily sunscreen provides your best defense against future discoloration. Apply broad-spectrum SPF 30 (or higher) to any exposed skin, including your hands. If you have skin type I-III, you shouldn’t use anything less than SPF 50.
Tip: Many types of makeup and foundation now include SPF, but that protection doesn’t extend to your hands. Keep a small jar of sunscreen in your bathroom so while you’re getting ready (and protecting your face with your makeup), you can also apply SPF to your hands.
Wearing gloves when driving or doing outdoor activities can also help protect your hands.
Bothered by brown spots on your hands? Talk to us
You don’t have to let brown spots give away your age. Whether they’re on your face, hands, or shoulders, our dermatology team can help you achieve smoother, more even skin.
Call Goodman Dermatology and Mohs Surgery at (623) 254-7375 or book an appointment online to learn how we can zap away your age spots and help you glow with confidence again.