There are many different physical signs that a person is aging. Two of the most common signs are white hair and wrinkles. Of course, things like osteoporosis and sagging skin are also quite prevalent. However, the signs of aging do not stop there, because many of them have to do with various lifestyle choices.
For example, treatment for age spots is often based on the assumption that the person was subjected to a significant amount of sun exposure. In order to understand why that assumption is made, it is important to understand how age spots occur. What age spots basically are is excess amounts of melanin deposits in the skin.
Melanin is a pigmentation that is created by the skin to protect itself from the ultraviolet rays of the sun. If a person is consistently out in the sun, throughout his or her lifetime the melanin builds upon itself and ends up creating age spots that could potentially be skin cancer. While people tend to think of age spots being on the face, they are also prevalently found on the backs of the hands, as well as all over the body.
One treatment for age spots involves injecting the most serious ones with a freezing acid. This is a short procedure that is done in an outpatient facility by a dermatologist. First, a numbing cream is applied to the areas that are going to be treated, and then the actual injections will take place. Once the age spots have been injected, they will literally fall off, because the freezing acid works to kill the damaged skin cells. The area that is left over will then most likely need a stitch or two.
Another treatment for age spots involves lasers. This is considered to be one of the safest treatment for age spots, because while it serves its purpose in killing off the harmful skin cells that caused the age spot in the first place, it does not harm the surrounding skin. This means that there is far less of a chance that the area will become scarred.
What kinds of things can a person do to prevent age spots from happening in the first place? Of course, the most important thing is for a person to limit their amount of unprotected exposure to the sun. This means wearing an SPF of at least 30 or higher each time that the person knows that he or she will be outside.
This is not good news for people that like to tan, but they do have the option of using self tanning lotions, or they can get a spray tan. Another thing that people will need to do is wear an SPF on their face. Women have an advantage, because many cosmetic lines have come out with foundation or powder that doubles as an SPF. If a person has concerns about current age spots, it is very important that he or she not expose them to any additional sun, and for them to have the age spots checked by a dermatologist.
