Solar Lentigos (Solar pigmentation) on the Hands – Dark Spots caused by sun exposure
Our hands take a beating. Do you neglect to wear gloves when you wash dishes and scrub pots and pans? Do you apply sun protection on your hands when you go out in the sun? For many of us, the wear and tear of life is most noticeable on the hands. Many people are self-conscious about dark spots (also referred to as liver spots or age spots) on the back of their hands. They consider these dark spots so unsightly that they wish to have these spots removed. This can be done by various methods including electrosurgery, laser treatment and cryotherapy. But first, a little background on liver spots….
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What are Liver Spots (Age Spots) and do they have anything to do with liver problems?
It was once believed that dark spots (also known as liver spots) were caused by liver problems. Today doctors know that dark sots are not medically related to liver problems; however, they do have a similar color and shape to the liver. Dark spots commonly occur on our skin and tend to arise as we grow older, especially after age 40. They are more noticeable in those of us who have had more exposure to the sun and ultraviolet radiation in sunlight. Dark spots can be light brown or red, or even dark red or black. The darker spots can be mistaken for more serious skin issues such as melanoma. So if a person has dark spots, s/he should see a doctor before having any cosmetic procedure to remove or lighten them. Dark spots are more common and noticeable on the parts of the body that have been exposed to direct sunlight such as the hands and face (including the forehead), shoulders and arms. For those who have let their skin fry in the sun, liver spots can appear on the back, legs, abdomen and chest areas. People who choose laser therapy usually have dark spots removed from their face, hands and forearms. Using 532nm wavelength, excellent results can be achieved after 1 to 4 treatments 4 weeks apart. But you may not want to pursue laser therapy and prefer trying topical treatments that may possibly lighten your liver spots. An excellent product is
An alternative method for lightening and removing age spots and freckles is with Intense Pulsed Light. These treatments are considered non-invasive.
How does the Intense Pulsed Light treatment work?
Intense Pulsed Light systems release a short pulse of filtered light that is readily absorbed by the high concentration of melanin found within freckles, sun spots or liver spots. The rapid absorption of light energy heats the melanin and causes the destruction of the melanin-rich cells.
You may have been a bronze beauty in your youth, but you may now be dissatisfied with skin damage that resulted from that overexposure. What was once an attractive, glowing skin color may now be an accumulation of skin blemishes and lesions. Chronic skin damage results in a cosmetic change in the skin’s appearance called “photo-aging”. Brown spots and other unsightly marks are evidence of “photo-aging”. Chronic skin damage could also bring about changes that are of medical and health concern such as skin cancers and pre-cancerous lesions. So take heed and limit your exposure to the sun and protect your skin with sunscreen when you go outside.
