10 Ways to Get Rid of Pesky Age Spots

5. Count on a vitamin C serum to lighten and brighten.

Vitamin C is a hero antioxidant with many talents. “Vitamin C inhibits the tyrosinase enzyme that is involved with pigment production but also has other benefits for skin health including free radical protection, boosting collagen production and preventing further collagen breakdown,” says Cheung. So, while known for its ability to brighten the complexion and fight “free radicals” (renegade molecules that can cause sun damage), vitamin C is also super efficient at targeting dark spots without affecting healthy skin. This makes it useful for dark spots on the face and for those on your neck, chest, and the backs of your hands. However, C can be sensitizing for some people. Do a patch test on the inside of your forearm when using it for the first time, and wait 24 hours before applying it to your face. Those with mature skin can benefit from serum formulas with hyaluronic acid like Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum with Hyaluronic Acid ($45, ulta.com), Cosrx The Vitamin C 23 Serum with Super Vitamin E + Hyaluronic Acid ($25, ulta.com), Cetaphil Vitamin C Serum ($25, cvs.com) with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide and those with gentle encapsulated vitamin C like Eadem Milk Marvel Dark Spot Serum ($68, sephora.com) for a slower release of the C plus soothing niacinamide. Remember: serums are applied under your face cream to amplify not replace moisturizers.

Left to right: Good Molecules Discoloration Correcting Serum; Curology Dark Spot Serum; The Inkey List Tranexamic Acid Hyperpigmentation Acid Serum

Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: Ulta; CVS; Sephora)

6. Treat spots with a cocktail of other effective ingredients.

Attacking stubborn discolorations is not a one-size-fits-all deal. Some women, especially those sensitive to vitamin C and retinol, can try other ingredients, often in mixes that offer similar dark spot-banishing results. There’s azelaic acid (found naturally in grains like wheat, oat or rye) and kojic acid (which can be derived from fermented rice or mushrooms) that prevent the skin enzyme tyrosinase from going overboard on producing excess melanin; the gentle fading ingredients soy and niacinamide (one form of vitamin B3) and the lesser-known but trending tranexamic acid which also works to disrupt the formation of new spots and fade existing ones. And, of course, let’s not forget exfoliating alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) like glycolic acid and lactic acid for another option that improves texture and evens out skin tone. You might try Good Molecules Discoloration Correcting Serum ($25, ulta.com) with tranexamic acid and niacinamide, The Inkey List Tranexamic Acid Hyperpigmentation Acid Serum ($17, sephora.com), Curology Dark Spot Serum ($27, cvs.com) with niacinamide, glycolic acid … and for a real splurge SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense ($108, dermstore) with tranexamic acid, kojic acid and niacinamide.

kali9/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

7. Have a dermatologist treat spots with liquid nitrogen.

Dark spots are afraid of the cold. One in-office treatment for a few random brown spots is cryotherapy — in which your dermatologist sprays freezing-cold liquid nitrogen on individual spots, which destroys the excess pigment. “It’s a good way to target well-defined brown spots like seborrheic keratoses and lentigines. It’s old-fashioned but it still works!” Kim says. It stings for a moment, but that’s over fast, though you may get a slight redness or scab a day or two afterward. But it’s great for treating one or two spots immediately instead of going the serum route.

yacobchuk/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

8. Ask your doctor about in-office microdermabrasion.

This is a leveled-up, noninvasive version of your at-home gentle exfoliation. Your dermatologist uses a wand or brush attachment to spray ultra-fine crystals — typically aluminum oxide or sodium chloride — over your face to remove the outer layer of dry, dead cells and expose the smoother skin beneath. “Microdermabrasion is a great way to exfoliate your stratum corner and gently stimulate collagen growth without significant downtime,” Kim says. “It also promotes better penetration of topical ingredients. Combined with an at-home brightening skin care regimen, regular dermatologist office microdermabrasion treatments can help reduce brown spots.” Then keep a good thing going with daily sunscreen and DIY retinol, vitamin C and other topical ingredients day and night.

9. Consider an IPL treatment.

Intense pulsed light (IPL) or broadband light (BBL) photo facials are next-level doctor-only treatments. “IPL/BBL acts as a magic eraser for red and brown sun damage,” Hartman says. “Downtime is minimal, and no anesthesia is necessary. These treatments have the best results when done in a series and continued as a preventative.” They use light in a less focused way than lasers and are better for lighter rather than darker skin tones. Expect initial redness, darkening of the skin and peeling as the treated skin flakes off a week later. It’s not pretty, so expect to take a few days of downtime and avoid the sun. Your doctor will advise whether to treat your hands and chest with IPL once the face heals. “Facial skin responds differently to brown spot treatments than body skin,” Hartman explains. “Start conservatively with just one area — say the face — before moving on. I also factor in the patient’s tolerance to pain, the amount of topical anesthetic that can be safely applied and differences in sun exposure in the various areas to be treated.”

Kong Ding Chek/E+/Getty Images

10. Opt for a laser procedure.

This board-certified dermatologist procedure, known as laser resurfacing, is pricey. It uses focused high-energy beams to target and break down brown spots and their excessive melanin in the skin. “Lasers are ideal for more immediate pigment improvement on mature skin that’s saggy and wrinkled,” Hartman says. “They have the ability to penetrate deeply to affect the pigment on the surface but also the collagen found deeper in the skin.” Some pigment-specific lasers work selectively to destroy excess pigment spots in a particular area, while fractional resurfacing lasers nab precancerous sun damage and build collagen for all over firmer skin. Don’t kid yourself. No matter what anyone says, expect at least a few days to a week or even 10 days of downtime. “Some patients want only one or two brown spots treated, while others want large numbers treated or the whole face,” Kim says. “If you’re doing a procedure for purely cosmetic reasons, it’s wise to make sure your skin’s healing response is satisfactory before embarking on treating a large number of spots. Only a board-certified dermatologist can choose the right laser and settings for you, and not all skin tones can be treated with the same approach — whether lasers or IPL.” Lasers have replaced other more extreme procedures like dermabrasion and chemical peels. “Very few dermatologists perform dermabrasion anymore; it’s been supplanted by lasers,” Kim says.

Marko Geber/DigitalVision/Getty Images

My final word on age spots.

At-home light therapy (LED) devices and masks are a big trend on social media. LED stands for light-emitting diode, which is a technology that delivers light waves of varying lengths that penetrate the skin for a range of effects. Red light is a popular treatment for skin discolorations. Note that this is a much lower level of the light therapy used in dermatologist offices. Check with your doctor before buying, especially for those with sensitive skin, conditions like eczema and psoriasis and ongoing medical treatments.

You’re probably also wondering whether blue light from your cell phone and computer contributes to dark spot formation, especially now that many topical skin care products add ‘protects from blue light’ to their list of benefits. Hartman says, “The verdict is still out. We know that inordinate amounts of blue light may contribute to aging skin. We know that we are all being exposed to more devices and screens that emit blue light. The actual effect on the aging process of the skin is still in need of more research.” Kim agrees. “There is evidence that visible light — specifically blue light — can contribute to dark-spot formation, especially in darker skin tones. This is an area of active research and hopefully we will learn ways to protect our skin better from blue light radiation because technology is certainly not going away!”