Age Spots

Age spots have nothing to do with age, they actually should be called sun spots as they are to do with how long you have been in the sun.

They usually appear when we're in our early 30s on areas of the body that have been exposed to the sun, such as our back, chest, arms and hands. Although they may look similar to moles, age spots are very different. Moles are genetically predetermined, while age spots are the result of cumulative sun exposure throughout life.

When the sun attacks light-skinned people the body does not know how to respond properly, as a result it can cause abnormal melanin pigment in the form of brown spot and freckles.

If you have age spots, you're at a higher risk of developing skin cancer, so it is important to see your doctor if they change colour or appearance or if you are worried about them.

It's essential to protect your skin against any new age spots, probably the most important habit you can develop in your quest of [how to get rid of age spots], is to include sunscreen – with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher, depending on the degree of exposure to the sun – in your daily beauty regimen, even in winter.

Sunscreens offer physical or chemical protection from the sun's harmful UV rays. Physical sunscreens protect your skin by producing a thin layer of protection that reflects or scatters the UVA and UVB rays even before they can break through the skin.

Chemical sunscreens absorb the UV rays before they can do harm on your skin. They contain different chemical components that are formulated to provide added protection for both UVA and UVB rays.