5 Tips for Preventing and Minimizing the Appearance of Age Spots

As you age, skin care concerns such as fine lines and wrinkles are inevitable. While you may religiously use a wrinkle cream to prevent them, are you making the same effort to take preventative steps against age spots? If not, it isn’t too late. Keep reading to learn five anti-aging tips for preventing and minimizing the appearance of age spots.

WHAT ARE AGE SPOTS?

According to Mayo Clinic, age spots are small dark areas on your skin that vary in size and usually appear on the face, hands, shoulders, and arms of adults over the age of 50. These spots are caused by overactive pigment cells a.k.a areas on the skin that have had years of frequent and prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light.

HOW TO PREVENT AND MINIMIZE THE APPEARANCE OF AGE SPOTS

We’ve given you a little background on what exactly age spots are and what causes them, but you’re probably still wondering how you can prevent them. Here are five tips for preventing and minimizing the appearance of age spots.

TIP #1: SPOT CORRECTING TREATMENT

If you want to fade age spots, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) suggests using a cream or lotion treatment. It’s important to note, these treatments require discipline and won’t give you instantaneous results. You’ll have to add one into your daily skin care routine and apply it once or twice per day for an extended period of time to see lasting results.

One easy way to introduce a cream that fits the bill into your routine is to swap your normal night cream for the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Night Cream. This cream deeply moisturizes your skin overnight while reducing age spots, fine lines, and wrinkles. Simply smooth it onto your face during your nighttime skin care routine. Alternatively, you can add a serum, like the L’Oréal Paris Youth Code Dark Spot Correcting & Illuminating Serum Corrector, to your routine. This option helps fade age spots, dark spots, sun spots, and post-acne marks.

TIP #2: DON’T SKIP SUNSCREEN

To prevent age spots, the AAD advises applying a sunscreen with a broad-spectrum SPF of 30 or higher every day before going outside. If you tend to forget to protect your skin, it can be a good idea to use a moisturizer with SPF every morning, that way you’re incorporating sun protection into a regular part of your everyday routine. The L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Bright Reveal Brightening Day Moisturizer SPF 30 will give you brighter, younger-looking skin in just one week while also protecting your skin from the sun’s aging UVA and UVB rays. In addition to applying the moisturizer as directed before heading out, be sure to reapply at least every two hours.

Editor’s note: Of course, SPF isn’t the only way to prevent sun damage. You can also cover your skin with protective clothing like long sleeved tops and pants and avoid the sun during its peak hours—between 10 AM and 2 PM.

TIP #3: …AND DO SKIP TANNING BEDS

By now you probably get that the sun is not your friend when it comes to age spots—but have you considered tanning beds can cause age spots as well? That’s right, swapping the beach for a booth won’t do your skin any good in the age spot department. According to Mayo Clinic, commercial tanning lamps and tanning beds can also lead to the development of age spots.

If you don’t want to give up on having sun-kissed skin, we recommend reaching for a self-tanner instead. With a self-tanning mist like the L'Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze™ ProPerfect Salon Airbrush Mist, you can achieve a stunning streak-free tan without laying out or hitting the salon.

TIP #4: USE A LIP BALM FORMULATED WITH SPF

Your lips can get sun damage and even be marked by age spots. To keep your pout healthy, moisturized, and spot-free, opt for a lip balm that contains an SPF value of 30 or higher. Smooth it on every two hours—just like your face and body sunscreen—and your lips will stay hydrated and protected from the sun’s harmful rays.

TIP #5: COVER THEM WITH MAKEUP

Okay, so you’re a little late to the prevention game and already have some age spots. No worries! You can use your makeup routine to help disguise the appearance of age spots. Simply dot a color correcting concealer, like the L’Oréal Paris True Match™ Color Correcting Crayon, onto any spots. To pick the right color, simply think back to elementary school and the lesson you received on the color wheel. You want to use a color that’s opposite of what you’re trying to conceal in order to cancel it out. When it comes to age spots, yellow and peach shades are both good options.

Want more anti-aging tips and tricks to add to your skin care routine? Head over to our article, 6 Simple Anti-Aging Skin Care Measures to Take.

2. Apply Sunscreen Diligently

Even if you already have age spots, wearing sunscreen is  important because it can help prevent the ones that you have from getting bigger and darker. The AAD advises applying sunscreen with a broad-spectrum SPF of 30 or greater every day before going outside. It’s also super important to reapply your SPF every two hours to maintain the promised degree of protection on the bottle. 

Editor’s tip: If you tend to forget SPF, it can be a good idea to use a moisturizer with SPF every morning so you’re incorporating sun protection into a regular part of your daily routine. Try the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Triple Power Day Lotion SPF 30, which includes broad-spectrum SPF 30 and pro-retinol, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid to reduce wrinkles, firm and brighten the skin.

3. Use a Lip Balm Formulated With SPF

Just like the skin on your face and body, your lips are subject to sun damage and can even be marked by age spots. To keep your pout healthy, moisturized and spot-free, opt for a lip balm that contains an SPF. Smooth it on every two hours — just like your face and body sunscreen — to keep your lips hydrated and protected from the sun’s harmful rays.

4. Wear Sun Protective Clothing

Of course, SPF isn’t the only way to prevent sun damage; you should also cover your skin with protective clothing, like long sleeved tops, pants and wide brim hats. Paired with a sunscreen that has SPF 30 or more, it provides another effective layer of sun protection. Remember, it’s still beneficial (and recommended on the packaging) to reapply sunscreen every two hours and to avoid the sun during its peak hours between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

5. Skip Tanning Beds

By now, you probably understand that the sun is not your friend when it comes to age spots, but have you considered that tanning beds can also cause age spots? That’s right, swapping the beach for a booth won’t do your skin any good in that department. According to the Mayo Clinic, commercial tanning lamps and tanning beds can also lead to the development of age spots, along with increased signs of photoaging like fine lines and wrinkles.

If you’re like us and don’t want to give up sun-kissed skin, we recommend reaching for a sunless self-tanning mousse like the L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Water Mousse. Use it a few times a week to maintain a natural-looking bronzed glow. 

6. Cover Them With Makeup

While it takes time and patience to see results from your skin care, you can use your makeup routine to disguise the appearance of age spots instantaneously. Simply dot on a full-coverage concealer, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Concealer up to 24H Full Coverage, and blend it in with a damp beauty sponge.

How Can I Get Rid Of My Age Spots?

If you want to remove age spots, your best chance is to book an appointment with your dermatologist. They can prescribe topical treatments to aid in the process, or they can perform aesthetic procedures like laser treatments and pulsed light treatments, or chemical peels that can help to reduce and potentially even remove age spots, per Mayo Clinic. 

3 L’Oréal Paris Products for Dealing With Dark Spots

Some dark spots treatments are equipped to brighten age spots over time. Here are three skin care products to add to your routine to help deal with age spots. A general rule of thumb: Consult with your dermatologist before adding any new ingredient or product to your routine. 

L’Oréal Paris Bright Reveal 12% [Niacinamide + Amino Sulfonic + Ferulic Acid] Dark Spot Serum

This daily facial serum contains niacinamide (vitamin B3) to reduce dark spots while brightening the skin tone after just two weeks of continued use. The non-greasy formula feels weightless on the skin and suits all skin types, including sensitive skin. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, applying topical niacinamide can result in smoother skin and less visible dark spots. 

L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives 12% Pure Vitamin C + E + Salicylic Acid Serum

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that’s known for its brightening abilities. This daily serum features a lightweight formula that helps to increase radiance, refine skin tone, minimize large pores and keep the skin hydrated. It suits all skin types and skin tones and can be used on clean skin morning and night. 

L’Oréal Paris Bright Reveal Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Daily UV Lotion

Sunscreen is a vital part of any anti-aging routine because it protects the skin and works on the side of prevention. Every morning, apply this lightweight sunscreen to your face and neck after moisturizing and before applying makeup. Formulated with UVA and UVB filters that protect against the sun’s harmful  rays that cause aging and burning, it helps to protect the skin against free radicals that can accelerate photoaging. On the skin, it has an invisible, non-greasy finish that doesn’t leave visible residue on any skin tone. 

Next: How Do You Fix Uneven Skin Tone?

Photographer: Stephanie Price, Photo Assistant: Thomas Miller, Digi Tech: Sergio Colon, Art Director: Hannah Packer, Creative Producer: Becca Solovay, Content Director: Shalwah Evans, Visual Designer: Sarah Duvivier, Makeup Artist: Kelly Bellevue, Hair Stylist: Akihisa Yamaguchi, Wardrobe Stylist: Rika Watanabe, Wardrobe Assistant: Fausti, Model: Jacky Lee