Once you’re over the age of 55, it isn’t unusual to want a home remedy for age spots. Whether or not these remedies will be effective depends on a number of variables. There are certainly some things that you can try, but first and foremost, you need to be cautious when you are out in the sun.

Even though they are most often seen in older people, they really have nothing to do with age. Despite the fact that they are commonly referred to as liver spots, they have nothing to do with the health of your liver, either. They are really nothing more than adult freckles, caused by overexposure to the sun.

They are harmless, not indicative of skin cancer. But, the damage that causes them also plays a role in skin cancer. So, if you do see a sudden change in the color or size of a spot, you should report it to your doctor, immediately.

Using a home remedy for age spots will only be effective if you protect the affected area from sunlight. You can do that buy wearing protective clothing, such as a hat, if the spot is on your forehead or face. You can also use a zinc oxide sun-block, but those other sunscreen ingredients are not as effective. Some of them could actually increase your risk of skin cancer.

If you are a woman and the spot is on your face, choose a foundation that contains zinc oxide. There are several brands that contain it. The SPF rating of your makeup really doesn’t mean much. By the time that you are on your way home from work, any of them will have lost their effectiveness.

The only home remedy for age spots that is not a commercially manufactured product, but might be effective is fresh lemon juice. It is acidic enough to peel of the outer layer of skin. That may work, but it might also cause redness, itching and irritation. In order for it to work, you would need to dab it on the spot with a cotton-ball twice day. It will take about 6-8 weeks, but if you avoid exposure to the sun during that time, you should start to see it fade away.

Even a commercially produced home remedy for age spots will take 6-8 weeks to work, because that’s how long it takes for the outer layer of epidermis to be replaced. That’s right. Every couple of months, your outer layer of skin is completely replaced. Thousands of your skin cells are sloughed off every day. New ones are produced by specialized mother cells in the deepest layer of the epidermis.

In a young healthy person, it takes only 28 days for those new cells to reach the surface, but the process slows down greatly, with age. Now, if you are interested, there are some new anti-aging creams that can speed that process up again. Once you learn about that, you might not be interested in a home remedy for age spots and you might not ever need one again.

Valerie Rosenbaum studies natural skin care products and the ingredients used in them. She believes the best skin care products are clinically proven to be effective. Visit her website http://www.DefendYourSkin.com if you have fine lines, wrinkles or age spots and want to do something about it today.

If you are wondering how to eliminate age spots, you might be interested in learning more about what causes skin aging. A major reason that the skin begins to look older is oxidative stress. We could not survive without oxygen, but some oxygen species cause damage.

That’s what scientist call them; oxygen species. Most often, we here them referred to as free radicals. They are actually oxygen (and sometimes nitrogen) molecules that have lost an electron. If an antioxidant like coenzyme Q10 is present, it will voluntarily give up one of its electrons. If not, the radical will become frenzied and start to damage the cells and fibers that are responsible for the skin’s strength, thickness and firmness. Eventually, this molecular damage results in visible wrinkling and sagging.

Overexposure to the sun causes overproduction of free radicals. So does exposure to things like cigarette smoke and air pollution. Those things can also cause hyper-pigmentation, in other words, age spots. So, if you want to eliminate age spots, you have to recognize the importance of free radicals and the role that the sun plays in producing them.

That doesn’t mean that you have to give up your love for the great outdoors. You just need to protect your skin. Don’t rely on those disappearing sunscreens to help. Some sun screening ingredients have been shown to cause damage similar to what is caused by free radicals.

Wear protective clothing, like a hat with a wide brim. If there are areas that you cannot protect with clothing, use a zinc oxide sun “block” and reapply it regularly. If you’re spending the day at the beach, invest in a beach umbrella. The shade is your friend if you want to really eliminate age spots.

What about those age spot removers that you see advertised on TV? Most of them contain hydroquinone. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it makes the problem worse. That may depend on how much time a person spends in the sun or it may be due to the chemical structure of the ingredient. An increased risk of skin cancer has been associated with hydroquinone. We don’t know if the risk is due to the chemical, itself, or to consumer misuse.

There are some completely safe and natural ingredients that have been shown to even out pigmentation and eliminate age spots. You could use a night cream that contains high quality Shea butter, for example.

Shea butter has a “healing quotient” due to the antioxidants and other nutrients that it contains. It is nearly identical to the natural moisturizer produced by the sebaceous glands within the skin. So, it is readily accepted and quickly absorbed without causing a greasy feeling. It has been said that Shea butter can literally transform the skin’s health and appearance, with regular use.

You might also look for a moisturizer that contains natural coenzyme Q10. It has been shown to reverse sun damage, even reversing wrinkles over the course of six weeks. Basically, nourishing ingredients and avoiding the sun will help you eliminate age spots faster and more effectively than any hydroquinone cream.

Valerie Rosenbaum studies anti aging skin care products and the ingredients used in them. She believes the best skin care products are clinically tested by independent labs. Visit http://www.DefendYourSkin.com if you have fine lines, wrinkles or age spots and want to do something about it today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?Eliminate-Age-Spots—Simple,-Safe-and-Effective-Creams&id=2270545

When you are looking for a face lotion to reduce age spots, most sources will suggest creams containing hydroquinone and they call it “safe”. That seems like a contradiction. How can a face lotion reduce age spots, safely, when it is accompanied by the risk of adverse reactions and long-term damage?

The ingredient has been banned in several countries, because it may increase a person’s risk of cancer. It should have been banned years ago, because it can cause the opposite effect of increased pigmentation. Complaints about a hydroquinone face lotion to reduce age spots include darkening and too much lightening of the area. Obviously, the effect that it has cannot be controlled. It’s too unstable.

So, how can a face lotion reduce age spots safely and effectively? If it contains an extract from the cyperus rotundus root, a well-known medicinal plant among traditional healers, it can lighten and even out pigmentation, by inhibiting melanin production. But, if you like your skin’s color, other than the spot, beware. By inhibiting melanin production, it will lighten your skin’s tone. If you don’t want to be “whiter”, you might want to choose something else.

How can a face lotion reduce age spots without inhibiting melanin production? That’s a good question, since the spot is a melanin clump, similar to a freckle. Here’s the answer.

Creams that contain a proprietary ingredient called Cynergy TK have been shown to increase the production of superoxide dismutase and glutathione within the skin’s cells. These antioxidants will help reverse brown pigmentation caused by UV exposure or environmental pollutants.

You might also look for a face lotion to reduce age spots that contains coenzyme Q10. Another antioxidant, COQ10 has been shown in clinical studies to reverse sun damage. Sun damage is what caused that spot to appear in the first place. You probably spent too much time outside, without protection, either over the course of several years or during a single trip to the beach.

Can a face lotion reduce age spots without bleaching? If you are fair skinned, you will undoubtedly notice that you skin looks lighter. How much lighter depends on how much or how little time that you spend in the sun. If you are still thinking that a tan is attractive, consider this. Fair skinned people that spend enough time in the sun to acquire a tan have far more wrinkles than people that limit sun exposure.

Basically, you might not need a face lotion to reduce age spots if you had spent a little less time in the sun or you had made efforts to protect your skin. If you are saying, “Wait, but I always wore sunscreen.” That’s not surprising. Most sunscreens are actually ineffective. Only zinc oxide is truly effective and people don’t like it, because it doesn’t disappear.

So, can a face lotion reduce age spots, safely? Yes it can, as long as it contains the right ingredients. Read the label carefully, before you buy face lotion to reduce age spots. That’s the best advice.

Valerie Rosenbaum studies anti aging skin care products and the ingredients used in them. She believes the best skin care products are clinically tested by independent labs. Visit DefendYourSkin.com if you have fine lines, wrinkles or age spots and want to do something about it today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?Hydroquinone-in-Face-Lotions-to-Reduce-Age-Spots-is-Not-Safe!&id=2270541

Eliminate Brown Age Spots Naturally
By Valerie Rosenbaum

Nobody wants to see the appearance of brown age spots, any more than they want to see wrinkles or sagging. Luckily, we live in the time that we do. Scientists have shown us what compounds will effectively prevent and repair the signs of age. And, no matter where they are in the world, they are readily available for order over the internet.

One drawback to internet ordering is that some manufacturers do not completely disclose all of the ingredients included in the product. At least when you are shopping in a store you can easily read the label of ingredients, along with any warning labels. My advice is this.

Don’t order anything unless the manufacturer fully discloses all of the ingredients. If you don’t know anything about an ingredient, look it up at “Skin Deep”. That’s a cosmetic safety database created by the Environmental Working Group. The database can also tell you about whether or not the company conducts animal testing. They rank products strictly according to safety, not effectiveness, but people that use the product are able to write a review for it. So, it is very helpful.

An ingredient that is often recommended for fading brown age spots is hydroquinone. Skin Deep lists hydroquinone as a probable carcinogen; a cancer-causing agent. It’s also a common irritant and allergen. A safe alternative to hydroquinone is Extra-pone Motha Root Extract.

It’s a plant extract that acts to inhibit melanin production. The spot that you see is actually a melanin clump, something like a freckle, but usually larger. Melanin is produced by cells deep within the skin in response to UV radiation from the sun. But, as time goes by, those cells don’t work so well and that’s why you sometimes get brown age spots.

The Motha Root is found just about everywhere, it’s a very common weed. But, only a German manufacturer produces the extract for use in skincare products. Testing has shown that their formula inhibits melanin production by over 40% at a .5% concentration. How long does it take to work?

As a single ingredient, it could take some time. Inhibiting melanin production means that the new cells that are created that day will be lighter in color, but it takes time for them to work their way to the surface. It might only take 28 days if person is under the age of 30. For the over 40 crowd, it could take as long as 8 weeks. Luckily, there are other compounds that help speed up the process.

If you want to see brown age spots fade quickly, as fast as it would happen in a younger person, a compound called CYNERGY TK should help. CYNERGY TK contains the protein keratin. In its most active form, it has been shown to increase skin cell production by as much as 160%.

With those two ingredients, consumers have reported seeing a significant difference in just two weeks, depending on their level of sun exposure. The only thing that will fade brown age spots more quickly is laser treatment or freezing and that can cause scarring. Just remember to read about all of the ingredients in a product, before you buy anything.

Valerie Rosenbaum has deeply studied natural skin care products and the ingredients used in them. She believes people should only use products that are clinically proven to be effective. Visit her website http://www.DefendYourSkin.com if you have fine lines, wrinkles or age spots and want to do something about it today.

Age Spot Hand Cream – What to Avoid and Compounds to Look For
By Valerie Rosenbaum

If you’re looking for a hand cream for age spots, there are some things that you need to know. All of the products that are available on the internet are not safe. If you live in the US, the ones in your local drugstore might not be safe either. Reading the label of ingredients is the only way to be sure that you are getting something effective that will not do more harm than good.

Ingredients to Avoid

Hydroquinone is top on the list of ingredients to avoid. Its inclusion in cosmetics has been banned in the European Union, due to a cancer risk that may accompany its use. Not worried about cancer?

There is a possibility that using a cream containing hydroquinone will make the spot darker than it is today. It has been known to stimulate, rather than inhibit melanin production. That is likely due to the free radical damage that it causes, which is why it also increases a person’s cancer risk.

A very expensive hand cream for age spots contains hydroquinone and glycolic acid. Glycolic acid is the smallest of the alpha hydroxy acids. They have been recommended for everything from acne to wrinkle removal. The main effect that they have is to break down the hyaluronic acid bond that holds on the skin’s outermost layer. This is supposed to cause the spot to peel away.

It is highly unlikely that the spot is only on the surface. If it is and you avoid the sun, it will go away on its own in about 6 weeks time. That’s how long it normally takes for the skin’s natural rejuvenation processes to replace that outer layer.

A hand cream for age spots that contains glycolic acid and hydroquinone is very likely to cause increased pigmentation. It will also increase the skin’s sensitivity to the sun. Obviously, these are not good choices.

Compounds to Look For

The root of the cyperus rotundus, a medicinal plant, has been used for centuries to relieve skin irritation and minor burns. Recent studies have shown that it also inhibits melanin production. Extracts from the plant can be found in some of the better “all natural” hand cream for age spots. There’s just one warning.

Anything that inhibits melanin production will lighten the entire area to which it is applied. Unless you want to lighten the color of your hands, you might want to look for a moisturizer that contains functional keratin and coenzyme Q10. They might not work as quickly as cyperus rotundus, but they should work.

Coenzyme Q10, an antioxidant, has been shown to reverse sun damage by over 30% after six weeks of use. Since the spot is essentially sun damage, it should work for that, too.

Functional Keratin is an anti-aging ingredient. Benefits that accompany the use of creams containing it include reduced wrinkling, improved firmness, reduced inflammation, improved moisture content and a reduction of brown spots caused by the sun or environmental pollutants.

It may be a little harder to find a hand cream for age spots that contains those ingredients, but if you want something safe and effective, you need to take the time to look for one.

Valerie Rosenbaum has deeply studied natural skin care products and the ingredients used in them. She believes the best skin care products should be clinically proven to be effective. Visit her website http://www.DefendYourSkin.com if you have fine lines, wrinkles or age spots and would like some simple, natural solutions.

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