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subscribe to beauty blog via RSSKate Somerville Wears Down Age Spots
January 13, 2009 2:50 pm
This column features weekly tips and advice from a revolving cast of industry leaders, on hand to discuss your beauty dilemmas, from blemishes to Botox. To submit a question, e-mail celia_ ellenberg@condenast.com.
I’m becoming increasingly obsessed with this age spot on my hand—and wondering if and when they’ll start appearing elsewhere on my body. What can I do to treat the one I already have and prevent others from forming?
If you are lighter-skinned, I recommend spot-treating with Intense Pulsed Light (IPL). The light is attracted to the pigment and will break it apart, causing it to come to the surface. It may need three to four treatments to entirely disappear, depending on the depth and color. If you are darker, a laser is not the best choice, as it can burn the skin by focusing on the natural pigment, not just the spot. I recommend a lightening cream, with kojic acid or licorice extract, or if you want something that will work faster, hydroquinone. As usual, the best way to prevent any and all spots is through protection—wear sunscreen! Using serums with vitamin C will also be helpful in preventing and lightening spots, as the antioxidants in the serum will keep free radicals at bay, further protecting your skin from damage and photoaging.
The creator and director of her own medi-skin clinic in Los Angeles, Kate Somerville has spent over 15 years working with top dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons to promote the integration of skincare and medicine, helping to pioneer the field of paramedical aesthetics and lay the foundation for the medi-spa industry. A best-selling eponymous product line and cult celebrity following keep her one of the most trusted names in skincare today.
tags: Hydroquinone, Intense Pulsed Light, Kate Somerville, Kojic acid, Licorice extract, Skincare
