Have any of you wanted to do something about your skin, like lightening up sunspots, and not been able to, because one's skin is too sensitive even for garden-variety exfoliation etc., let along things like Rx skin lighteners, Retin-A, etc.? Aside from my sunspots, my skin is actually pretty good as it is a clear, normal-to-slightly oily type, therefore I don't have very many wrinkles at the ripe old age of 61. If it weren't for those *****ed sunspots, I would look fully 20 years younger already. I'm pretty trim and fit, wear stylish unusual clothes, color my hair a flattering color, and with a younger outlook, but those sunspots are just a drag! My skin tends to either react badly to products, or have no positive response at all(as in no improvement)so I've ended up just cleansing and moisturizing, along with a simple exfoliating mask at home(kitchen items). I can't do the everything but the kitchen sink anti-aging creams, alpha hydroxies, retinoids or the like. The last time I tried a treatment product(in this case an aggressive AHA serum)I got a chemical burn that took a good while of home TLC to heal from, and after that I had to go extremely simple and natural, which is fine, but that of course has no effect on sunspots that do nothing except make people look older than they should, given other good skincare. Sunblocks don't agree with me either - either I get breakouts or rashes from them, or I end up looking like Casper the Friendly Ghost - not good on someone with slightly olive skin.
Anyone else in this boat? Is this ALL due to being post-menopause, which I've been since I was about 50?

I'm 48 and have them emerging on my hands, legs and I even think i see one on my cheek....if you find out what fades them, let me know too!!

caz

[Hi!
Why not try a visit to a Dermatologist?
I also have hyper sensative skin but have faired very well with a light TCA peel done by a Cosmetician that is guided by the Dermatologist. I would never in a million years do it on my own on my face.
If not, the only other thing I can think of is to bathe your skin with apple cider vinegar (vinegar is the base of a TCA peeling) mixed with water. It is supposed to have an exfoliating effect as well but certainly, other than a sting, not aggressive.
girlsmom

Can't visit the derm - too expensive and scary, to me anyway! I've never had insurance, so the cost has to come out of pocket, which isn't happening anytime soon. I do use raw apple cider vinegar in my own toner, half and half that and water. I use this at night only, under my shea butter cream. At least I know exactly what is in this and my skin seems to like this kind of acid where it does not like other forms at all, pretty much. I'v seen sites where it says that ACV gets rid of sunspots too. I don't know how long it takes though, since this is not an Rx like what every derm or medical spa would want you to use along with high-powered sunblock(which I also can't use). I also use the ACV in my mask once a week along with honey, oatmeal and a teeny pinch of powdered Vitamin C. I've only done this particular mask variation 2-3 times, so I don't know how it works over the long term other than it temporarily smoothes my skin out for a few days.

I understand the concern about cost. I decided it was worth it, though. I had some on my face, especially. For about $200 or I think it was $250 out of pocket, my dermatologist took them off with a laser ...completely, in one session. I didn't think it was too painful. Different parts of the face have different sensitivities. And the whole treatment, once she began was about 15-20 minutes. You're able to put makeup on immediately after, which for me that was touching up my eyeliner and putting on blush and lipstick. The spots scab and fall away in a few days...not even a week. You can cover them with concealer.

My big deal, because my work puts me in front of people some, was how I'd look during the time that the spots are scabbing, but it really wasn't too bad ( comparison was with the spots themselves).

I did that about, oh, a year and a half ago, and they haven't come back. As I understand, age spots are due to old skin damage, so more may emerge, but those are gone.

Doing it did a lot, at least for me.

I have too many to take only one session with IPL - the first medical spa I went to recommended a minimum of 3-5 treatments at $300 a pop, PLUS very aggressive topical skincare products, and they still said that it could take up to 2 years for them to completely go away anyway. I know, to hear this makes it sound like my skin looks horrendous! Actually, it is quite good and healthy looking, without too many wrinkles due the fact that it has been normal to slightly oily lifelong - it's just the numerous freckles and spots that make me look older than I should considering I take very good care of myself with natural health methods(extremely clean diet and fitness).

Hi, cara4art

It sounds like you've made your decision about the lasering. That cost for that many treatments would have stopped me, too.

Just offering info and commenting, not giving advice... I wonder if other dermatologists would tell you you needed that many sessions. The one who did mine not only took off the age spots but also used the laser to take away quite a few broken capillaries (judging from my mother and her still living sibs, that's a congenital condition & I'll see more of it...oh, joy) in the 15 minute session. She really zipped along and did a lot in a short time period. I hunted up a regular dermatologist with a free standing practice. I don't know if spa prices are higher than the norm.

Before I went for lasering I played around with OTC microdermabrasion kits, which did lighten the spots... I'm you're age. Good for you re. the natural health methods and fitness.

All best,

Bou

Gak, I haven't been on this board for awhile ... they don't have an edit function on post, or I can't find it quickly, so here's a last detail.

Everyone's skin is of course different, but the dermatologist I used didn't require particular skin care products for after, except to say that I needed to keep up using a daily sunscreen, with a high enough SPF. She did suggest a product line, but it wasn't a necessity for the outcome. So there wasn't that cost involved in my decision to go ahead with the lasering.

I've wondered about those age spot fading creams & will look forward to learning things about them, if people post about them...

"I've wondered about those age spot fading creams & will look forward to learning things about them, if people post about them..."

There's so much hype out there about OTC "age-spot creams"! Basically, if you're talking about the 2% hydroquinone creams that you can get at Walgreens etc., they pretty much don't work especially if you have a lot of spots or they are very dark. They MIGHT help a little bit over the period of many months, even up to a year if spots are just beginning, are light to begin with, and not numerous. Most of the time with these serums and creams they tell you to dab a bit onto the spots only, not too good if you have them all over your face. Plus, if you aren't precise, you end up with a faded ring of paler skin around the spot that you are trying to get rid of. Now, with the newer formulations like Olay's Definity, the much more expensive NIA line, both of which have glucosamine and niacinamide in them, since these products haven't been out on the market that long, it's too soon to tell really if these are viable, non-hydroquinone(which has it's own very real risks, rebound pigmentation being on of them plus skin cancer)products. There are some serums out there with hydroquinone alternatives like Vitamin C, arbutin, kojic acid, etc. Again, too soon to really tell if these are indeed effective for people with pigmentation problems or if it's just more hype. Just sayin...
However, if there was a safe treatment that I could afford that wouldn't trash my skin, I would go for it!

Well I will put in my two cents in about now
My mom many moons ago use to use something called CONCHA NACAR DE PERLOP and it is made from oyster shell powder and yes it has worked for me and its natural to me. It is considered a bleach cream but has been around for over a gazillion years.
I find it at Walmart in this little section they have where they have some Mexican products like ointments, hair products, etc
On the label it says Perlop Cosmetics and then it says Santa Monica , Ca. they do have a web site you can google.
Now what I do is I put it on the spots and leave it on at least 30 min. I also use it to clean the pores you know, I have some smudges on my neck kind of like a ring from one side to the next that I cover with makeup but now over a week of using it has done wonders.

So I do chalk it up to Peri I am 55 years young and still in peri and still getting a whole bunch of Strange bird symptoms so I ride the wave one at a time,

Good luck
God bless you
Tinks

One more thing HSN tv network has a line of wonderful not so expensive skin care called Serious skin care products especailly the Vit C Products are to die for I atually have been told I look at least 40 years or so and I am 55 going on 56 ,

Take care
Oh I keep remembering stuff my daughter who is 24 uses a line from them and she has developed a bit of very dry skin, a bit of adult acne and they a have a line for that to and great prices.

Take care
Again,
Tinks