Age Spots, or Liver spots, are gray, brown or black spots on the skin that are caused by exposure to the sun. These flat spots, which are also called solar lentigo, occur on portions on the skin that see constant sun exposure such as the back of the hands or the forehead although they may be found in other less exposed areas also. Extremely common occurrences after the age of 55, these spots are considered harmless in spite of their somewhat cancerous appearance.

Age spots happen because of the skin pigment melanin. Melanin is the pigment that is responsible for protecting your under layers of skin from the suns harmful UV rays and is the stuff which makes people tan. These spots develop when extra melanin is produced in higher concentrations than normal, or when it becomes clumped together in certain sun exposed areas of the skin. Age spots can range from freckle size to more than a centimeter in length. They can also group together, thus becoming more prominent. Age spots are oftentimes accompanied by other symptoms of skin damage such as painless skin lesions and macules (flat patchy areas of discolored skin). Avoiding the sun, or using really good sun screen while in the sun is the surest way to prevent these unsightly spots from happening.

Liver spots happened because of the build up of ceriod pigments in older people. Liver spots are outward signs of free radical damage within as fats are pre-oxidized in the cells instead of the liver. Liver spots are generally not cancerous but medical advice should be sought if they began to change color, shape or size..

These unsightly age spots can be treated through several different methods which involve superficial destruction of the skin. Options include freezing, using acid, skin sanding, electric needle and laser therapy. Lasers are the preferred method because they are much less damaging to the skin due to their selective precision. Laser therapy also involves less pain and a quicker healing time than the other methods. Liver spots can also be bleached into obscurity or may be frozen away with liquid nitrogen in a procedure known as cryotherapy.

All of these procedures are a bit costly and only superficial in their results. Home remedies do exist that can be just as effective in removing these spots while at the same time being easier on your pocket book and better for your skin.

Here are some home remedies for age spots…

Aloe: The gel of the Aloe Vera plant has many skin healing properties and will help fade the spots effectively. Apply Aloe juice or gel twice a day  for  two months and be astounded by the results.

Apple Cider Vinegar: Take two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and one teaspoon of orange juice. Soak a cloth or a cotton pad with the mixture and secure to the area you want to treat.

Bilberry herb: This plant is  known to slow the aging process and is a powerful antioxidant that will stop free radicals in thiere tracks. 4 to 8 ounces of fresh berries or 80 to 160 mg of bilberry extract daily should keep the spots at bay.

Buttermilk: Buttermilk not only makes good pancakes, it has also been used as a skin and beauty aid for years. A dab of buttermilk on the spots will help the skin heal beacuase of the lactic acid within the milk.

Castor Oil: Apply this vitamin rich oil on the spots each morning and evening and rub in vigorously. The spots will be gone within a few months.

Chick Peas: Mash one third cup of garbanzo beans together with a dribble of water and smear the resulting paste on the spots. Leave until dry.

Dandelion Milk: Apply to spots 2 to 3 times per day. Great cure for warts too.

Gotu Kola: mix 1/8 teaspoon of this Chinese herb into a cup of herbal tea. Or, mix it with plain hot water along with 1/8 teaspoon of ginseng and a pinch of cayenne pepper. This should clear the spots within a few days.

Horseradish root: Mix 1 teaspoon of horseradish root with ½ teaspoon of fresh lemon juice, ½ teaspoon of vinegar and 3 drops of rosemary essential oil.  Dab your spots once or twice a day to exfoliate the top layer of your skin and lighten the spots.

Lemon Juice: Apply fresh lemon juice on your spots twice a day to help erase them in a few months. Just before to let the juice dry before going outdoors ( lemon juice will increase your skins sensitivity to skin).

Yulia Berry is an independent health researcher and author of the best selling e-books Aloe – Your Miracle Doctor and ‘Pharmacy in Vegetables’. She distributes a weekly newsletter regarding great home remedies and has written dozens of natural health articles published on hundreds of websites worldwide. Yulia Berry’s new ebook Unlocked Secrets of Curative Garlic to be released soon.

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