Pigmentation and Sun Damage
Age Spots on the Face: Causes and Options
Age spots are flat brown or tan patches caused by cumulative UV exposure, not by ageing itself. They appear most often on the face, hands and chest because those areas get the most sun. They typically become visible from the 40s onward, but the damage causing them was accumulated decades earlier.
Age spots, freckles and melasma are not the same
- Age spots (solar lentigines): flat, defined, brown to tan, in sun-exposed areas. They do not fade in winter.
- Freckles: smaller, often genetic, and typically darken with sun and fade somewhat without it.
- Melasma: larger, often symmetrical patches influenced by hormones as well as UV, and considerably harder to treat.
Any new, changing, irregular or multi-coloured spot should be assessed by a doctor before any cosmetic treatment is considered. Cosmetic treatment is never appropriate for a lesion that has not been checked.
How they are treated
Picosecond laser is commonly used for this type of pigmentation. Energy is absorbed by the pigment and delivered in extremely short pulses, fragmenting it so the body can clear it through its own processes.
Professional peels and prescriptive skincare also have a role, particularly for maintaining the result and addressing the surrounding tone rather than individual spots.
Preventing more
- Daily broad-spectrum SPF, reapplied properly, is the single most effective step.
- Physical protection matters as much as product: hats, shade and clothing.
- Treat existing spots and prevent new ones simultaneously, or you are running to stand still.
Common questions
Will age spots come back after treatment?+
The treated spots generally clear, but continued UV exposure produces new ones. Without daily sun protection, treatment becomes a repeating cycle.
Can I treat them with skincare alone?+
Prescriptive skincare can improve overall tone and slow new pigment forming, but established age spots usually respond better and faster to in-clinic treatment. Skincare then protects and maintains the result.
All treatments require an individual consultation and suitability assessment. Results vary between individuals. Information on this website is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.