Getting Rid of Brown Spots

The unsightly blotches which seem to magically appear on the skin as time goes by are sometimes called brown spots, liver spots, or age spots, but they are all caused from exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun. Wearing a sunscreen with a high SPF over the entire surface of the body can certainly help prevent the brown spots, but even the most conscientious person seems to develop some eventually, either on the face, chest, hands, arms or legs.


Fortunately, researchers have developed several good methods for getting rid of brown spots, and most of these are simple, effective, and affordable. The easiest way to lighten a brown spot is through bleaching. Some women have had good result using home remedies to do this, using such products as lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide, or buttermilk applied to the skin consistently. Most have better outcome using a commercially prepared bleaching cream containing hydroquinone. The creams purchased at a local drug store will work to fade brown spots over time, but they have a much weaker concentration of hydroquinone than prescription medications prescribed by a physician.

Men and women desiring to completely eliminate brown spots should consider visiting a skin care provider. They can offer chemical peels, microdermabrasion, intense pulsed light therapy, and several types of laser resurfacing procedures which can remove even the most stubborn of brown spots. Chemical peels usually involve an application of glycolic acid to the epidermis. When this layer blisters and peels, the new layer of skin develops, unblemished by signs of aging.


Microdermabrasion is a process in which a doctor almost sandblasts the skin with minute crystals, removing the damaged areas and allowing new skin cells to develop. Intense pulsed light therapy involves the use of broadband light to destroy cells beneath the skin. As this skin heals, new skin cells rise to the top, replacing the sun damaged brown spots.

Laser resurfacing is the newest and most advanced treatment for getting rid of brown spots. This is an outpatient procedure in which the doctor uses the heat energy of a laser to treat the damaged skin. As skin cells regenerate after the procedure, they significant improvement can be seen in skin tone and coloring. Although laser resurfacing is the most costly way of removing brown spots, it is also the most effective.