How to Get Rid of Age Spots on the Hands?

So, how to get rid of age spots easily and naturally? 

To eliminate these irregularities, aesthetic medicine is particularly effective. However, there are less invasive and gentler age spot treatments to reduce their appearance or remove them naturally. Such as the use of skincare products rich in lightening agents, e.g., hand cream for age spots. Below is a non-exhaustive list of molecules known for their depigmenting action in skincare:

• Azelaic acid:

This dicarboxylic acid derived from cereals reduces the ability of melanocytes to produce melanin by inhibiting the enzyme tyrosinase and regulating the activity of the enzyme thioredoxin reductase. In addition, it targets only pigment-laden or atypical melanocytes. Therefore, it does not interact with healthy cells.

• Arbutin acid (or alpha-arbutin):

Often referred to as a natural hydroquinone because of its pigment-regulating nature, arbutin acid's remarkable effectiveness against dark spots is due to its perfect affinity with the active site of tyrosinase, an enzyme involved in melanin formation. Thus, this competitive inhibition of the active site of the enzyme blocks its activity, and consequently the synthesis of melanin. 

• Glycolic acid:

This AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid) is a chemical exfoliant: it gets rid of melanin-rich skin cells on the skin's surface. This phenomenon can even go so far as to provoke cell renewal in the basal layer of the skin, i.e., the deep layer of the epidermis, where the melanocytes, the melanin-producing cells, are located. This helps to reduce remove dark spots naturally that are caused by age and the sun and thus to lighten the complexion.

• Licorice extract:

Designated as “Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract” by INCI, the extract of licorice contains 95% of glabridine, a compound intervenes at several levels to regulate the phenomenon of hyperpigmentation. It considerably reduces the amount of endothelin-1 (a mediator involved in the pigmentation process) released by keratinocytes after UV exposure. In addition, it inhibits the activity of phospholipase A2 (PLA2), an enzyme released by epidermal keratinocytes after UV exposure or during inflammation that stimulates tyrosinase activity and therefore melanogenesis.

• Tranexamic acid:

This synthetic derivative of lysine, an amino acid found in the skin, acts on skin hyperpigmentation by blocking the interaction between skin cells and melanocytes, thus limiting melanin synthesis. Tranexamic acid then visibly reduces skin color irregularities and improves skin tone uniformity.

Dark spots are caused by a phenomenon called oxidative stress. This is the deterioration of healthy molecules and compounds in the skin by oxygen radicals (free radicals) generated in excess by the sun's UV rays. These are particularly unstable and reactive because of their single electrons. They destabilize the cellular mechanisms of the skin, which then produce too much melanin, resulting in brown spots. 

Some compounds can stabilize these free radicals, making them much less harmful to the skin and preventing the appearance of several deteriorations such as dark spots but also wrinkles, skin slackening, etc. Among these preventive molecules on hyperpigmentation, we find vitamin C, ferulic acid, resveratrol, etc. which will neutralize free radicals. Regular use of a vitamin C hand cream will help prevent the appearance of age spots.

Furthermore, to avoid dark spots, it is essential to protect your skin with asun care product adapted to your skin tone. Even if sun cream can protect the skin from hyperpigmentation spots, we recommend avoiding sun exposure between 11am and 3pm.