How to Get Rid of Age Spots and Keep Youthful Skin

As we age, our skin tells a story—sun-kissed summers, outdoor adventures, and years well-lived. But sometimes, that story includes age spots—those flat brown, grey, or black marks that tend to appear on the face, hands, and décolletage. While they are usually benign, they can make the skin look uneven and aged – depriving the skin of its youthful glow.

If you’re wondering how to treat age spots and restore a clearer, more radiant complexion, this article will walk you through the most effective options—especially the advantages of laser treatments—and how McKeown Medical can help you achieve the results you’re after.

Age spots, also known as liver spots or solar lentigines, are small, dark areas of pigmentation that develop on the skin due to prolonged sun exposure. They form when UV light accelerates the production of melanin, the pigment that gives our skin its colour. Over time, melanin can clump or be produced in higher concentrations, leading to visible spots.

These spots typically appear on sun-exposed areas such as:

• The face
• The backs of the hands
• The shoulders
• The chest
• The forearms

While anyone can develop age spots, they’re more common in people over the age of 40 and in those with fair skin. Most of the time, they are benign—but if you notice a spot changing in appearance, becoming irregular, itchy, or bleeding, it’s important to consult a doctor to rule out skin cancer.

Prevention starts with protecting your skin from the sun. Even if you already have age spots, these steps can prevent new ones from forming and protect the results of any treatments you choose:

• Wear sunscreen daily (SPF 30 or higher), even in winter or on cloudy days.
• Reapply sunscreen every two hours if outdoors. This is the most overlooked step! Most people apply once in the morning and then forget about it.
• Avoid peak sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Wear sun-protective clothing, including wide-brimmed hats and UV-blocking sunglasses.
• Use skincare with antioxidants, like vitamin C, which can help reduce oxidative stress on the skin.

Taking care of your skin now means fewer visible signs of ageing down the line.

There are a range of topical treatments available over the counter or by prescription, including:

• Hydroquinone creams
• Retinoids (vitamin A derivatives)
• Vitamin C serums
• Glycolic acid exfoliants

While some people may see mild fading over time, these products typically require months of consistent use, and the results are often limited. They don’t penetrate deeply enough to fully break down excess pigmentation, and many users find the effects disappointing—especially for stubborn or widespread age spots.

That’s where laser treatments come into their own.

If you’re looking for a faster, more noticeable improvement, laser treatments are one of the most effective and reliable solutions for eliminating age spots.

Why Choose Laser Over Other Options?

Compared to other medical treatments—such as cryosurgery (freezing the spot) or chemical peels (which exfoliate the top layer of skin)—laser therapy offers:

• Precision targeting: Lasers can focus directly on pigmented areas without damaging surrounding skin.
• Minimal downtime: Treatments are usually quick and non-invasive, with minimal recovery time.
• Superior results: Laser energy breaks up pigment particles, which the body then naturally clears, leading to smoother and clearer skin.

At McKeown Medical, we offer two highly effective options for age spot removal:

BBL Treatment

BroadBand Light (BBL) therapy is an advanced form of intense pulsed light (IPL) that targets pigmentation and redness. It’s especially effective for sun-induced age spots and can help with overall skin tone and texture. BBL usually makes the pigment darker for around one week before it gradually fades. The great thing about BBL is that there is usually no downtime, so you are free to get back to normal activities almost immediately.

HALO Laser Treatment

HALO is a hybrid fractional laser that combines ablative and non-ablative wavelengths to deeply rejuvenate the skin. It helps target pigmentation, sun damage, and fine lines, delivering comprehensive resurfacing. This is more invasive than BBL and typically has five days of redness and swelling afterwards. It’s better for patients who have larger individual patches of pigmentation, or patients who also want to improve the texture of their skin.

Both treatments are tailored to your skin type and goals and are performed by experienced medical professionals who specialise in cosmetic dermatology.