Age spots, sometimes called sun spots or liver spots, are areas of hyperpigmentation on the face, hands, and other parts of the body caused by excessive sun exposure. Age spots are typically harmless, (make sure to verify with your dermatologist that the spots on your face are in fact age spots), but they can be rather unsightly and make you look older than your age. Luckily, modern dermatology offers these four great treatment options for age spots:

IPL Photo Facial

IPL (which stands for Intense Pulsed Light) is just what it sounds like: intense pulses of light target the overly pigmented areas of your skin, breaking down the excessive melanin and rejuvenating your skin. IPL photofacials are not only very effective for fading age spots, but they also help reduce other signs of aging like wrinkles, as well as acne scars and enlarged pores. IPL is typically mildly uncomfortable but not painful, and requires no real downtime afterward.

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels work by using skin-safe chemicals to exfoliate your skin, removing the top layer and leaving the younger, healthier, and clearer skin underneath. For large age spots, you may need a series of chemical peels to see a dramatic difference. Typically, the chemical peels offered in dermatology or plastic surgery offices are much stronger and more effective than those offered at day spas.

Prescription Retinol Serum

Retinol is applied to your skin in the form of a serum or ointment, and works to accelerate the process of skin cell turnover. This helps get rid of age spots gradually over time, while also reducing wrinkles and giving you a brighter and more even complexion. While you can buy skincare products containing retinol over the counter, these typically include a much weaker concentration than prescription retinol, which is stronger and therefore works to fade your age spots faster.

Retinol makes your skin more sensitive to the sun, so it's especially important to wear good sunblock during the day.

Microdermabrasion

When you have a microdermabrasion procedure performed, your dermatologist or medical aesthetician uses an implement to gently buff and sand away at your skin. This helps shed the top layer of skin with the most sun damage, revealing fresh skin underneath. Microdermabrasion can sometimes be combined with a chemical peel for more dramatic results.

Be sure to schedule a consultation with your dermatologist to help determine which of these options is best for your skin and your budget.