Dr Bollmann, Skin Care Specialist, Anti-Aging Expert

If you are like the rest of us who like the sun and beach, then most likely you have some age spots. These can appear different, and are not always dark or brown. Some of the "spots" we see are white, and these are actually scars from sun damage.

While we can make the brown spots lighter with Bare Skin Care creams, specifically a combination of Perfect Tone Serum and Rejuvenation Serum, we can do little for the white spots. IPL treatments might help them improve, but as yet we cannot put pigment back into the skin (except of course an all over tan, which will eventually fade).

Blotches in which small patches of skin appear to have a different color than the main skin area become common as we age due to sun damage. It is important for you and your dermatologist to watch your skin discolorations carefully.  Most brown spots (also known as age spots) are harmless, try cosmetics and skincare products containing one or more of these ingredients:

• Hydroquinone, an antioxidant that has been found to be helpful in breaking down and preventing the accumulation of browned pigment cells that form age spots (lipofuscin). Hydroquinone is found in multiple Bare Skin Care products, like Perfect Tone Serum.

• Kojic acid, which is derived from mushrooms and soy, and has been used by the Japanese to fight age spots. Also found in Bare Skin Care products.

• Glycyrrhiza glabra, an herb that breaks up clumps of brown skin cells so that they can be shed by the body’s natural cycle of exfoliation, and fights free radicals, which contribute to the production of lipofuscin.

IMPORTANT:  Some skin discolorations can be harmful.  A small flat brown spot can become cancerous, especially if its shape changes or it starts to itch, which may be early signs of melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer. See your doctor if you experience these symptoms.