eHow launches Android app: Get the best of eHow on the go.

How To

How to Lighten Liver Spots

Contributor
By Frank Dioso
eHow Contributing Writer
(0 Ratings)

Liver spots, also known as age spots or senile lentigines, are patches of increased skin pigmentation. There are innumerable causes of liver spots; the most common is over exposure to sun light and natural aging. These spots are very common after age 55 and occur mostly on the forehead or the backs of the hands. Liver spots are harmless and do not need to be treated medically. However, since they are permanent marks on the skin that can affect the appearance of your skin, you may want to lighten or remove them.

Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Bleaching cream
  • Lemon
  1. Step 1

    Purchase and use an over-the-counter bleaching cream containing hydroquinone to lighten your liver spots. If used as directed, these types of bleaching creams may lighten liver spots gradually over a few months. Always read the directions in the packaging.

  2. Step 2

    Massage fresh lemon juice onto the liver spots. Cut a fresh lemon in half and gently rub it directly on your skin. Leave it on for about 15 minutes, then rinse and pat dry. Only use fresh lemons, and avoid using concentrated lemon juice that come in little plastic lemon-shaped bottles. This kind of lemon juice contains sugar, preservatives and other chemicals which can irritate your skin.

  3. Step 3

    Undergo dermabrasion. This treatment is performed by a licensed dermatologist. Dermabrasion involves using a sterile, rotating brush to remove the top layer of your skin. A new skin layer will grow in its place after the therapy. Scabs will temporarily form during the healing process and will disappear in about two weeks.

  4. Step 4

    Undergo a chemical peel to help lighten liver spots. This procedure is effective in lightening skin discolorations such as liver spots. Chemical peels are carried out by dermatologists. After evaluating your skin, he will apply an acidic solution such as trichloracetic or betahydroxy acid to your skin. The acids will dissolve the outer layer of your skin, down to the liver spots. Your skin will then start to peel and new skin will form in a few days.

Tips & Warnings
  • You must consult your physician before embarking on skin-lightening treatments.
Subscribe

Post a Comment

Post a Comment

Related Ads

  • Have you done this? Click here to let us know.
I Did This
Get Free Health Newsletters

Copyright © 1999-2009 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.   en-US Portions of this page are modifications based on work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License.

Live Strong Partner
Livestrong_eHow Health