Age spots are flat brown spots that can appear anywhere on the body as it ages. They are also called liver spots. Most age spots appear on the face, neck, and hands. These brown spots in themselves are harmless, but they can be a sign of more serious underlying problems. They are the result of a buildup of wastes known as lipofuscin accumulation, a Byproduct of free radical damage in skin cells . These spots are actually signs that the cells are full of the type of accumulated wastes that slowly destroy the body's cells, including brain md liver cells. In other words, they are a surface sign of free radical intoxication of the body that may affect many internal structures as well, including the heart muscle and the retina.
Causes of age spots
Factors leading to the formation of age spots include poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking, poor liver function, the ingestion of oxidized oils over a period of time, and, above all, excessive sun exposure. Exposure to the sun causes the development of free radicals that may damage the skin. Most people who have significant numbers of age spots live in sunny climates or have had excessive sun exposure. The formation of lipofuscin is associated with a deficiency of a number of important nutrients, including vitamin E, selenium, glutathione, chromium, and dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE). Consuming alcohol increases lipofuscin formation. One study found that animals fed alcohol over a period of eighteen months had twice the amount of lipofuscin on their brain cells as control animals in the control group.
Treatment to remove age spots
- Burdock, milk thistle, and red clover aid in cleansing the bloodstream. This helps in removal of age spots.
- Eat a diet high in vegetable protein and that consists of 50 percent raw fruits and vegetables, plus fresh grains, cereals, seeds, and nuts. Be aware that seeds and nuts become rancid quickly when subjected to heat and/or exposed to the air. Purchase only raw nuts and seeds that have been vacuum sealed.
- Ginkgo biloba improves circulation and is a potent antioxidant.
- Do not use cleansing creams, especially hydrogenated, hardened creams. Cleanse your skin with pure olive oil and a warm wet washcloth, then rinse with lemon juice and water.
- This has worked for some people: At night, saturate a cotton ball with pure lemon juice and put it over the spots (but do not apply it near the eyes). There may be some tingling, but only for a few minutes. If there is no sign of irritation, apply morning and night.
- Brown or yellow spots can usually be eliminated by freezing them off. During a painless in-office procedure, the doctor brushes liquid nitrogen on the spots with a cotton swab. In two seconds the cells freeze, and within five days, cells flake away, and permanent results occur. Alternatively, a doctor can burn the spots off with acid applied directly to the spots, or remove them using laser light. With this process, there is no lightening of the skin after removal is completed.
- Limit sun exposure.