Removing Age Spots - Choosing the Best Treatment for Age Spots
By Linda Florentine
Age spots are most often seen among individuals ages 55 and older. While these bothersome blemishes aren't harmful, they can mar one's appearance. For this reason, many people seek out a proven treatment for age spots that will help them recapture their youthful glow and improve their self-esteem. There are approximately 4 different methods that work well for removing ages spots. Let's take a quick look at each so you can decide which one fits you best.
IPL Treatment
IPL, also known as photorejuvenation, stands for Intensed Pulsed Light. As a non-ablative, this treatment for age spots will not damage the surface of your skin. With IPL, intense light is sent to the deeper layers of your skin (dermis) without touching the superficial layers (epidermis). This innovative method is good for removing age spots because it uses the pulsed light to stimulate new collagen growth while fading discoloration and evening your skin tone.
The only drawback about IPL is that it has to be performed by a trained medical professional. This procedure can be a little costly, too. You'd have to have 4 to 6 IPL treatments to see real results. At $300 to 600 per session, you could easily end up spending $1200 to $2200 to reach your goals.
Laser Resurfacing
Laser resurfacing is still a fairly new procedure, but it's relatively safe. Laser resurfacing is most popular as a procedure for minimizing fine lines, but it's also effective as a treatment for age spots. This procedure must be performed in a doctor's office because it call for some sedation. Laser resurfacing is a popular treatment many plastic surgeons offer to help with removing age spots and other deep blemishes.
Like IPL, laser resurfacing can be quite expensive. The national average for this procedure is nearly $3,000 but many doctors offer financing so patients can take advantage of monthly payments.
Bleaching Creams
Bleaching creams are great for bleaching large areas of discoloration. As a treatment for age spots, though, most bleaching creams have a greater affect on the areas surrounding your age spots than they do on the spots themselves. You can either purchase bleaching creams from your dermatologist or get them over the counter at your local drug store. Some people say bleaching creams are slow at removing age spots while others swear by them. In either case, positive results can be experienced.
Home Chemical Peels
A home chemical peel is perhaps the most cost-efficient and effective treatment for age spots available. It works by removing layers of dead skin over a period of several days (usually less than a week) in order to reveal fresh, new skin that is both younger looking and more supple. Lighter chemical peels only penetrate one or two layers of skin while deeper peels can go as many as three or four layers deep.
Many home chemical peel kits provide dermatologist-quality results at a fraction of the cost. As a result, they tend to be one of the most sought after solutions for removing age spots. The average home chemical peel kit will cost you about $80 for a basic kit and $660 for a more advanced kit. This is significantly less than the $300 to $2000 you would pay to have the same treatment done in a dermatologist's office. You'll end up saving anywhere from $220 to $1340.
Copyright (c) 2008 Linda Florentine
Linda Florentine - Read real reviews form real users who have had success with this over 70-year old formula. Home Chemical Peels for Removing Age Spots and Quick and Easy Treatment for Age Spots
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Florentine
http://EzineArticles.com/?Removing-Age-Spots---Choosing-the-Best-Treatment-for-Age-Spots&id=1131076
