What Are Age Spots Exactly and How to Fade Them

Let's face it. There may come a time in anyone's life when they wonder; what are age spots and what can be done about them. Here you can learn about the cause and the "cure".Sometimes referred to as liver spots, sun spots or solar lentigos, they are actually clumps of melanin-rich cells. Melanin is a pigment produced by melanocytes, specialized cells located in the stratum basal, the bottom layer of the skin's epidermis. The stratum basal is also where new skin cells are formed to replace the numerous ones that are sloughed off, every day. The new cells continually migrate to the outermost layer of the epidermis, called the stratum corneum. They are composed primarily of keratin. Keratin is a protein that helps keep the skin hydrated by preventing water evaporation. Cells containing keratin can also absorb water, further aiding in hydration. A weak bond, aided by hyaluronic acid, holds these cells together and allows them to spring back to shape when they are stretched. When melanocytes are stimulated they produce melanin. The melanin enters the new cells that are travelling to the surface. So, what are age spots? They are a patch of melanin containing cells that have made their way out to replace those that have been sloughed off. There are a number of things that stimulate the production of melanin, but the most common cause of melanin production is exposure to UVB rays from the sun.A spot may gradually fade over time if a person avoids exposure to sunlight, uses an effective sunscreen that blocks UVB rays or uses a cream that inhibits melanin production. The most effective creams for reducing them inhibit melanin production and stimulate the production of new cells. Knowing what are age spots and that inhibiting melanin production can reduce them, most manufacturers include an ingredient called hydroquinone in their age spot creams. Hydroquinone has been banned by several countries, because it carries with it an increased cancer risk. A safer compound is called Extra-pone nut grass.The compound is extracted from the root of a medicinal plant and is typically included in a .5% concentration. At that concentration, it has been shown to inhibit melanin production by over 40%. When combined with and ingredient called Functional Keratin, the effectiveness is enhanced, because that compound stimulates the production of new cells, a process that normally slows down with age.Understanding what are age spots is not always enough to answer why they have appeared. Some women notice them early on in life. They are sometimes seen in people that are not often exposed to sunlight. In these cases, something else has triggered melanin production. For example, the production of melanocyte-stimulating hormone by the pituitary gland increases during pregnancy. So, they are sometimes a problem for pregnant women. In conclusion, hopefully that explains what are age spots, why they are produced and how they can be safely faded away. As we learn more about the skin, we learn that there are things that we can do to address many of the issues that accompany aging.Visit my site today to learn more about skin care substances to fade spots that you have probably never heard of.

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