Is There a Body Cream I Can Use for Age Spots on my Arms and Legs?

Question

I have too many to spot treat. It would be nice to use a cream for the whole body to fade the spots. I am 53 and have no age spots on my face at all. I have used a retinol cream on my face for 20 years.

Sanusi Umar, MD · Answer

There are some creams that contain hydroquinone which helps to gradually fade age spots. Because hydroquinone can have toxic effects, the FDA has imposed a three month limit on its continuous use. Other countries have banned its inclusion in OTC products altogether.

	Laser treatments are much safer and give faster results. The laser energy works by penetrating the skin to break up the melanin pigment. Depending on what wavelength is used, lasers are also capable of breaking up the microscopic structures within the skin that contains the melanin.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Hyperpigmentation can ruin your skin and can be caused by either PIH (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation), melasma, age or sun spots, and chronic inflammation.  Starting treatment is easy with topical creams; followed by laser and light therapy. I would use a combination skincare protocol that includes topical Melarase creams first, followed by a combination of light fractional laser, depigmenting lasers and IPL, vascular pulsed dye laser, and Covalent peels. 
  
Recommended Creams: Melarase Brightening Kit
  
MelaClenz
  Melarase AM
  Melarase PM
  Melapads
  Replenish Retinoid Cream
  Best, 
  
Dr. Karamanoukian
  
Realself100 Surgeon

Harold J. Kaplan, MD · Answer

Hi RLA.  If the spots you see are truly solar lentigines, sun spots, then there is no better treatment than q-switched Nd:Yg laser treatments.

	The reason we are big proponents of q-switched lasers over creams is that a hydroquionone based cream might be able to hide the spots, but this laser will be able to permanently remove them.  In addition, based on an FDA alert, we do not recommend that our patients use hydroquinone based products for more than 90 days straight.  

	First step would be to go to your GP or dermatologist to have these spots identified and then from there if they are sunspots, find a qualified and experienced laser practitioner close by that uses these lasers.  Good luck.

Craig Mezrow, MS, MD, FACS · Answer

There are prescription and non-prescription topical creams to decrease brown spots.  Some of the products include, Kjoic acid and hydroquinone.

Mitchell Schwartz, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

One of the most effective ways to reverse sunspots due to the effects of chronic sun damage to your skin is by using a combination of two prescription strength medications: 4% hydroquinone and tretinoin cream. Prescription strength 4% hydroquinone is better than any OTC product for lightening dark spots in the skin. These dark spots are typically due to chronic sun damage so daily use of sunscreens is essential in your treatment. Combining prescription-only tretinoin cream with hydroquinone will make it even more effective. By the way, Tretinoin cream has been proven to be much more effective than it's OTC counterpart, Retinol cream, that you have used for the past 20 years.  I recommend the Obagi Nu-Derm System which uses both tretinoin cream and hydroquinone to visibly lighten age spots as well as the fine lines and wrinkles that are due to chronic sun exposure.

Is There a Body Cream I Can Use for Age Spots on my Arms and Legs?

Answers (5)

Answer: Creams to decrease arm and leg brown spots

Answer: Creams to decrease arm and leg brown spots

Answer: Treatment for age spots on the arms and legs

Answer: Treatment for age spots on the arms and legs

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Is There a Body Cream I Can Use for Age Spots on my Arms and Legs?

Answers (5)

Answer: Creams to decrease arm and leg brown spots

Answer: Creams to decrease arm and leg brown spots

Answer: Treatment for age spots on the arms and legs

Answer: Treatment for age spots on the arms and legs

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Laser Resurfacing

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.