How do you treat age spots?

Dear Dr. Jen,

How do you treat age spots? Is there a cream or lotion to make it disappear? I am in my 50s and have been diabetic for years.  It’s only lately that the spots have come out.

Anonymous

Dear Anonymous,

Brown spots that can start as freckles may appear on the face, shoulders, upper back, arms, back of hands and top of feet.  It starts to appear after 50. Sometimes they are called liver spots or sun spots.  They are usually harmless but can be unsightly.

There are multiple approaches to treating age spots.  Lotions containing bleaching agents and retinoids have good outcome.  Chemical peels can also be administered.  Lasers and freezing with liquid nitrogen are other options. Bleaching soap will hardly help.  Whatever modality you choose, always pair it with daily use of sunscreen to prevent further damage to the skin.

Dear Dr. Jen,

We went to Boracay last week.  My legs had a lot of red bites that look bigger than the usual mosquito bites.  It is very itchy and even a little painful.  There were hardly any mosquitoes at our resort.  I don’t know where I got the insect bites.  What can I apply to help with the itchiness?

Nicole

Dear Nicole,

Oh, those sand flea bites can be really, really itchy. Sand flea bites can be larger and more itchy than mosquito bites.  The organism is found in sandy areas and can jump to as high as about 40 centimeters.  It is generally itchier since sand flea bites tend to form hives and welts.

Treatment with antihistamines (desloratidine, levocetirizine, loratidine, cetirizine, or hydroxyzine) once daily is essential to keep the itchiness at bay.  Application of a steroid lotion twice a day will help with the rashes. Also, taking colloidal oatmeal baths can relieve the itchiness too. Hope it didn’t ruin your vacation!

Dr. Tan is a diplomate of Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS) and is affiliated with Perpetual Succour Hospital (PSH). For information on PDS, check http://www.pds.org.ph/. For questions or concerns, please text to: 0932 857 7070; or email to: [email protected]; or call The Freeman: (032) 2531276, or PSH: (032) 233 8620 and 232 5929. Your inquiries will be forwarded to Dr. Tan.