Whether you prefer calling them liver spots, sun spots or brown spots, it is a fact that age spots are unsightly and need to be gotten rid of. A lot of people who have them go to extreme measures to get rid of them. Before you embark on any treatment mission, it is important to understand what they are, how they come about and the healthiest ways to take care of them.

Age spots are the dark spots on a skin caused by too much exposure to the sun. They come about as a result of excessive build -up of melanin. This occurs when overproduction of melanin is triggered by the UV rays of the sun. Although liver spots are usually associated with older people, they are also likely to occur in younger people who have been overexposed to the sun. The most affected areas are the face, the forearms and the back of the hands.

Factors that might further aggravate the problem of liver spots include smoking and poor diet. Now that you already know what they are and how they occur, how do you get rid of liver spots?

For a lot of people, the best solutions are quick and effective. The problem with going for instant solutions is that they might have considerable side effects. Some of the methods which are designed to provide instant results for your liver spots include laser treatment, acid peeling and freezing.

The downside of using such treatment options is that they are rather harsh not to mention expensive. These methods also attack the symptoms instead of treating the root cause. This is why it is more advisable to opt for a skin whitening cream as opposed to the aforementioned methods.

In order to ensure that you choose the best skin whitening cream, you have to pay attention to the ingredients of the cream. Look out for creams with ingredients such as hydroquinone and arbutin; both of which inhibit melanin production. A combination of hydroquinone and tretinoin is usually used to treat liver spots.

Arbutin is an extract derived from bearberry, cranberry, mulberry and even blueberry. It is also present in pears. It is a safe and natural way to lighten your skin and get rid of any unsightly liver spots. Although it might not produce instant results, using skin whitening cream is not harsh on your skin.

You might also want to choose a skin cream that contains retinol as this will make your skin younger and firmer. The overall effects of choosing the best skin cream will be obvious to anyone who comes across you.

A great way to prevent new liver spots from forming is through taking preventative measures whenever you are out in the sun. For instance, you should ensure you apply sunscreen before you go out to the sun. Wearing a hat and sunglasses will also protect your skin from the UV rays of the sun. Couple this with a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables and you are on your way to a smooth and unblemished skin.