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How to get rid of age spots safely
Learn how to get rid of age spots safely with prescription creams, laser, IPL, and peels, and why a dermatologist should check each spot before treatment.
Key takeaways
Get spots checked before treating them. Some skin cancers, including early melanoma, can look like harmless age spots.
Prescription creams can gradually fade age spots. Prescription hydroquinone for age spots may fade confirmed spots gradually over several months. It is not legally sold over the counter in the US.
Laser treatments often work faster. Laser therapy and intense pulsed light (IPL) can improve age spots in just a few sessions. In a 2025 review of 41 trials, laser therapy appeared more effective than other single treatments.
Sun protection is essential. Daily SPF 30 or higher helps prevent new spots and keeps treated spots from returning.
When people ask how to get rid of age spots, the answer is prescription creams over several months or in-office procedures for faster results. Those procedures include laser, intense pulsed light (IPL, pulses of broad light that target pigment), cryotherapy (freezing the spot with liquid nitrogen), and chemical peels.
The first step is having a dermatologist confirm that each spot is an age spot, because a few skin cancers look similar. The AAD guidance on age spot treatment explains that fading a skin cancer can give it time to grow and possibly spread.
Hydroquinone can fade confirmed age spots. It requires a prescription in the US and is best used in a supervised, time-limited course.
Age spots are common, and once a dermatologist confirms them, they are harmless. The same options apply to sun spots treatment, since sun spots and age spots are the same thing. Every age spot removal option below starts from that confirmation.
What age spots are and why they appear
Age spots are flat, oval, tan to dark brown spots on skin that has had years of sun. They appear most often on the face, the backs of the hands, the shoulders, the upper back, and the tops of the feet.
They are also called sun spots, liver spots, and solar lentigines, the medical term for flat pigmented spots caused by sunlight. Ultraviolet (UV) light prompts pigment cells to make extra melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color. That extra melanin then collects in one area.
The Mayo Clinic overview of age spots notes they are very common in adults older than 50, but sun exposure can bring them on earlier. Mayo Clinic lists a history of frequent or intense sun exposure or sunburn as a risk factor. Mayo Clinic adds that tanning lamps and beds can also cause age spots.
Unlike freckles, which fade when sun exposure drops, age spots don't fade on their own. Confirmed age spots are harmless and need no treatment, so treating them is a cosmetic choice.
Confirm it is an age spot before treating it
Several spots that become more common with age can look alike. Specialized training gives dermatologists deep expertise in diagnosing and treating conditions of the skin, hair, and nails.
That expertise matters here, because the right age spots treatment depends on what the spot actually is. That is why Tono dermatologists confirm what a spot is before recommending any fading or removal.
Spots that can look like age spots
Four common spots are often mistaken for age spots. Each has features that help a dermatologist tell it apart.
Spot | What it looks like | What it means |
|---|---|---|
Age spot (solar lentigo) | Flat, oval, tan to dark brown, on sun-exposed skin | Harmless once confirmed; treatment is optional |
Seborrheic keratosis | Raised tan or brown growth, sometimes warty or like a dab of brown candle wax | Harmless, though it can resemble skin cancer |
Actinic keratosis | Often a reddish spot on sun-damaged skin; some look like a new age spot | Precancerous; worth a dermatologist's evaluation |
Melasma | Symmetric brown patches on the cheeks, forehead, and upper lip | Driven by hormones and sun; managed over the long term |
Freckles | Small spots that first appear in childhood | Harmless; they fade with less sun |
Descriptions follow the AAD seborrheic keratosis overview and Mayo Clinic for age spots and freckles. The AAD actinic keratosis overview notes that some of these precancerous growths can look like a new age spot.
Melasma is chronic, so it is controlled rather than cured and treated differently from age spots. Tono dermatologists provide hyperpigmentation and melasma care by video visit and in person.
Warning signs that need a dermatologist
A few features signal that a spot needs a dermatologist's exam. The AAD's ABCDEs of melanoma define evolving as a spot that looks different from the rest or changes in size, shape, or color.
The five letters stand for these features:
Asymmetry, meaning one half of the spot is unlike the other half.
Border, meaning the edge is irregular, scalloped, or poorly defined.
Color, meaning the spot has several shades or colors.
Diameter, meaning the spot is larger than 6 millimeters, although melanomas can be smaller.
Evolving, meaning the spot is changing or stands out from your other spots.
The AAD also advises an exam for any spot that itches or bleeds.
One look-alike explains why this step matters. DermNet notes that lentigo maligna, an early melanoma, at first often resembles a freckle or benign lentigo.
Lentigo maligna is a melanoma in situ, meaning the abnormal cells stay in the top layer of skin. Solar lentigo, a type of benign lentigo, is the medical name for an age spot.
Lentigo maligna usually appears on the sun-damaged face or neck of older adults. That is the same skin where age spots are most common.
Dermatologists examine suspicious spots with dermoscopy, a magnified skin exam. DermNet lists solar lentigo and seborrheic keratosis among the spots that can look like lentigo maligna under dermoscopy. It also describes signs specific to lentigo maligna, such as gray dots.
Mayo Clinic notes that a biopsy, a small skin sample examined under a microscope, can help distinguish an age spot from lentigo maligna. The AAD notes that skin cancer caught early is highly treatable, which is why a careful exam comes before any fading or removal.
Prescription creams that fade age spots
For many people, creams are the first step in how to get rid of age spots. They fade spots gradually and need daily use for weeks to months.
Creams suit people who prefer no downtime or who have many small spots.
Mayo Clinic's age spot treatments and costs page says prescription hydroquinone, alone or with tretinoin and a mild steroid, might fade spots over several months.
Should you use hydroquinone for age spots?
Hydroquinone can fade confirmed age spots, and dermatologists prescribe it in defined, supervised courses. It slows tyrosinase, the enzyme pigment cells use to make melanin, as Tono's guide to how prescription hydroquinone works explains.
In the US, hydroquinone is used by prescription. The FDA warning on skin lighteners states that there are no FDA-approved or legally marketed over-the-counter skin lightening products. The FDA has also warned consumers about unregulated skin products that contain mercury or hydroquinone.
Mayo Clinic notes that prescription bleaching creams can cause temporary itching, redness, burning, or dryness. The FDA has also received reports of ochronosis, a skin discoloration that may be permanent, from skin lightening products containing hydroquinone.
Tono's hydroquinone guide also covers prescription status, course length, and side effects. Daily sunscreen is part of every hydroquinone plan, because sunlight drives new pigment.
Retinoids and combination creams
Tono's hydroquinone guide notes that tretinoin and other retinoids, prescription creams derived from vitamin A, speed skin cell turnover. Dermatologists often pair them with hydroquinone.
Some prescriptions combine hydroquinone, tretinoin, and a mild corticosteroid in one cream, the approach Mayo Clinic describes.
Like hydroquinone, these creams might cause temporary redness or dryness. Your dermatologist starts slowly and adjusts the plan as your skin adapts.
In-office procedures that remove age spots
According to the AAD, procedures tend to work faster than creams, but they cost more and carry a higher risk of side effects. Each one happens in person, performed by a dermatologist trained in the technique.
A 2025 review of 41 clinical trials in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology weighed the main treatments. It concluded that laser therapy appeared more effective than creams, cryotherapy, or peels used alone.
The review also found that pairing lasers with certain topical agents may improve results. That pairing may also lower the risk of PIH (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation), darkening after skin irritation.
The Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology review included 3,234 patients and found that results varied widely by laser type. Its authors call for larger randomized trials.
The table below compares the main ways to get rid of age spots in a dermatologist's office.
Procedure | How it works | Typical sessions | Common recovery and side effects |
|---|---|---|---|
Laser or intense pulsed light (IPL) | Light energy targets and breaks up pigment | Varies; AAD cites one or two laser treatments, Mayo Clinic two to three sessions | Crusting or temporary darkening of the spot (AAD) |
Cryotherapy | Liquid nitrogen freezes the spot for a few seconds | Varies by spot | Pain, a blister, or temporary redness and swelling; permanent lightening, darkening, or scarring is rare when a board-certified dermatologist performs it (AAD) |
Chemical peel | A solution removes the outer layers of skin | Several treatments may be needed (Mayo Clinic) | Redness that can last weeks; possible scarring, infection, or lightening or darkening of skin (Mayo Clinic) |
Microdermabrasion | Gentle abrasion smooths the outer layer | A series of sessions (Mayo Clinic) | Mild redness for a few hours (AAD); results may be modest (Mayo Clinic) |
Session counts vary with the size, depth, and number of spots. Your dermatologist sets the plan after an exam.
Tono offers in-person laser care at Tono Brooklyn, including the Excel V laser for benign pigmented lesions and sun-damaged areas. Tono Brooklyn also offers chemical peels and Fraxel FTX for sun damage and pigmentation, performed by laser-trained dermatologists.
Choosing a procedure for your skin tone
Any procedure that injures pigment cells can leave lighter or darker marks. Tono dermatologists add peels and select lasers cautiously in darker skin, where aggressive treatment can worsen pigment.
The Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology review found pulsed dye laser and IPL less often linked to PIH. Your dermatologist weighs that evidence against the size and type of your spots.
Tono's Skin of Color Center focuses on pigment care in medium and darker skin. Its dermatologists treat hyperpigmentation in Black, Hispanic, Asian, South Asian, and Middle Eastern skin.
Keeping age spots from coming back
Treated spots can return, and new ones can form with continued sun exposure. Learning how to get rid of age spots is only part of the plan, because protection afterward keeps the results.
The AAD recommends a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher on all exposed skin. Mayo Clinic advises reapplying about every two hours outdoors. Shade, a wide-brimmed hat, and sun-protective clothing add protection.
Skip tanning beds, which Mayo Clinic notes can also cause age spots. Any sun spots treatment lasts longer with this routine.
On the Tono blog, Dr. Nithin Reddy reviews the evidence on everyday sunscreen use, including that mineral and chemical filters both work.
How Tono dermatologists treat age spots
Board-certified dermatologists see patients with age spots by video visit in 33 states and in person at Tono clinical centers. Your dermatologist reviews each spot, confirms what it is, and explains how to get rid of age spots in a way that fits your skin.
When a spot needs a closer look, your dermatologist recommends an in-person exam or biopsy. Prescriptions go to your pharmacy, and procedures happen in person, coordinated by your dermatologist.
Each visit ends with a written plan. Follow-up is with the same dermatologist, and photo follow-up between visits lets them track fading and adjust the plan.
Tono has cared for more than 20,000 patients. Appointments are available in 2 days or less, and no referral is needed.
Mayo Clinic notes that age spot treatments are considered cosmetic, so they typically aren't covered by insurance. Coverage for an exam of a new or changing spot depends on your plan. You can review Tono insurance and self-pay options before you book.
Clearer skin starts with the right diagnosis
Once a dermatologist confirms your spots, every option in this guide is open to you. Creams, procedures, or a combination can fade them, and daily sun protection helps the results last.
The right choice depends on your skin, your spots, and how much time and downtime suit you. A dermatologist can weigh those factors with you and recommend the safest approach.
Frequently asked questions
Can age spots turn into skin cancer?
A true age spot is harmless and needs no treatment. Age spots do mark years of sun exposure, and some skin cancers look like them, so a new or changing spot deserves an exam.
Do over-the-counter creams work on age spots?
Results from nonprescription fading products vary, and the AAD recommends seeing a board-certified dermatologist before using one. A dermatologist can tell you whether a prescription-strength cream or a procedure would work better. Hydroquinone is not legally sold over the counter in the US.
How long does it take to get rid of age spots?
How long it takes to get rid of age spots depends on the method. Creams usually take several months. Procedures can work sooner, though Mayo Clinic notes timelines range from weeks to months and some need several sessions.
Is age spot removal covered by insurance?
Age spot removal is generally considered cosmetic and is typically not covered by insurance. However, a medical evaluation of a new, changing, or suspicious spot may be covered depending on your insurance plan.
Can a dermatologist check my spots by video?
Yes. Many pigmentation concerns can be evaluated initially through a virtual dermatology appointment, particularly when clear photos are available. If a spot looks suspicious or requires a closer examination, your dermatologist may recommend an in-person visit or biopsy.
Schedule an in-person or virtual appointment with a Tono Health specialist. Book with a Tono dermatologist
This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical advice from your dermatologist.
