Here's Why You May Be Getting Sunspots On Your Hands
There's nothing better than heading outside and grabbing some air and sun. It's a known fact that taking in the sun is one of the easiest ways to relax your mind and get an extra dose of vitamin D. However, not everything that comes from the sun is good for us. Besides factors like UV rays, prolonged time under the sun can cause a few spots to appear on our skin, but they wouldn't be noticeable right away. As we age, hyperpigmented spots on our skin will start to appear due to excessive time spent in the sun, according to Molemap. These spots will start small and look more obvious as you age.
While the appearance of sunspots on your skin can be alarming, rest assured that it's a normal process. Naturally, it's more common to see sunspots pop up on your face since it is the area of skin most exposed to the sun. However, it's also possible to get them in other areas of the skin. Finding sunspots on your hands is not uncommon but can be surprising. If you find sunspots concerning, it's essential to find their root cause and figure out how to treat them so you can have the skin you want, even as you age.
What's causing the sunspots on your hands?
While we know what causes sunspots is exposure to the sun, sunspots on your hands happen because we regularly forget to apply sun protection in this area. When your hand is often exposed to UV light from the sun, melanin begins to concentrate in this area (per Mayo Clinic). Once melanin concentrates, it creates these tan or brown spots on your hand. These sunspots can be as small as a freckle and get to be around half an inch. While they are more common in those older than 50, young people can also get frequent sunspots if they spend a considerable amount in the sun.
Wearing sunblock and protective coverings on your hands is one way you can avoid sunspots in the future. Even though sunspots are not dangerous, they can often be confused with symptoms of skin cancer. Therefore, avoiding sunspots can help make it easier to spot any potentially harmful signs of skin cancer. In fact, the best way to avoid these spots is by applying sunscreen daily in all exposed areas. Although it's common to put sunscreen on your face, body areas, like the hands often get forgotten. If you plan to be in the sun for a prolonged period, ensure you have access to shade, and reapply sunscreen every two hours even if you have been sweating or in water, as the sunscreen you have previously applied has most likely worn off.
What can you do about your hands' sunspots?
Even though the best way to rid of sunspots on your hand is by avoiding the sun altogether, there are a few ways you can disguise your hands' sunspots. Ultimately, Venus Treatments recommends waiting for your sunspots to possibly disappear on their own. However, if you want to be more proactive in ridding your sunspots, you can try squeezing or rubbing limes on the area. Although it can take months to see results, it's thought that items like limes and yogurt can help fade away hyperpigmentation. While there's no scientific evidence to back up these claims, many who have tried these methods before allege it has helped rid sunspots.
If applying lemon or yogurt on your skin doesn't appeal to you, other procedures may also help. The experts at Olansky Dermatology & Aesthetics suggest chemical peels as a way you can fade away sunspots. While a chemical peel on your hand is uncommon, it can help peel off old skin and make way for new skin. Keep in mind, there is a risk of a slight burning feeling with this procedure. Microdermabrasion and dermaplaning are two other procedures you can look into for ridding your sunspots. Similarly, these treatments involve shedding your old skin and relying on the regeneration of new skin cells to get remove the spots.