If you're going to do it; now's the time.
I'm talking about liver spots, or age spots, or sunspots or "freckles" -- that makes them sound almost cute.
I thought about showing you spotted hands, but decided this liver-spotted Dalmatian -- looking very serious about that or some other problem -- makes the point far more poignantly. Funny how animals can be darling even with liver spots.
Life has calmed down now and you can carve out time to have your hands zapped -- or your whole body if you've decided a decision is a decision and you might as well go with it. If you're hesitating for one reason or another simply pick up the phone and make an appointment with your dermatologist.
Just think how thrilling it would be to have such a rendezvous on your spanking new 2012 calendar: "February 2nd: Laser my whole body (with an extra couple of appointments for my hands) to its former youthful luster," for example. Doesn't it make you quiver with excitement? Just think, the new spot-free you?
'Tis the season because unless you live in some tropical paradise or in a country where the seasons are opposite (you know what I mean), the sun is at its all-time low intensity. Unfortunately the little faux freckles come back, so you have to be vigilant and extra generous with the SPF 50/60 cream, on your hands in particular.
I don't know about where you live, but in France dermatologists perform the procedure from October to March, never in the summer.
You have the choice of two methods, the expensive one, lasers, or the more budget friendly, cryotherapy or the use of extreme cold through sources like dry ice.
Do not be duped by creams and lotions that promise spot removal. Not one does. You'll note if you read the label with care -- or ask your dermatologist -- the disclaimer, "fades" skin discoloration. Who cares?
I have a few spots on my hands, just enough to be annoying and make me not wear some of my favorite rings, but happily none on my face. I'm opting for the dry ice. I plan on making my appointment next week. After the mission is accomplished I'll tell you all about it, most particularly if the ratio of discomfort to results was worth it.
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| A small sampling of the myriad possibilities in what we called in the biz IMPORTANT pieces. Isn't it simply beyond divine that cocktails rings are so white hot in? |
Just imagine the cocktail rings we could wear with our new hands. The idea is beginning to seduce, n'est-ce pas?
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Ed. Note: I know I promised the final chapters of the Faces Through the Ages series, but for reasons beyond my control I was obliged to bump it to next week. I promise it's worth the wait.
23 comments:
I had the IPL done on my face over a year ago, and it really was effective. I'm thinking about doing the neck/decolleté next month. I wonder if my hands are too far gone...I'd need zapping all the way up to the elbows.
Fun rings!!
MOI!! Brown marks, never! But here's a scoop, I tried the Clinique cream for that, whose name I have forgotten, and it did absolutely nothing! First time Clinique has disappointed me ..
have a great weekend
xx
Being a blonde and living in sunny places at various times in my life ... I am freckled and now seeing the larger "freckles" on my hands and legs. I am horrified but not sure if I am so horrified I would have something done by a doctor .. of which there are gazillions, here in Buenos Aires.
This is a Sun lovers paradise so skin damage expertise is common among the dermatologists.
Mine actually thinks my skin is not so bad ..
To sharon ... I think any company that says they can make them go away should be punished. No cream will do anything .. unless you are talking about creams that make your skin peel off first ..
I've done the freezing on my hands several times - it works, but you have to be very religious about sunblock on them forever. Looks very ugly with scabs for a few weeks, but then, it's so worth it. And, I got a very great cocktail (but can wear everyday also) ring for the holidays from my husband!
Hi Tish!
Gorgeous rings! They're just my colors! I've tried the fade creams too and they don't work. I did however get an electric probe spot treatment (sounds awful right? It hurt!) and it took them right off! I think the ice sounds better though.
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Oh blimey, legs, hands, face I'm covered in age spots. I must make more of an effort this year with my personal grooming.
Actually the electric probe (which I've done too) was better than the ice. Came back to post that, and I see someone else has done that too.
I don't do anything to anything anywhere (which doesn't mean I wouldn't consider a few things if I could, but I can't, so I don't!).
That said, interested to hear what you think!
And meanwhile, these "important pieces" are gorgeous. However, those of us of the Little Women persuasion tend to have equally tiny hands (and fingers), which makes most rings impossible.
Then again, we also have tiny feet, which allows for indulging in... you can hear it coming... shoes.
:-)
I had lasers in Sydney which worked very well, then a few years later the ice in California, not quite so good. So worth while on face, hands and decolletage! (but I wish I had used more sun protection way back when).
Have you noticed how much more time and effort maintenance takes now? Who was it said, "I look just as good as I used to, but it takes longer".?
At the risk of sounding horribly negative, may I just say that this
seems incredibly vain! Vanity is so healthy to a point but I really prefer to think that at a certain age, cultivating friends and lovers who love you for the valuable, wise person you've become is such a better use of one's time and money!
As for me, if I want to wear a ring on my hands because I love it, I will and hopefully, I will be loved nonetheless! I have no doubt that all of you are quite beautiful just the way you are!
I had spots lasered from my face and couldn't be happier with the results. Now I religiously wear very serious sunscreen.
I always tell my girls to wipe the backs of their hands with whatever they put on their face. Sort of an insurance policy! So far my hands aren't too "freckled", but if they do, I wouldn't hesitate to get them zapped.
On the ring issue - sometimes I think I shouldn't wear rings because I have some enlarged arthritic joints. But then I remember a wonderful old woman I knew who wore big, honking rings on fingers with tremendously knobby joints and she looked fantastic. Loving life and yourself can make anyone beautiful.
I'm with Anonymous here - if you like a ring and want to wear it, why not? Who cares about age spots? Will friends think any less of each other if they have spots?
Ohmygosh!! Those rings are spectacular. :) Sigh.. at 48, liver spots aren't an issue for me just yet. But gray hairs are coming in, and gravity is beginning to take a toll on.. well.. you know. :( Soooo, i'll be making a number of appointments this year. A salon appt. I'm thinking a pretty summerish blond. Much more walking is in order. And my husband and i must clean out the exercise room, and not use the equipment as... clothing hangers...
I am a red head and I do not remember being with out freckles from the top of my head to my toes. I am 68 this year and they do not worry me now, nor have they ever worried me. I have had a couple of skin cancers removed but again it really does not worry me. Que sera sera. Diane
My dermatologist has been killing my little spots with liquid nitrogen for two years now, and I can't recommend it highly enough. The discomfort is miniscule, as is the cost, because it's just rolled into my annual skin checkup. The area darkens, almost to black, then gradually loosens up around the borders and finally falls off -- usually in 3-4 days. Do not "help" it by pulling it off prematurely. When it's loose enough, it'll practically blow right off, but if it's not ready, you'll make yourself bleed. And yes, absolutely 50-60 SPF, every single day forever.
I'm much more comfortable with a localized treatment such as this than a wholesale sizzling of the face, as with an aggressive chemical peel. That just makes me nervous.
xoxo --
M.
Oh please, tell me how it goes! I am 55 (next week) and quite fair, therefore getting a bit spotty. My face, hands, & décolletage are showing some of the dreaded "age spots",which my mother and granny despaired of. I told myself that if I lost weight, I would get my skin layered....(seemed silly to do it while chunky, since I'd still look like crap in any case!). So now that I've actually, finally, lost the baby weight from my 16 year old child, I think it's time for the spot removal! Need to find a suitable dermo, and to decide what type of procedure....I'm afraid of surgery, but definitely would consider laser or chemical peel. Advice is welcome!
Oh, silly autocorrect....I meant to say "lasered, not layered!
Great blog. I, too, am over-40 -- OK, I'm 50, but I refuse to be old. Interestingly, I'm dealing with "liver spots" on the back of my hands, too. My grandma had those. Yikes!
Allie
24 In My Mind
I find that the spots fade with daily sunscreen use.
Where does it end? I would rather spend the time and money doing something blissful and uplifting. Much as I would love to turn the clock back - I am also trying to embrace the freedom and wisdom that comes with age ... not liking the joint pain, eye sight issues etc - I would spend money on that to help me live life more fully but for spots on my skin? I have so many and wrinkles etc I would rather not dwell on it ...
I had IPL for spider veins on my face (caused by rosacea) and it hurt like the dickens. I'll probably need to have it done again at some point, but for now, it's good sunscreen, a bit of foundation and a big smile for me.
And at some point, I'll probably have to have something done about my (as yet incipient) hereditary "chicken neck." Oh, joy.
I prefer not to think about this for awhile. Maybe next year.
An interest in finding for different skin care products that cures age spots.
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