How can you get rid of brown spots on your hands? Are there options besides visiting a dermatologist?
For example, you might try the best hand cream for age spots. The blend of moisturizers, exfoliants, and rejuvenating ingredients is the best treatment for aging hands.
Although hand lotion may not erase liver spots completely, the right one will fade those brown splotches.
But before we go any further, there’s something you should know. It’s smart to have a doctor check age spots to be sure they aren’t melanoma. And it’s crucial to wear sunscreen to prevent more spots in the future.
What causes age spots?
We’ve heard them called “sun spots” because they are caused by UV damage. It’s the cumulative effect of sun exposure. If you don’t believe us, compare your hands to a part of your body that doesn’t see the sun. It’s obvious how much damage UV rays can cause.
Also, it’s common to get age spots on the hands since wearing gloves has gone out of style. They see a lot of sunshine and have little to no protection. Any sunscreen you might’ve had on your hands today was probably already washed off, right?
So, now that the damage is done, what can you do to lighten the skin?
How to get rid of age spots
Although the Mayo Clinic recommends seeing a dermatologist for laser treatments, chemical peels, or microdermabrasion, they still provide other ideas for the folks at home (1).
Since age spots are caused by hyperpigmentation at the base of the epidermis, any treatment has to reach at least that deep or cause enough cellular turnover to renew the skin.
Therefore, creams with hydroquinone, vitamin C, or retinoids will eventually fade the marks. The same goes for exfoliating with glycolic acid and similar ingredients.
What are these things? For one, hydroquinone inhibits pigment formation. It’s a skin lightener. Kojic acid and arbutin from natural sources work in a similar fashion.
Next, vitamin C is excellent for lightening hyperpigmentation without bleaching the surrounding skin. It prevents the discoloration from re-forming, too.
Then, retinoids (like retinol) are best known for reducing wrinkles (and treating acne). They increase the skin’s regeneration, leading to less pigmented, firmer skin appearing.
Finally, exfoliators like glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acid remove dead skin cells to reveal fresh skin.
Whatever method you choose, we highly recommend patience and persistence. It’s going to take weeks to months of daily use to see a noticeable difference. In the meantime, keep those hands protected from the sun!
Best Hand Cream for Age Spots in 2024
Juice Beauty Green Apple Age Defy Hand Cream
Let’s begin with the best organic anti-aging hand cream. It’s designed for everyone except those with very sensitive skin. It’s packed with moisturizers like aloe and shea butter, plus it’s not oily or sticky. (We appreciate non-greasy hand cream because then we don’t put off using it).
The active ingredient is malic acid from organic green apples. There’s also vitamin C, an excellent treatment for crepey, discolored skin.
Reviewers say it has a light fruity scent, and it leaves their skin soft and comfortable. In time, it seems to help fade dark spots.
Advanced Clinicals Dark Spot Therapeutic Cream
Slip this one in your bag and carry it everywhere.
The therapeutic effects come from vitamin C, licorice, and jojoba oil. This is a successful blend of ingredients used in dermatology to treat hyperpigmentation (2).
In fact, vitamin C is one of the best at-home treatments for age spots. It works on all skin tones. Moreover, it doesn’t just lighten the dark spots, but it also firms the skin. It’s the perfect anti-aging ingredient.
Reviewers say that this lotion definitely fades age spots with regular use. It has next to no scent and absorbs quickly.
Also, it comes with a satisfaction guarantee.
Advanced Clinicals Vitamin C Cream
It’s convenient to have a tub of lotion with a pump dispenser by the sink. This one won’t just soften your hands, but it will also make them look younger.
It treats sun spots, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation anywhere on the body, even on the face. It’s mild enough for sensitive skin and strong enough to heal chapped hands.
Besides vitamin C, it has ferulic acid and vitamin E. This is an excellent combination found in pricey anti-aging serums (we’re looking at you, SkinCeuticals). It’s proven to reduce age spots and firm sagging skin.
LdeL Skincare Cosmetics Retinol Anti-Aging Hand Cream
Let’s change gears and look at retinol. Perhaps you’re aware of anti-aging products like the RoC Correxion lineup. The active ingredient works miracles. Over time, it smooths wrinkles and leaves the skin plump and renewed.
It’s not the solution for sensitive skin, however. It’s important to follow the directions and not overuse any products with retinol. Also, wear sunscreen because it will make the skin more prone to sunburn.
With that said, this hand cream is fantastic if you want to have younger-looking hands. After a few weeks, you might not recognize them as yours.
The formula conditions the skin and nails alike. It’s packed with antioxidants and moisturizers plus an astounding 200,000 IU of retinol.
Users say it has a light, fresh fragrance and doesn’t leave the skin oily.
Retinol by Robanda Anti-aging Hand Treatment
Here’s another retinol hand cream, but this one is safe for sensitive skin. Happily, it also contains sunscreen (SPF 15). Problem solved.
The ingredients list includes emblica, also known as Indian Gooseberry. It’s a medicinal plant that’s rich in vitamin C and amino acids. It’s bound to keep the skin firm and healthy.
Medix 5.5 Retinol Cream with Ferulic Acid
Ferulic acid is an antioxidant that makes other antioxidants work more effectively. And antioxidants are crucial for rejuvenated skin. They promote healing and combat the aging effects of UV radiation and environmental pollution.
What happens if you mix retinol with ferulic acid? You get a potent hand cream that you’ll end up recommending to all your friends.
It also has soothing chamomile, aloe, rosemary, and black tea. Combine those with powerful moisturizers, and it will turn back time.
Furthermore, it’s vegan and free from alcohol, parabens, PEGs, mineral oil, formaldehyde, and dyes. It comes with a satisfaction guarantee.
Clinical Care Dark Spot Rescue Moisturizing Hand Cream by Vaseline
What about drugstore hand cream for age spots? We like this one from Vaseline because it’s cheap and effective, at least according to those who left positive reviews.
It’s softly scented and non-greasy. Clinical tests showed that it made dark spots less noticeable after four weeks of daily use.
Gold Bond Dark Spot Minimizing Cream
This hand cream depends on urea to moisturize and exfoliate. It’s the second ingredient on the label. Over time, it firms the skin and minimizes age spots.
Other ingredients to note include aloe, vitamin E, ginger root, and vitamin C.
We like that it’s fragrance-free. But we were sad to see it contains petrolatum, parabens, and potential formaldehyde releasers.
Mederma AG Moisturizing Hand & Body Lotion
Just because a product is labeled as “hypoallergenic” doesn’t mean that it’s safe for everyone with sensitive skin. That’s because the FDA doesn’t have rules for how that term is used. On the bright side, if it comes from a reputable manufacturer, it might very well be allergen-free.
Here’s a case in point. This brand doesn’t add artificial fragrances, and they are often recommended by dermatologists.
The active ingredient of this lotion is glycolic acid, and it’s the second on the label. It’s an exfoliator that dissolves the bonds between dead skin cells to allow them to shed naturally. It also raises moisture levels.
If you’re unable to use retinol, this is a good option. The main con is that it contains parabens, which is common among products that contain exfoliating acids.
Murad Environmental Shield Rapid Age Spot Correcting Serum
Now, we’re going to cheat a little bit. Hand cream is all well and good, but there are more potent spot removal products available. For fast results, use one of these following dark spot correctors and continue to moisturize with regular hand cream.
You should also know that mixing methods isn’t advisable. If you’re using retinol, don’t follow up with glycolic acid, and vice versa.
Murad’s serum was proven to work in only fourteen days. By that point, 84% of the users could see a reduction in dark spots. Ninety-four percent had smoother skin.
What’s more, this serum is safe to use on the face and body. It’s free of parabens, phthalates, gluten, formaldehyde, petrolatum, and formaldehyde. Instead, it’s made with a niacinamide complex, vitamin C, and oligopeptides.
Neutrogena Rapid Tone Repair Dark Spot Corrector
Neutrogena is a dermatologist-recommended brand. Although this dark spot corrector is a face serum, there’s no reason why you can’t use it on your hands.
It’s based on Retinol SA, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C. It’s the perfect anti-aging blend that firms the skin (goodbye crepeyness) and gets rid of blotches. It also works on acne scars.
It works so fast that it makes the skin look noticeably younger after only one week. However, fading dark spots takes longer.
Although it has a fragrance, Neutrogena’s products are rigorously tested and generally safe for sensitive skin.
One reviewer said that it faded spots on her face by about 60%. The con was that she stopped using the product and the skin began to darken again. Unfortunately, that’s a common occurrence. It takes professional dermatological treatments to achieve permanent solutions for age spots.
Admire My Skin Dark Spot Corrector Fade Cream
Here’s what you’ve been waiting for: hydroquinone. This cream has a 2% concentration, the maximum for an over-the-counter product. Nothing works on dark spots like hydroquinone – just ask your doctor.
It’s so potent that they recommend using it every other day until the skin can tolerate daily use. That’s because it also has salicylic acid, azelaic acid, lactic acid, and vitamin C.
Yes, your skin will probably peel. We highly recommend a mineral-based sunscreen because your skin will be sensitive, too.
There’s another warning: it’s essential to give your skin a break after using this cream for 60 days. Otherwise, it could backfire and cause hyperpigmentation. But you can maintain clear skin by switching to a regular retinoid or vitamin C cream for a month, then switching back.
Ebanel Dark Spot Remover
Here’s another age spot removal serum with 2% hydroquinone. It also has kojic acid and alpha arbutin that contribute to the same end.
But wait, there’s more. While hydroquinone and company are bleaching the dark spots, alpha hydroxy and beta hydroxy acids are exfoliating the skin. Think of it as a type of intense washing machine cycle scrubbing away at the stains.
In the meantime, niacinamide and vitamin C are working behind the scenes to improve skin tone and texture.
This formula is mild enough for the face and potent enough for the hands. If you have sensitive skin, please do a patch test first. It’s wise to begin using it every other day and work your way up to more frequent applications. They promise results within four weeks.
Divine Derriere Dark Spot Corrector
It has a funny name, but it’s a seriously good age spot remover. Again, it has 2% hydroquinone, an ingredient you’ll probably never find in a hand cream.
The serum also features exfoliants like azelaic, salicylic, and lactic acid, plus witch hazel, a moisturizing astringent.
Use it anywhere you hate to see hyperpigmentation, like under the arms, on the knees and elbows, and the backs of the hands.
Conclusion
Once we reach a certain age, the dark spots start to appear. Unless gloves come back in fashion or we start getting better about wearing sunscreen, we are always going to need hand cream for age spots.
If you hate those liver spots and crepey texture, you need a moisturizer that can correct dark hyperpigmentation and firm up the skin. We showed you the best anti-aging hand creams today. We hope that you find the perfect one for your needs.
If you’re happy with your new moisturizer, we’d love to hear about it. Please leave us a comment below.
Source:
1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/age-spots/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355864 by Mayo Clinic Staff, published January 21, 2020, accessed March 25, 2021
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7802860/ The effect of Vitamin C on melanin pigmentation – A systematic review, by Rizwan M Sanadi and Revati S Deshmukh, published September 9, 2020, accessed March 26, 2021