Dark Spots on Your Skin After 40? How To Cover Them in Seconds—Plus Fade Them Over Time
Plus learn when discoloration could be a sign of something more serious, like skin cancer
Key Takeaways
- Sun exposure is the biggest cause of dark spots, but hormone changes can contribute too.
- Daily SPF, vitamin C and other dermatologist-backed treatments can fade dark spots on skin.
- Some changing or unusual dark spots need a dermatologist’s evaluation—they may signal cancer.
Noticed a few brown patches showing up on the back of your hands, along your cheekbones or across your chest? Dark spots on your skin—also called age spots, sunspots or by their medical name, solar lentigines—are one of the most common changes women see after 40. The good news? There’s plenty you can do to fade the ones you have, prevent new ones from forming and cover up existing ones fast in the meantime.
What are age spots?
Dark spots on your skin are small, flat lesions darker than the surrounding skin. “They’re caused by ultraviolet (UV) light exposure, which then causes pigment-producing cells, or melanocytes, to multiply locally,” says Tiffany Libby, MD, board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon. “What’s seen is an increase of pigment in the skin cells.”
They tend to pop up on the face, hands, shoulders and arms—basically anywhere that’s regularly exposed to the sun. And despite the old nickname, they’re unrelated to your liver. “The term ‘liver spot’ is a complete misnomer, as they have absolutely nothing to do with the liver or its functional status,” says Rachel Westbay, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Marmur Medical.
What causes dark spots on your skin?
Sun exposure is the biggest culprit, but it’s not the only one. Hormones play a part too. “Estrogen can cause patchy skin darkening,” Felice Gersh, MD, board-certified integrative gynecologist and founder of the Integrative Medical Group of Irvine. “It is a protection gone awry. Women may notice this during hormone fluctuations in perimenopause.”
Your gut may factor in as well. “Gut imbalances, common as we age, can also cause changes that show up on skin,” Dr. Gersh adds.
One important note: not every brown spot is harmless. “Some may mimic skin cancers like melanoma,” Dr. Libby says. “Get them checked out by a dermatologist if there are changes in color, if it has irregular borders, is black, begins to bleed or increases in size.”
How to prevent new dark spots on your skin
“The best treatment is prevention,” Dr. Gersh says. Her top habits to ward off sun damage:
- Protect your skin against UV rays by wearing broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every day, even in winter and on cloudy days. Two options we like: Vacation Crystal SPF 50 Invisible Face Gel and Banana Boat Sheer Sensitive SPF 50 Sunscreen Spray.
- Cover up when you can with a wide-brim hat and lightweight long sleeves.
- Eat with your skin in mind. “Improving gut health and reducing body inflammation may also help prevent future spots from forming, so eat a diet with plenty of antioxidant-rich plants,” Dr. Gersh advises—think berries, leafy greens and tomatoes.
And we know you already know this, but it bears repeating: Avoid tanning beds, which can worsen existing dark brown spots and cause new ones to form.
How to fade dark spots you already have
“I’m a big fan of using topical vitamin C,” Dr. Gersh says. “It helps neutralize damaging free radicals and can reduce excess pigment production.” Smooth on a well-formulated vitamin C serum in the morning, then layer sunscreen over it.
Dr. Libby recommends topical retinoids like Differin (adapalene 0.1%), though it can take a few months to see results. Lily Talakoub, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Derm to Door, likes Skinceuticals Discoloration Defense Serum, which contains tranexamic acid to inhibit melanin production. “As always, however, a UVA/UVB protectant sunscreen is the best prevention of sunspots,” she adds.
If home care isn’t lightening spots as much as you’d hoped, talk to your dermatologist about more intensive treatment options such as laser resurfacing, intense pulsed light (IPL), cryotherapy or chemical peels.
The best foundations for covering dark spots on your face
While you’re working on fading those pesky dark spots, a smart foundation can even things out instantly. New York City-based celebrity makeup artist Sharon Gjieli says to look for lightweight, hydrating formulas—heavy ones can settle into fine lines. “Less is more,” she says. A few options that can help:
- Clinique Even Better Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 15 Foundation: Made for all skin types with 50 shades, this longtime favorite reportedly helps reduce dark spots after 12 weeks of consistent, daily wear.
- NYX Bare With Me Blur Tint Soft Matte Foundation: This drugstore find is made with glycerin, matcha and niacinamide to smooth and even skin tone, whether you’re dealing with dark spots, melasma (a common skin condition) or scars.
- Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40: This is Gjieli’s pick for everyday wear. “It helps treat your skin while offering coverage and sun protection,” she says. Key ingredients include hyaluronic acid, squalane and niacinamide.
- Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Filter Foundation: For days when you want more coverage without the weight, reach for this product to cover up dark spots on your face. It leaves an airbrushed finish and claims to boost skin moisture by 216 percent in one hour.
The bottom line
Whichever route you take—fading, concealing, preventing or all three—Dr. Gersh wants to remind women that age spots are perfectly normal. And you don’t have to treat them at all if you’re not bothered by them. “I want women to feel comfortable and confident in their skin at every age,” she adds.
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