You may be giving yourself brown spots without even knowing it. You probably know that most brown spots are caused by sun damage. But did you know that certain common substances may increase your risk of getting brown spots?

According to Dr. Karen Burke, a dermatologist in New York City, certain foods such as parsley, limes and parsnips contain chemicals called psoralens. When you handle these foods and then go out in the sun your skin may be more sensitive and burn more easily where psoralens touched it. When the little blisters from the burns have healed, brown spots may appear in their place.

Your favorite perfume or body lotion may also increase your risk for developing brown spots if they contain musk or bergamot oil. When perfumes or lotions containing these common ingredients are applied to sun-exposed areas, Dr. Burke says they may also accelerate the development of brown spots.

Even certain medications will bring on the spots. Antibiotics such as tetracycline, some diuretics, and antipsychotic drugs such as chlorpromazine will also cause your skin to produce age spots when it is not protected from the sun.

Since these are all common products, this is a strong case for using a good UVA/UVB sunscreen whenever you are out in the sun.

For many of us, the damage is already done.

Here are six ways people deal with brown spots, listed in order of least effective to most effective:

1. Cover up brown spots with makeup and concealers. At best, this will give you a false sense of security. What looks fine in the makeup mirror in the morning usually slides off the face by noon, especially in warm climates.
2. Use OTC bleaching and fade creams. As far as I have seen with my clients who buy over-the-counter bleaches and creams, it is a waste of time and money. These may contain hydroquinone but the percentage of this active ingredient is simply not strong enough to make a difference. These creams are a one-size-fits-all formulation designed not to hurt anyone, which is exactly what makes them ineffective.
3. Use prescription creams recommended by a dermatologist. Creams such as Melanex and Eldoquin contain prescription-strength hydroquinone which is strong enough to actually fade some brown spots. Retin-A, although normally used against acne and wrinkles, is another brown spot eraser.  The downsides of these products are:  they are usually expensive, they require consistent daily use, and you are going to have to use them forever.
4. Have the brown spots frozen off. Some dermatologists will freeze the spots with liquid nitrogen. However, there is some risk that the chemical will do its job too well, leaving de-pigmented white spots where the brown spots used to be. To me, white spots are just as detracting as brown spots.
5. Commit to a series of chemical peels or microdermabrasion.  Peels react with the top layer of your skin, effectively burning brown spots away. Once the skin heals, the brown spots will be lighter and less noticeable and after repeated peels, may disappear altogether. Microdermabrasion works similarly by buffing away the top layers of your skin. Brown spots will be lighter and less apparent after several sessions.
6. Get laser therapy … by far the most effective way to remove brown spots for good. At LivingYoung Center, we call this treatment PhotoRejuvenation and it is the modern, high-tech solution to brown spots. Because it targets pigmented cells several layers deep, the laser removes all traces of the brown spot, often in just one session. Within a few days of treatment, the pigmented skin rises to the surface and flakes off. Although it is a pricier solution than those mentioned above, it is a permanent solution with a significant perk. In addition to removing brown spots,  PhotoRejuvenation also stimulates the production of collagen, giving the skin smoother texture and eliminating fine lines and wrinkles. In addition, compared to the alternatives listed above, laser treatment takes just a few minutes of your time, it doesn’t hurt, is risk-free. And it works just as successfully on hands, shoulders, neck ... anywhere the sun has kissed you in a most inappropriate way.