Sounds like what you have is something called "Solar Lentigoes", which are harmless discolorations caused by years of sun exposure. Your dermatologist can either remove them by either freezing or using a laser. I had one by my eyebrow that was about the size of a dime. My doctor removed it using a laser around two years ago. It has never returned. However, as this procedure is considered "cosmetic", insurance wonÂt cover it. I believe it cost me between $150/250 to have "the big one" removed in addition to 4 or 5 smaller ones. Obviously, it was well worth it to me. (this photo is not me, but my "brown spots" looked just like that).

Do all of the lighteners contain a form of retinol? I have a problem with it being too harsh for my fair skin. One of my favorite products for years was Neutrogena's Daily Facial Lotion with SPF. Used it for years. One morning I opened a new bottle, applied per usual, and by the next morning I looked like I had spent the previous day sitting in the sun without sunscreen. Wouldn't have been so bad, but it was Christmas morning and I wasn't in a tropical area. LOL It took 3 or 4 days for the redness to go away. MIL swears to stick with it that my reaction was a common one, especially not ever having used retinol products. Sorta of no pain no gain. I keep reminding myself that MIL has used prescription strength retinol to rid herself of facial wrinkles. Her face looked like raw meat for so long. I didn't see any difference in her wrinkles despite her use of the retinol and who knows what other prescription products. Well, I'll go with the no pain. Not trying to rid my well earned facial lines, just want to moisturize my face! Are there skin lightening products out there for those who can't tolerate the retinol??

Not to hijack, but in addition to age spots on my hands, I've noticed this year that on my legs I now have these white spots (appears to be loss of pigmentation). These areas are smaller than a pencil eraser and when I do get a little sun at the pool, they will not tan but appear very white. What are these? I always wear at least a 15 spf, but I have an olive complexion and literally tan just by being out in the sun in 30 minutes with sunscreen. I never ever get sunburned, just tan. So what's up with these white spots?

Outside, I have both a a tinted moisturizer (Neutrogena) and a tinted sunscreen that I love (Elta). I put them on every morning, but realistically, they should be reapplied during the day if I'm going to be in the sun, so I'll just need to remember. While I won't be lying on the beach, I will be outside much of each day. Going on a week of college tours with my oldest! And I've never ever been a hat person, sadly. I wish I was but I'm terribly self-conscious about wearing a hat, so the only time I do is when I'm actually at the beach or pool. Boop, I'lm not sure which procedure your question is directed to, but I'm assuming you mean the Photofacial? I looked it up as I've never heard of it, and saw a video that a woman posted showing how she looked before, immediately after and then the following day. Her face was red and splotchy the first day, but she looked normal the next day. As for the laser treatment I had for my one spot, I didn't look like a freak. In fact, I thought it would be worse based on how the dermatologist described it. She said it would turn purpleish and look like a bruise b/f becoming flaky eventually and then fall off. Mine never changed color - it was slightly red around the edges, but the spot stayed brown. Then all of a sudden it was dry/flaky, and just came right off yesterday. Mine was about the size of the eraser on top of a pencil and right smack dab in the middle of my cheek, so very noticeable. I was worried i'd need to cover it up in the days afterward, but I didn't need to.