Age spots, or lentigo solaris, is a common skin condition that results from excess exposure to the sun’s UV rays. Although these spots are usually harmless, many of us would prefer not to have them, especially when they cause discoloration on our faces. A few of the current treatments for age spots include bleaching creams, avoiding further sun exposure, and laser treatment. However, for those of us who prefer to avoid using bleach and lasers on our skin, there’s a potential new natural treatment for age spots.
Arbutin has emerged as a naturally occurring, plant-derived chemical that could have benefits for age spots. A recent study examined whether the natural extract of the Serratulae quinquefoliae plant, which contains arbutin, could be an alternative treatment for age spots. For the study, 102 women with two kinds of facial dark spots – melasma and sunspots – were recruited to participate. The patients were randomly separated into a treatment group and a control group. During the 8-week trial, the participants were asked to apply either the extract cream (treatment group) or a placebo cream (control group) twice a day. The results of the study showed that in the treatment group 56% of women with sunspots and 75% of those with melasma saw a significant difference in skin lightening, as compared to the control group. Also worth noting: the researchers did not notice any side effects from the creams.
Conclusion:Â Serratula-based extracts containing arbutin showed promising results in a clinical study. Since this is just one study, we hope that more studies are conducted to see if these results remain promising!
