If you're 55 years of age or older, then you are probably well acquainted with age spots. If not, then consider yourself lucky. For those of us who know all about these bothersome blemishes, finding a good treatment for age spots can be quite a challenge. Well, no need to fret. Help is here. There a mainly 4 different methods that have proven to be successful at removing age spots quickly and easily. We'll discuss each method briefly so you can decide which one suits you best.

IPL Treatment

IPL, also known as photorejuvenation, stands for Intensed Pulsed Light. As a non-ablative, this treatment for age spots will not damage the surface of your skin. With IPL, intense light is sent to the deeper layers of your skin (dermis) without touching the superficial layers (epidermis). This innovative method is good for removing age spots because it uses the pulsed light to stimulate new collagen growth while fading discoloration and evening your skin tone.

The only drawback about IPL is that it has to be performed by a trained medical professional. This procedure can be a little costly, too. You'd have to have 4 to 6 IPL treatments to see real results. At $300 to 600 per session, you could easily end up spending $1200 to $2200 to reach your goals.

Laser Resurfacing

Laser resurfacing is still a fairly new procedure, but it's relatively safe. Laser resurfacing is most commonly used to minimize the appearance of fine lines but also works well as a treatment for age spots. Because this procedure requires some sedation it has to be performed in in a doctor's office. Laser resurfacing is a popular treatment many plastic surgeons offer to help with removing age spots and other deep blemishes.

Like IPL, laser resurfacing can be quite expensive. The national average for this procedure is nearly $3,000 but many doctors offer financing so patients can take advantage of monthly payments.

Bleaching Creams

Bleaching creams are great for bleaching large areas of discoloration. As a treatment for age spots, though, most bleaching creams have a greater affect on the areas surrounding your age spots than they do on the spots themselves. You can either purchase bleaching creams from your dermatologist or get them over the counter at your local drug store. Some people say bleaching creams are slow at removing age spots while others swear by them. Either way you can see some results.

Home Chemical Peels

A home chemical peel is perhaps the most cost-efficient and effective treatment for age spots available. It works by removing layers of dead skin over a period of several days (usually less than a week) in order to reveal fresh, new skin that is both younger looking and more supple. Lighter peels remove fewer layers of dead skin while deeper peels can remove as many as four layers of dead skin.

Many home chemical peel kits provide dermatologist-quality results at a fraction of the cost. As a result, they tend to be one of the most sought after solutions for removing age spots. The average home chemical peel kit will cost you about $80 for a basic kit and $660 for a more advanced kit. This is significantly less than the $300 to $2000 you would pay to have the same treatment done in a dermatologist's office. You'll end up saving anywhere from $220 to $1340.