I used the Olay cream for sun spots (it's in a purple tube). It lightened the spots, but did not make them disappear.

I've heard that a chemical peel can eliminate the age spots. I've tried Porcelana cream for a while with no real results.

I heard some positive things about a Clinique product whose name eludes me. I am hoping someone will post something on this.

I've been using Roc with retinol night cream for about a year and I didn't see really great results until at least 6 months of usage. Now, after a year, most of the age spots are much, much lighter and my original freckles are highlighted instead of disappearing under all the age/sun damage. My skin looks fab. I'm 47 btw.
I use the Roc retinol eye cream also.

You have to be very diligent with sunscreen using retinol, the spots will come back and your skin is so much more vulnerable to sunburn as you are in essence, removing a layer of skin constantly.

My skin is the same. I was a freckly kid and now they have morphed into age spots, helped by too many years in the sun. In fact, I've had Mohs surgery twice for skin cancers on my face. My dermatologist took off a couple dark spots by freezing them. They got a scab and when that came off, the skin was clear under it. The dr said the spots have to be well defined. She also recommended a product called NeoStrata - 15. She gave some to me but I think you can buy it at Sephora or other places online.

I have a big spot on my cheek that I will have to have removed in the fall. It's not good to do it in the summer because the sun is too hard on the "new" skin underneath.

Long time lurker but since I had the same problem I am coming out of lurkdom LOL. I have had great results with Obagi Nuderm. Have used this product line for almost 3 years now. I originally purchased the products from my dermatologist but over the last year buy from the Amazon site at a discounted price. I use the cleanser and toner (you can use any product to cleanse your face I am sure), Blender mixed with Retin A, Exfoderm and Clear. The first six weeks are tough with peeling but after that I was amazed at how good my skin looked. The way my doc instructed me to use the system is before bed alternate days with RetinA/Blender and Exfoderm/Clear. No more age spots and better skin. Make sure to use sun screen every day. The company has a website you can go to. HTH.

I don't have freckles but had a couple of "spots". Age/sun spots I'm sure. I am religious about sunscreen and have been for years and years, but I also spend alot of time outside. Time on the lake. Earlier this year I started using a retin-A product. I can't think of the name and I'm not at home right now. There's another thread here where I talked about it. It is not available over the counter. I buy it from a plastic surgeon - through his nurse who scheduled appts. a few times a month at the beauty salon I go to. The daytime moisturizer and the cleanser were a little too strong for me. However, I do like the night moisturizer and the eye cream and can tell quite a difference. Another reminder about retin-A or retinal (not as strong but can be bought over the counter) is that is can make your skin dry. I had problems with that at first. For me, there was an adjustment period. But, it was worth it. If you are interested, I'll try to remember to post the name.

tina

My dermatologist says no OTC cream will permanently remove age spots, they lighten but not eliminate. And once you stop the spots will darken again. I've heard Joan Rivers talking about it and she says her product contains the highest percentage of whatever ingredient it is that lightens age spots but even she admitted to the audience that the spot will reappear once you stop applying the product. There is a procedure the doctor than do but it's not 100% and can even leave burn marks if not done perfect. They apply dry ice to the spot which burns it off. It works but then you're left with an ugly wound until it scabs over and falls off. I had it done but then kept wearing short sleeves and now I'm loaded with spots again. I was thinking of trying something risky... have you noticed that the doctor uses the same treatment on age spots as they do warts? What if I buy one of those instant freeze-off wart remover cans and spray it on the age spot? Will that burn it off the same way the doctor does? I don't know because I haven't tried it yet. The product is pricey ($20 or less if you catch it on sale) but no where near the price a dermatologist would charge to do it in their office. I would never try this on my face however. I asked the doctor what she thought of my idea and she said she hadn't heard of using wart remover for an age spot but she was intrigued by the concept and didn't tell me not to try it. I don't think it will hurt to test it out on one spot on my arm, after all, it's safe for warts.

I've never had a wort so I don't know how they remove them. However, my derm does not burn an age spot off. They use a laser. (Q something or other?) I'm not sure if a chemical peel would remove or not.

I have melasama and a few age spots on my face and have had good luck in the past with chemical peels and microderm. It's been a few years since I have had the duo but they really helped them in the past. Like the others have said, they probably don't make them go completely away but just lighten them.

Rnmom, did you have the peel from a dr or a spa?

Thanks to all for the product recs. I'm going to look them all up!

Bumble, I use the Roc eye cream too. I like it.

The Clinique stuff is the Even Better serum. They also have Even Better foundation that's helps lighten dark spots. They added some new shades without pink undertones so I've been wearing that for a while now. I have a little discoloration from acne and think it's lightening the spots. I never tried the serum.

Sue, saw a segment on the local news last week about this subject. The doctor being interviewed said to only use a board-certified dermatologist or licensed plastic surgeon.

Here is a link that might be useful: video