What causes brown spots on the face and body? Is there something lacking, or is this caused by any type of disease?

A.

Brown spots are caused by the accumulation of a yellow pigment called lipofuschin in the connective tissue of the body due to aging of the collagen producing cells. When lipofuschin accumulates in the connective tissue of the skin, brown spots are the result, sometimes called age spots or liver spots. When lipofuschin accumulates in the connective tissue of the retina, the result is age-related macular degeneration. The lipofuchin is probably the remnant of incompletely degraded molecules from damaged cells.

Preventing damage to cells is the best approach to age spots and other problems from aging. Antioxidants are the key to preventing cellular damage from free radicals (highly reactive molecules that can destroy cellular compounds). These protective antioxidants include carotenes (yellow vegetables), vitamins C & E (fresh fruits and vegetables), selenium (wheat germ) , flavonoids (blueberries, blackberries and cherries) and sulfur containing amino acids (legumes, eggs, garlic and onions). Increasing the amount of antioxidant foods in the diet along with supplementation will decrease cellular damage. Be sure to avoid external sources of free radicals including fried and grilled foods, rancid fats, solvents, pesticides, air pollutants, radiation and petroleum based products.

To help fade the spots themselves, try a cream that contains a chamomile extract.

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* The information presented in this web site is intended to inform and educate. It is not intended replace a qualified medical practitioner to diagnose or treat medical conditions.