Calling all sun worshippers who apply the teeniest, tiniest slick of sunscreen to your face in the morning. If you want to look fresh-faced into your 30s, 40s and beyond, a little swipe of SPF isn't going to be enough to ward off age spots, sadly. Even those who are sun care religious can see age spots creep up as time goes on. But heed our advice and tips for an anti aging, anti age spot routine and that early 20-something skin you're lusting after could be yours again.

What's in a name?
When it comes to age spots, a name can indicate any number of things. It can distinguish the difference between being sun-caused ("lentigines") or age-induced ("seborrheic keratoses"); it can determine the diagnosis between being cancerous ("lentigo maligna") or benign (liver spot); or it can simply be an interchangeable term – mole, freckle, birthmark, brown spot – used among friends to bemoan an inexplicable skin discolouration that has recently made an appearance on your skin.

The bottom line on age spots
Regardless of what we call it, a trip to the dermatologist is in order if you find age spots your concerned about. "Before self-diagnosing it as just being a brown spot, or choosing to go a spa and self-treat with a bleaching treatment, it is so important to get a proper diagnosis by a dermatologist," insists Dr. Lisa Kellett, dermatologist, DLK on Avenue. "If you don't catch something like malignant melanoma early enough, you're dead within six months."

Don't hit the panic button just yet though. This doesn't mean that every spot that appears on your skin is inherently hazardous and should be removed immediately. "An actual age spot isn't dangerous; they're the result of prolonged UV exposure or your skin aging," comments Dr. Kellett. "If that's the case, then it's up to each individual to decide whether they want to lighten or remove the brown spot."

Best skin care mantra: Protect at all costs
Hands down, protecting your skin from the sun is the number one way to prevent the appearance of age spots. Covering up when you know you're going in the sun for long periods of time, wearing sunscreen and being sure to reapply it - putting it on once does not mean you've cloaked yourself in an shield of never-ending UV-blocking protection – will go a long way in helping to keep your skin looking youthful and spot-free.

How to treat age spots and the best anti aging practices on the next page ...