To stop new sun spots from forming on your face, wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every day, reapply it when you're outdoors, and add a hat with a wide brim, shade and UV-blocking sunglasses. Sun spots come from years of ultraviolet (UV) exposure, so steady daily habits matter more than any one product. The same habits help keep treated spots from coming back.
Your daily sun-protection checklist
- Apply broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher to your face, ears and neck every morning
- Use enough: about two finger-lengths of sunscreen for your face
- Reapply every two hours outdoors, and after swimming or sweating
- Wear a hat with a brim all the way around
- Choose sunglasses that block UV rays
- Seek shade in the middle of the day
- Skip tanning beds
- Check your skin regularly for new or changing spots
Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen, and how much to apply
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends a sunscreen that is:
- Broad-spectrum, meaning it protects against both UVA and UVB rays
- SPF 30 or higher
- Water-resistant, if you'll be sweating or swimming
Using too little is a common mistake. The AAD suggests using enough to cover the length of your index and middle fingers for your face, and about 1 ounce, roughly a shot glass, for exposed skin on your body. Apply it about 15 minutes before you go outside. Don't skip your ears, the sides and back of your neck, your hairline and your part. Use a lip balm with SPF 30 or higher, too.
If you're prone to dark spots or melasma, look at tinted sunscreens with iron oxides. The AAD recommends a tinted sunscreen with iron oxide for melasma, because visible light can make melasma worse. Makeup with SPF is a helpful extra, but it's hard to apply enough to match the label, so wear sunscreen underneath.
Make it every day, not just beach days. UV rays reach your skin on cloudy days and in winter, and UVA rays can pass through window glass at home, at work and in the car.
Reapplying during the day, including commutes and time outdoors
Sunscreen wears off. The AAD recommends reapplying every two hours when you're outdoors, and right after swimming or sweating.
Everyday sun adds up: waiting on a subway platform, walking to lunch, running errands, sitting by a sunny window. A few practical tips:
- Keep a sunscreen stick or a powder sunscreen in your bag for quick touch-ups, even over makeup.
- On bright days, reapply before you head out for lunch or the trip home.
- A walk along the Bay Ridge waterfront on Shore Road or an afternoon at a south Brooklyn beach is real outdoor time. Water and sand reflect UV rays, so stick to your reapplication schedule there too.
Hats, shade and sunglasses
Sunscreen works best as one layer of protection, not the only one.
- Hats: A hat with a brim all the way around shades your face, ears and the back of your neck. A baseball cap leaves your ears and the sides of your face exposed. Tightly woven fabric, or a UPF label, gives more protection.
- Shade: The AAD advises seeking shade when the sun's rays are strongest, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. A simple test: if your shadow is shorter than you are, the sun is strong.
- Sunglasses: Choose a pair labeled to block both UVA and UVB rays. Larger frames protect more of the delicate skin around your eyes.
- Tanning beds: Skip them. They give off UV rays too.
Why sun spots can return after any treatment
Treatments for sun spots, such as fading creams, chemical peels, freezing, and laser or light treatments, can lighten spots you already have. They don't change how your skin reacts to UV. According to the AAD, age spots can return after any treatment, and protecting your skin from the sun helps prevent this. New ones can still form. Individual results vary, and daily protection is what helps any result last.
A few cautions if you're treating spots:
- Have a dermatologist check spots before treating them. Some skin cancers can look like sun spots, and treating one as a cosmetic spot can delay the right care.
- Be careful with skin-lightening products bought online or over the counter. The FDA has warned that some contain high levels of mercury, so ask a dermatologist before you use one.
- Melasma often comes back, especially with sun exposure, so it needs a steady sun-protection plan.
So what's the best treatment for sun spots on your face? It's the one matched to an accurate diagnosis and your skin type, followed by daily sun protection so the results hold.
What Bay Ridge Dermatology offers
Bay Ridge Dermatology offers full-body skin exams and treats pigment disorders as part of medical dermatology. A visit can confirm whether your spots are sun spots, melasma or something else, and help you build a sun-protection routine that fits your skin. The practice does not offer laser treatment for pigmentation, including laser for sun spots and melasma, and its IPL (intense pulsed light) service is for hair reduction, not spots.
Regular skin checks, and when to see a dermatologist sooner
Check your skin regularly in good light, looking for new spots and changes in old ones. How often you need a professional skin exam depends on your history, so ask your dermatologist. Our skin cancer screening guide explains what a screening includes.
See a dermatologist sooner if a spot:
- Is new and looks different from your other spots
- Is growing or changing in size, shape or color
- Has several colors or an uneven edge
- Bleeds, itches, crusts or doesn't heal
- Is a rough, scaly patch that keeps coming back
It's also a good idea to book a visit if brown patches spread quickly, or appear during pregnancy or after you start a new medicine, so you can get a diagnosis and a safe plan.
When you're ready for a skin check, you can book online or call (347) 497-4984.
This article is general information, not medical advice. For advice about your own skin, see a dermatologist.