If you're looking for a hand cream for age spots, there are some things that you need to know. All of the products that are available on the internet are not safe. If you live in the US, the ones in your local drugstore might not be safe either. Reading the label of ingredients is the only way to be sure that you are getting something effective that will not do more harm than good.

Ingredients to Avoid

Hydroquinone is top on the list of ingredients to avoid. Its inclusion in cosmetics has been banned in the European Union, due to a cancer risk that may accompany its use. Not worried about cancer?

There is a possibility that using a cream containing hydroquinone will make the spot darker than it is today. It has been known to stimulate, rather than inhibit melanin production. That is likely due to the free radical damage that it causes, which is why it also increases a person's cancer risk.

A very expensive hand cream for age spots contains hydroquinone and glycolic acid. Glycolic acid is the smallest of the alpha hydroxy acids. They have been recommended for everything from acne to wrinkle removal. The main effect that they have is to break down the hyaluronic acid bond that holds on the skin's outermost layer. This is supposed to cause the spot to peel away.

It is highly unlikely that the spot is only on the surface. If it is and you avoid the sun, it will go away on its own in about 6 weeks time. That's how long it normally takes for the skin's natural rejuvenation processes to replace that outer layer.

A hand cream for age spots that contains glycolic acid and hydroquinone is very likely to cause increased pigmentation. It will also increase the skin's sensitivity to the sun. Obviously, these are not good choices.

Compounds to Look For

The root of the cyperus rotundus, a medicinal plant, has been used for centuries to relieve skin irritation and minor burns. Recent studies have shown that it also inhibits melanin production. Extracts from the plant can be found in some of the better ?all natural? hand cream for age spots. There's just one warning.

Anything that inhibits melanin production will lighten the entire area to which it is applied. Unless you want to lighten the color of your hands, you might want to look for a moisturizer that contains functional keratin and coenzyme Q10. They might not work as quickly as cyperus rotundus, but they should work.

Coenzyme Q10, an antioxidant, has been shown to reverse sun damage by over 30% after six weeks of use. Since the spot is essentially sun damage, it should work for that, too.

Functional Keratin is an anti-aging ingredient. Benefits that accompany the use of creams containing it include reduced wrinkling, improved firmness, reduced inflammation, improved moisture content and a reduction of brown spots caused by the sun or environmental pollutants.

It may be a little harder to find a hand cream for age spots that contains those ingredients, but if you want something safe and effective, you need to take the time to look for one.