How to Define Age Spots
What are Age Spots:
Age spots, medically referred to as "senile pigmented spots," are a type of lipofuscin pigment patch that appears on the skin of elderly individuals. They are commonly seen in older seniors and are sometimes called "longevity spots." However, modern medical research indicates that this elegant nickname is not accurate, as they do not signify longevity. Experts have found that with the increase in average life expectancy, age spots are not universally present among the elderly, occurring in only 27% of seniors.
Causes of Age Spots:
After reaching 60-70 years of age, with the progression of time, the number of age spots can gradually increase, and their area may expand. So, how are age spots formed? Currently, there are three explanations: The first suggests that after entering old age, cellular metabolic function declines, making it easier for fats within the body to oxidize, producing senile pigments. These pigments cannot be expelled from the body and thus accumulate on cell bodies, forming age spots. The second explanation proposes that as people grow older, metabolism begins to decline, cellular functions deteriorate annually, and blood circulation slows down. Additionally, changes in dietary structure and imbalances in the intake ratio of animal and plant fats among the elderly promote the accumulation of a very tiny brown particle called lipofuscin in the basal layer cells of the skin. This brown particle is a byproduct of the lipid peroxidation reaction process. Aging tissue cells lose their ability to decompose and expel these particles, leading to excessive accumulation of brown granules within local cell basal layers, resulting in the formation of age spots on the skin surface. The third explanation suggests that in old age, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), an enzyme with anti-oxidative properties within the body, decreases, causing an increase in free radicals. These free radicals and their induced oxidative reactions cause long-term damage to living organisms. During the metabolic process, the human body produces a substance called "free radicals," which is also known as lipofuscin pigment. When this pigment accumulates on the body's surface, it forms age spots.
In youth and adulthood, the body naturally contains antioxidants and antioxidant enzymes. These substances convert free radicals into inert compounds, preventing the formation of peroxidized lipids and thereby avoiding cellular damage. However, as one ages, the body's antioxidant functions gradually diminish. In old age, free radicals begin to cause destructive effects. It is generally believed that age spots are a precursor sign of tissue aging, indicating that cells have entered an aging phase. Lipofuscin pigment not only accumulates on the skin but also invades internal organs. If it deposits on blood vessel walls, it can cause fibrous lesions, leading to arteriosclerosis, hypertension, and myocardial infarction. When it accumulates in brain cells, it affects brain function, accelerating the aging process of the brain. This can lead to memory and cognitive impairments, depression, or even Alzheimer's disease in the elderly. When this substance accumulates within cells, it disrupts normal cellular metabolism, causing overall bodily aging and eventually leading to death.