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Are there prescription treatments for sunspots?

Sunspots are areas of the skin that appear lighter or darker than normal after exposure to sunlight. A fungus causes one type of sunspot. Excess sun exposure causes another. If your skin condition doesn’t improve or if it gets worse with over-the-counter treatments, prescription medications may help.

Prescription treatments for fungal infections include selenium sulfide shampoo 2.5% (brand name Selsun Rx), ketoconazole tablets (Nizoral), and econazole cream (Spectazole). To clear the infection, you must use these shampoos and creams every day for one or two weeks. You take ketoconazole tablets daily for four weeks.

When over-the-counter creams don’t work to fade the sunspots caused by excess sun exposure, your doctor may prescribe prescription drugs with a higher concentration of hydroquinone (Solaquin Forte or Eldopaque Forte) or tretinoin (Retin-A or Renova). A dermatologist can decide which therapy might work best for your skin condition.

References:Drug Facts and Comparisons, Facts and Comparisons, 1999.Murray, M., J. Pizzorno. Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. Prima Communications, Inc., 1998.

This answer prepared 7/27/99.