Want to know how old someone is? Used to be, you could check out the skin on the back of his or her hands, face, neck, chest and arms. Years of unprotected sun exposure causes brown spots – unattractive brown blotches of varying shades and sizes – that betray a person’s age.

But dermatologists say now those spots are cropping up on younger and younger patients.

Brown spots “used to be something old people got,” says James M. Spencer, of Spencer Dermatology and Skin Surgery Center in St. Petersburg, Florida. “But it has less to do with aging and more to do with sun exposure. Today we’re seeing them in women in their 20s.”

Protecting your skin is the first step in warding off those unsightly brown badges, sometimes referred to as age spots or liver spots.

“I have a 90-year-old aunt who doesn’t have one (brown spot) because she lived up north most of her life and rarely went outdoors,” says Lourdes Gali, a clinical aesthetician at Body Science in Tampa, Florida. “When she went outside, she always wore sunscreen, long sleeves or she carried an umbrella.”

Even if you haven’t been sun savvy in the past, there are methods – from bleaching creams to laser treatments – that can alleviate these unwanted age advertisers.

As with any new spots or bumps you develop, it’s always a good idea to have it checked out to make sure it isn’t cancerous.

Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen
The best solution to brown spots is, of course, prevention. UV ray-blocking skin and face creams are a must, along with avoiding overexposure to the sun. Aging skin loses the pigmentation that protects it from the sun’s rays. Existing spots become more visible, and new spots will continue to develop unless you minimize sun exposure. It’s never too late to start protecting your skin. Don’t leave the house without using a product with at least SPF 15 every day. And skip the tanning salon. Reach for a bronzer or sunless tanning cream instead. While dark skin has built-in sun protection, it can still benefit from an SPF of at least 15.

At-home solutions
Bleaching creams: Look for creams containing hydroquinone; it blocks the formation of new brown pigment. It’s available over-the-counter in 2 percent concentrations, but you can get stronger concentrations at your dermatologist’s office. “These types of creams take months to work,” Spencer says. “Be patient. It will work.” The results can be spotty; when applying the cream, try to confine it to the brown spot only, so you don’t get a lighter ring. Or try a spot treatment.

Licorice and soy extracts: It sounds peculiar, but licorice has been shown to have natural bleaching ingredients, Spencer says. It can be found in Chanel Dark Spot Corrector ($75, http://www.gloss.com), Estee Lauder WhiteLight EX Concentrated Brightening Stick ($30, http://www.esteelauder.com) and Body Bistro AHA Lightening Remedy ($25, http://www.bodybistro.com).

Likewise, you’ll find spot-reducing properties in products containing soy, which can be found in RoC Multi Correxion Skin Perfecting System ($49.99) and Aveeno Positively Smooth Facial Moisturizer ($14).

More over-the-counter options
Gali says many of her patients have successfully banished brown spots with aloe vera and shea butter. If you have a plant at home, take the gel and apply it directly to your face every day, she says, and you should see results in six to eight weeks.

For a quicker solution, try Retin A – a prescription strength retinoid helps skin turn over more quickly. When paired with hydroquinone, you can see even faster results, Spencer says.

In-office treatments
Laser treatment (IPL): This is the most expensive treatment and the most effective at permanently removing spots. IPL, intense pulse light, is a medical device that uses light energy to peel off brown spots. The laser can remove brown spots in two treatments, Spencer says. The procedure can cost several hundred dollars. (Find laser treatment providers in Richmond)

Microdermabrasion: This treatment removes dead cells with a light abrasion. Pairing the treatments with a lightening cream can yield better results. (Find microdermabrasion providers in Richmond)

Chemical peels: These treatments should be performed in a doctor’s office or surgery center. There are different levels of chemical peels, from a light superficial peel with glycolic acid to Phenol, the strongest chemical solution available. Peels slough off the superficial layer of skin. There is some downtime involved. “The bigger results you want, the more downtime,” Spencer says. (Find chemical peel providers in Richmond)

Fractionated laser peel: A series of laser lights resurface a portion of the skin’s surface at a time. It usually requires two or three days of downtime.

Cloe Cabrera is a writer with Media General News Service in Tampa, Florida.