Beauty clinic: Dealing with age spots

I’m starting to notice age spots on my face and hands. Can anything really clear them?

Age spots are caused by sun damage or hormonal changes and can actually occur at any stage of adulthood. Anti-ageing creams that claim to lighten them without using ingredients independently proven to do so are frustrating.

Hydroquinone has the most impressive lightening capabilities we know of, though there are also studies showing kojic acid, azelaic acid, tretinoin (a prescription-only retinoid), and vitamin C to have a brightening effect on brown or grey spots.