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LIVER SPOTS

What are they?

Liver spots are medically termed 'Lentigos" and also known as age spots. They are sharply defined light brown to black flat patches of skin that appear on the face and backs of the hands looking somewhat like a large freckle. They may measure up to 1 inch in size.

Who is most at risk of developing these spots?

The spots most commonly develop in people of middle age and older. They are more common in people who have spent a lot of time in the sun.

What causes the spots?

The spots are brought out by exposure to the sun. The color is due to pigments within the epidermis (top skin layer) cells.

Many people have a hereditary predisposition to develop liver spots. Free radicals are unstable molecules in the body that start a domino type effect leading to damage of cellular components such as DNA. Over time this can lead to many conditions attributable to cellular damage such as skin conditions including liver spots.

What can be done about these spots?

As sun exposure plays a role in the development of liver spots, it is advisable to avoid excessive exposure to the sun and becoming sunburnt. Cover up when outside and use a good quality sunscreen.

Improving the liver function is important to prevent and manage skin conditions of any description including liver spots, as the liver is the major filter of the blood, clearing it of toxins that can build up in the system and create free radicals which promote cell damage in the skin.

The key to keeping free radical production to a minimum is to consume foods and supplements rich in "antioxidants". These are molecules that in effect put a halt on the destructive 'domino' effect of the free radicals.

Are these spots dangerous?

These lesions are classed as 'benign" or non cancerous. They are generally harmless and painless. The main effect is cosmetic - this may cause some distress. Occasionally a person may develop 'keratosis' which looks very similar to a liver spot. Keratosis is a pre cancerous scaly red lesion. It is recommended that all people with dark freckles, moles or liver spots should have a skin examination yearly.

Recommended books

General recommendations

Reduce direct exposure to sunlight on the face and hands. We do need some sunlight, as it enables our body to manufacture vitamin D; however you should avoid becoming sunburnt.

As stated above, consumption of foods high in natural antioxidants is the best insurance policy against free radical production.

Follow the vital principles of eating outlined on p 20 - 27 of "The Healthy Liver and Bowel Book " by Dr Cabot and make these principles a way of life. Aim to eat at least 5 servings of fruit or vegetables per day.

-- Avoid ALL margarines and similar type spreads
-- Avoid deep fried and fatty foods.
-- Avoid sugary processed foods and drinks
-- Limit chicken and turkey that is not free range, as this contains artificial growth hormones, antibiotics and steroids that increase the liver's workload.
--Drink 2 liters of water each day.
-- Avoid artificial sweeteners - see www.dorway.com

Healthy Sweetener Guide

Sweeteners to avoid:

Aspartame
Neotame
Acesulfame-K (Sunette, Sweet & Safe, Sweet One)
Cyclamates
Saccharin

Sweeteners to Use:

Stevia *
Barley Malt
Evaporated Cane Juice
Fruit Juice

Xylitol*
Rice Syrup
Honey
Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) *
Amasake
* Safe for Diabetics

Raw juices

Dr Cabot has known about the incredible healing power of raw juices from a very young age. Her grandmother's life was saved by raw juicing back in the 1930s. Raw juices are an incredibly powerful healing tool and can improve the function of the liver, bowels and kidneys. This increases the elimination of toxins and waste products from the skin.

Carrot juice in particular is recommended as a good source of betacarotene - a precursor to vitamin A which is an important protector of the skin.

The recommended juices from Dr Cabot's Raw Juices Can Save Your Life book are:
• "Skin Problems Juice" on p 131
• "Liver Cleansing" or Liver tonic" juices on p116

Recommended supplements

LivaTone^® Liver Tonic Capsules/Powder

A general liver tonic that contains all the vital ingredients to enhance liver function. A good, all-purpose comprehensive herbal liver tonic consists of specific herbs such as Dandelion, Milk Thistle, Slippery Elm, amino acids and vegetable extracts which will improve liver function, elimination and the reduction of waste via a cleansing effect on the bowel.

MSM with Vitamin C

MSM (Methyl-Sulphonyl-Methane) is an organic form of sulphur, which may assist in the manufacture of bile and elimination of toxins, as it is a powerful blood cleanser. Sulphur is also needed to produce the powerful antioxidant called glutathione. Vitamin C will neutralize free radicals generated during the phase 1 detoxification pathway in the liver and reduce toxic damage and chemical overload. Toxic chemicals are far less dangerous if there is plenty of vitamin C in the liver and it helps to maintain healthy strong skin, hair, teeth & nails.

Selenium Complete

Selenium is a powerful antioxidant mineral that works synergistically with other antioxidants to assist in protection against further damage to liver cells. A good source of the antioxidant selenium is a designer yeast powder. Selenium has been found to be effective in reducing liver inflammation and is a strong antioxidant. This is important to assist in mopping up free radical production.

Natural Vitamin E

At least 500 IU daily of vitamin E is required to protect liver cell membranes from free radical damage and possibly reduce and prevent scarring. Make sure you use vitamin E supplements which are natural (d-alpha-tocopherol); synthetic forms (dl-alpha-tocopherol) are derived from petrochemicals and are not well utilised by the body.

Other supplements that may assist:

Hair, skin and nail supplement
A formula containing nutrients specifically to promote the health of the hair, skin and nails. Ingredients include: Biotin for strong nails, folic acid, Inositol, Siberian ginseng to promote circulation to the hair and skin.

THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FDA AND ARE NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT OR CURE ANY DISEASES.

Orthodox medicine

Traditionally treatments used in medical practices have been quite destructive - and generally entailed burning with mild acid solutions or freezing the lesion - this would cause some damage to the surrounding skin. Modern use of lasers can effectively remove the spots without damaging the surrounding skin. Lasers work to selectively remove the pigment containing cells of each lesion. They require no anesthesia.

Dear Dr Cabot,
I am 56 years old and went through menopause 4 years ago. My biggest problem is that I am developing brown blotches on my face and hands, which is disappointing as I have always used a sun block and good quality creams. I am also a little fat around my middle and feel nauseated in the mornings or if I eat rich foods. My doctor told me that these symptoms were due to menopause and getting older. Indeed he called my brown spots and blotches "cemetery flowers " which horrified me. Please help me as I am losing my self-esteem and I did not think menopause caused these problems. I certainly do not feel like an old lady !

Dear Anthea,
Well perhaps you should suggest to you doctor that he should take a course in how to improve his bedside manner ! You are correct in saying that menopause does not cause these problems and indeed you are complaining of symptoms of a dysfunctional liver. Laser therapy can reduce them, as can special creams containing fruit acids and/or retinoic acid. You should consult a top plastic surgeon about the best brands of these creams. Most importantly you should concentrate on preventing more of these spots/blotches from coming which means we will need to improve your liver function. Once we cleanse and heal the liver, one could say rejuvenate the liver, then your skin will be rejuvenated and the brown spots will gradually fade and will stop developing. Vitamin E and selenium in a dose of 1,000 I.U. and 200 micrograms respectively can be taken every day to fade the brown spots.

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