the most effective way to tackle these is with IPL (intense pulsed light) treatments (visit www.cosmeticdoctors.co.uk to find a good practitioner in your area). This will fade the spots by breaking up the pigment that forms them, it’s not that painful (like being flicked with elastic bands) but it will cost about £200-£300 a session, depending on the extent of the area you want treated. There are loads of ‘brightening and whitening” creams which can all help fade brown spots with ingredients such as vitamin C, retinol and bilberry extract. Whatever you choose, you need to get obsessive about using sun-protection at the same time (every day, all year, at least SPF15) to protect your skin and prevent more brown spots forming.