Are you tired of seeing spots? After a lifetime of sun exposure, you’re bound to have at least a few brown spots on your hands and face. Also known as “age spots,” these areas of skin discoloration aren’t actually caused by age – rather, they’re a consequence of sun damage.
If you’re self-conscious about your brown spots, there are a number of treatment options available that can help.
Treating Brown Spots with Laser Resurfacing and IPL Therapy
Because of their unique ability to selectively target skin tissue based on pigment color, fractional lasers (Fraxel) and advanced light systems (IPL therapy) are both popular treatment options for brown spots.
Treatment can typically be completed within an hour, depending on your skin type and the density of spots. Following treatment, your skin should be protected from direct sun exposure for several days. As it begins to gradually heal, the targeted brown spots will get darker and flake off in the following weeks.
Most patients require multiple treatments to achieve desired results. Your doctor will be able to determine the optimal number of treatments during your personal consultation.
Recovering from Treatment
Before undergoing treatment, it’s important to remember that virtually every cosmetic laser or advanced light system procedure requires a certain amount of downtime.
In some cases that might mean a few bruises and some minor redness; in other cases it might mean significant oozing and crusting. Either way, you’ll probably need to take a few days off from work – so we suggest you plan appropriately.
Other Treatments for Brown Spots
Lasers and IPL therapy aren’t the only treatment options available for brown spots. Other popular approaches include:
- Chemical peels
- Microdermabrasion
- Hydroquinone cream
A skin care professional will be able to determine which treatment option will yield the best results for your skin type.
Image Credit: Deviant Art