Staying indoors might be the best way to avoid damage to the skin, but it’s no fun. After all, most people want to get outside and enjoy the sunshine after a long winter. Wearing sunscreen and dressing appropriately can help, but too much sun exposure can lead to spots, wrinkles, and sagging skin. These, in turn, can make a person look a lot older than they actually are. Luckily, for those who have enjoyed tanning a bit too much, there are technologies that can help, such as Fraxel laser treatment.
What Are Sunspots and Brown Spots?
Sunspots, brown spots, and freckles can all be caused and worsened by excess sun exposure. They are most often found on the cheeks, nose, forehead, chest, arms, hands, and other areas frequently exposed to the sun. Ultraviolet rays from the sun damage the skin and interfere with the production of melanin (pigmentation in the skin). Over time, the melanin-producing cells start to overproduce pigmentation, leading to sunspots and an uneven skin tone.
What is Fraxel Laser Treatment?
Dermatologists and skin care specialists swear by the Fraxel laser for sunspots and many other skin conditions. The Fraxel laser is a skin resurfacing treatment that uses laser energy to create thousands of microscopic laser columns in the skin. These tiny wounds leave the surrounding tissue intact so that the skin can heal more quickly. Experts say that the procedure is safe and comfortable, as well as versatile enough to allow multiple body areas to be treated simultaneously in one session.
During the Fraxel laser treatment, laser energy is absorbed into sun-damaged skin. The pigmented cells absorb the energy and convert it into heat, which damages and breaks up the pigmentation to rejuvenate clear, evenly toned skin. The laser energy and creation of tiny wounds also stimulate collagen production to resurface healthy skin cells and improve skin elasticity. This makes the Fraxel laser a great treatment for other skin concerns like acne scars, rough skin texture, and wrinkles.
Other Laser Treatments for Sunspots
At Reflections Center for Cosmetic Medicine, we offer several laser therapy options to address sunspots and various types of hyperpigmentation. Q-switched lasers and IPL use intense pulsed light to target sunspots and other types of pigmented lesions such as age spots and brown birthmarks. Similar to the Fraxel laser, intense pulsed light is absorbed into the skin and converted into heat. The main difference is that IPL and Q-switched lasers do not damage the outer surface of the skin.
How You Can Prevent Sunspots
Although sunspots and brown spots start to become visible around people’s 30s-40s, they develop gradually as a result of UV exposure. As Dr. Chasin explains in our educational YouTube series, the effects develop throughout our lifetime. Because their development is gradual, it is necessary to wear sunscreen and take preventative measures starting at an early age. It’s important to remember that although the sun is hottest during the summer, UV rays can penetrate through the clouds at all times of the year. We recommend using sunscreen as part of your daily skincare routine, year-round.
Schedule Your Free Consultation With One Of Our Physicians
At Reflections Center for Cosmetic Medicine, our team of laser specialists can help you find an effective treatment for your specific skin concerns and treatment goals. Get started on your customized treatment plan by scheduling a consultation at one of our two offices in the Newark, NJ area.
