Sure, now you know how important it is to apply an SPF 30 sunscreen daily to protect your skin from the sun. But, that handy bit of knowledge came way too late for all those times your family went to the Jersey shore each summer. Of course, you can’t totally blame your mom. She had no idea that the sun giving you that “healthy” tan would lead to sunspots in later years. (And no, Mom, baby oil, didn’t help at all).
Sunspots normally appear on the nose, forehead and cheeks. Often, they are most noticeable on the left side of your face because, when you drive, the sun hits you more on that side (unless you’re in England, then it’s the right side). Sunspots are dark, flat lesions that are brown, grey or black in color. Fortunately, Reflections has the latest technologies and a wealth of experience in removing sun spots.
Intense Pulsed Light for sunspot removal
If you have lighter skin tones our doctors may use intense pulsed light (IPL) which pulses a wide range of visible light waves to penetrate the tissue. When the melanin in the sunspot absorbs the light, it breaks it up and your body’s natural healing process removes the sunspot tissue for more even skin tones and a younger appearance. Because IPL is gentle and non-invasive, it requires little to no recovery time. The number of treatments for removing sunspots depends on how many sunspots you have and their severity. Generally most people need two to three IPL treatments spaced about a month apart for removing sunspots. However, results are apparent after only one visit!
Lasers for sunspot removal
The doctors at Reflections can choose from more than ten different lasers for removing sun spots and other skin problems. Got a billionth of a second? A Q-switched laser pulses a billionth-of-a-second laser at sun spots to fragment and break up the pigments. Most sun spots can be removed in two visits spaced about four weeks apart. Deeper sunspot removal may require additional treatments.
The latest revolution in laser technology, Fraxel lasers, are not only great at removing sun spots; they also make your skin softer, fresher and smoother. Even better, Fraxel lasers also do a great job of removing fine lines, reducing enlarged pores and generally improving texture.
There are three types of Fraxel laser treatments, all of which can be used for sunspot removal. All three create thousands of microscopic treatment areas under the skin, while leaving surrounding tissue untouched. As the treated areas heal, new collagen grows, which smoothes and tightens the skin. Clear + Brilliant is the most gentle Fraxel laser treatment. Fraxel Re: store Dual laser offers a more powerful treatment to improve texture and smooth skin. A second wavelength is for sunspot removal. Fraxel Re:Pair is the strongest treatment. In addition to removing sunspots it more aggressively works to improve skin and also reduces sagging.
Which one is right for you depends on your skin type, the arrangement of your sunspots (IPL is great for widespread ones, while Q-switched lasers do a great job on individual spots), and if there are other issues you’d like to address as well, such as fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin.
