Sun spots, also called age spots, liver spots or solar lentigines, show up as dark spots on facial skin. The skin develops these spots through long-term sun exposure combined with the natural aging process but they typically do not pose a health issue. Like you, many of our patients want to get rid of them to achieve a more uniform skin tone. The following information provides useful strategies to eliminate sun spots while showing you how to protect yourself from getting more.
What Are Sun Spots?
Sun exposure leads to the development of flat brown spots that form on skin areas that get sun exposure including the face, hands, shoulders, chest, arms and legs. The skin produces excess melanin (brown pigment) in response to the sun exposure. This causes skin color changes. Sun spots primarily affect older adults but younger people who spend extended periods outdoors or use tanning beds can also develop these spots. Understanding what sun spots are is the first step toward reducing their appearance.
Common Causes of Sun Spots
Ultraviolet rays from the sun, and over a period of time, create sunspots. The skin produces melanin after sun exposure which results in the formation of these darker spots on the skin. The natural aging process reveals these spots because the skin loses collagen and fat as we get older. Genetics and skin type can influence who develops sun spots, with fair-skinned individuals often more prone to them. People who spend extended periods outside without sun protection develop these spots as their skin reacts to UV radiation.
Professional Treatments for Sun Spot Removal
The treatment process becomes more efficient when medical professionals handle the removal.
- Laser Technology: Laser technology works by precisely targeting the melanin that makes up the spot. When the laser interacts with the melanin it creates heat which destroys the cells that contain the brown pigment. Your body regenerates these cells naturally during the healing process, but because of the heat generated during the removal process, the cells that return are a natural tone instead of the color of the previous sun spot. The treatment process may require multiple sessions to achieve optimal results but patients see dramatic changes after their initial treatment.
- Cryogen therapy: The procedure employs freezing the sun spots with liquid nitrogen. Because this method causes collateral skin injuries around the sun spot, we do not recommend it. Most often, it will not lead to permanent removal of the age spot.
- Chemical Peels: These treatments remove the outer layer of skin, allowing new, fresh skin to emerge. Chemical peels work to reduce pigmentation while they simultaneously improve the texture of your skin. Unfortunately they cannot remove sun spots permanently like lasers, so generally we do not recommend them.
- Microdermabrasion: This gentle resurfacing treatment exfoliates the skin to even out tone and minimize the appearance of sun spots. The treatment works best for people who have mild pigmentation problems like dark acne scars. It cannot remove sun spots permanently so we do not recommend it.
Medical treatments provide noticeable results and can be tailored to each person’s skin type and the extent of pigmentation.
Preventing Sun Spots
The key to maintaining a radiant and uniform skin appearance lies in prevention. The following steps serve as basic guidelines:
- Daily Sunscreen: Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher (we like spf 50), even on cloudy days. Sunscreen serves to protect your skin from developing additional liver spots.
- Protective Clothing: Your skin will stay safe from sun exposure through the protective measures of hats and sunglasses together with extended sleeve clothing.
- Avoid Peak Sun Hours: Spending time outside between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. should be reduced to protect yourself from excessive sun exposure.
- Skin-Friendly Diet: The body benefits from antioxidants which are found in berries and leafy greens and nuts to achieve natural skin radiance.
These habits will help you reduce the chances of new sun spots forming.
When to Consult a Dermatologist
When a brown spot grows very quickly, has a strange, uneven or very dark color, itches, bleeds or has an irregularly shaped border, it is wise to have it checked by your dermatologist. Professional guidance ensures that the treatments noted above are the correct ones. If the lesion is cancerous, other methods will be used. If your dermatologist does not use lasers for removal of sun spots, we are happy to help.
Conclusion
The treatment of facial sun spots requires individuals to seek professional medical care for the best results. Following preventive steps can help maintain results. The process of skin tone improvement happens quickly and completely with laser treatments. On the other hand, non medical and home based treatments generally lead to incomplete and non-permanent removal. Medical removal methods like laser treatments work best when combined with sunscreen application and proper skin care practices to keep your complexion bright and uniform. Your skin will maintain its radiant health throughout the years when you perform these actions consistently.
