Top Four Treatments to Get Rid of Sunspots!

Family beach days, pre-prom tanning sessions, college pool parties – there are endless reasons why we spent countless, carefree days in the sun growing up. And while you know as an adult you should never leave the house without applying sunscreen, that may not have been the case when you were younger. If you’ve noticed your skin looking more blemished than bronzed, you may have sunspots. Today, we’re sharing our top four favorite treatments to get rid of sunspots!

What are sunspots anyway?

Sunspots (or lentigines) are flat, tan or brown spots that appear on areas of your skin after prolonged exposure to UV rays. You’ll likely notice them show up on places of your body you don’t cover up as often, like your face, hands, shoulders, and arms. Most people tend to mistake them for freckles (ephelides) until one day there are so many you realize they can’t all be freckles.

Where do sunspots come from?

Factors like age and genetics can predispose certain people to develop sunspots, but they appear after UV exposure. If you aren’t properly protecting your skin with clothes or SPF, your skin will increase production of keratinocytes and melanin, resulting in a sunspot.

What are the best treatments to get rid of sunspots?

The beautiful thing about our skin is that since it’s a living organism, you can lighten your sunspots or even eliminate them with the right treatment plan. While everyone’s skin is unique and will require different treatments (and respond differently to each), these are our top four favorite treatments to get rid of sunspots.

1. HALO Hybrid Fractional Laser – If you want to lessen the appearance of sunspots before summer’s in full swing, the HALO Hybrid Fractional Laser might be a perfect treatment for you! It’s designed to help restore your skin’s natural glow with less downtime than full-ablative laser treatments, meaning you can spend more days this summer showing off your beautifully bare skin instead of hiding at home.

Like most laser and light-based treatments, Halo is best performed in the fall and winter when skin is less exposed to the sun.

2. BBL FotoFacial (Advanced IPL) – Want to correct more than just sunspots on your skin? The BBL FotoFacial not only treats superficial sunspots, but also helps minimize the appearance of age spots, spider veins, acne, rosacea, uneven skin texture, and other sun damage. While most patients can see an immediate correction of superficial sunspots, we suggest a series of treatments for more radiant skin.

Like most laser and light-based treatments, BBL FotoFacial (Advanced IPL) is best performed in the fall and winter when skin is less exposed to the sun.

3. Light Chemical Peel – What we love most about light chemical peels is that they are highly customizable! Light chemical peels work by stripping away the dead skin cells on the surface of your skin and minimizing—and even correcting—sunspots. Most people will need a series of treatments to see the best results for sunspots, but everyone’s skin is different! After your light chemical peel, you’ll want to avoid direct sunlight and any cardiovascular activity for 24-48 hours, but then you can show off your smoother, dewier skin to all of your friends after a few days of sloughing.

This treatment can be performed any time of year so long as the patient does not experience significant sun exposure prior to or just after treatment.

4. Laser CoolPeel – Dark sunspots can make your skin look dull, but the Laser CoolPeel works to refresh your skin and reveal a more youthful glow. While the CoolPeel requires a few days of “social” downtime, it’s easy to fit into your busy schedule. After a few treatments, your skin will have that coveted, youthful radiance.

Like most laser and light-based treatments, Laser CoolPeel is best performed in the fall and winter when skin is less exposed to the sun. However, this treatment can be performed year round for patients who avoid significant sun exposure at least 3 weeks prior to and about a week immediately following their appointment.

Ready to be sunspot-free and step into summer bare-skinned and full of confidence? Call our office at 757-547-7546 or contact us online to schedule an appointment so one of our experts can tailor a treatment plan as unique as your skin!