Sunspots

Age spots are small, flat dark areas on the skin. They vary in size and usually appear on areas exposed to the sun, such as the face, hands, shoulders and arms. Age spots are also called sunspots, liver spots and solar lentigines.

Treatment options available:

Intense pulse light (IPL):

IPL removes sunspots by heating and destroying melanin with pulses of light energy. You may need multiple sessions to achieve your desired result. Each session takes less than 30 minutes.

Laser resurfacing:

In laser skin resurfacing, a wand-like device delivers beams of light to the layers of your skin until the sunspots are no longer visible, allowing new skin to grow in its place. Healing can take from 10 to 21 days.

Chemical peels:

An acid solution applied to sunspots causes the skin to eventually peel away so that new skin can grow. Chemical peels may cause a burning sensation that lasts a few minutes and can be painful. Pain medication and cold compresses can help with discomfort as you heal.

Cryotherapy:

Cryotherapy is a fairly quick, in-office procedure that is effective in treating sunspots and other skin lesions. A liquid nitrogen solution or nitrous oxide is used to freeze off sunspots.

Microdermabrasion:

During this procedure, an applicator with an abrasive tip gently removes the outermost layer of your skin. This is followed by suction to remove dead skin. Microdermabrasion causes little to no pain. You may experience some temporary redness and tightness after the procedure.

Microneedling:

This minimally invasive cosmetic procedure uses small needles to prick the skin. A topical anesthetic may be applied prior to the procedure to help reduce discomfort. Microneedling is typically used to induce collagen production (making the skin firmer and smoother), help with acne scars, and decrease the appearance of sunspots. After this procedure, your skin will be slightly red and you may experience dryness and flakey skin over several days.