Age Spots Removal

What are age spots?

Age spots are flat, brownish black spots that commonly appear on the skin of individuals over the age of 40. Age spots, which are also known as sun spots, liver spots, senile lentigines, and solar lentigines, are the skin’s natural response to overexposure to the sun.

Where are age spots most likely to develop?

Age spots typically appear in areas of the body that have been exposed to the sun, including the face, neck, arms, shoulders, and backs of hands.

Are age spots harmful?

Age spots are not physically harmful, but many people associate them with aging and thus find them undesirable. Strongly pigmented and prevalent age spots may lead to feelings of self-consciousness. Many people seek to reduce the appearance of their age spots.

What can I do to prevent age spots from appearing?

The best way to prevent age spots from forming is to minimize your exposure to the sun, especially around midday. When you do need to be outside, it is important to wear sunscreen and protective clothing, such as long sleeved shirts and hats, to protect your skin.

Can age spots be removed from the skin once they have formed?

Topical creams have not proven effective at removing brown spots from the skin. Fortunately, several types of laser treatments are very successful at removing age spots from the skin. The effects of laser therapy on age spots tend to be permanent, but Dr. Paul Frank highly recommends that his patients avoid exposure to the sun to prevent other age spots from forming.

What types of laser treatments are available to treat age spots?

Laser skin rejuvenation is one of the most common laser therapies used to remove age spots. The treatment typically takes one hour, but can take up to two hours depending on the size of the treatment area and depth of skin being treated. Most patients see excellent results after just one treatment. Laser therapy for age spots has become the standard for safety and efficacy in removing age spots from the skin. Fractional rejuvenation, which utilizes a type of Fraxel laser, is another popular age spot treatment. Fractional rejuvenation not only removes brown spots from the skin, but also can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines and acne scars, improve skin texture, and provide an overall rejuvenated appearance to the skin. Thus, fractional rejuvenation is often chosen by those wishing to correct several signs of aging at the same time.

Are any other treatments available?

Dr. Frank also offers Intense Pulse Light (IPL) and Photofacial treatments to reduce the appearance of age spots. This approach typically requires three to five treatments and is not as effective as laser treatment in removing age spots.

Which treatment is best for my skin?

The only way to know which treatment will work best on your skin type is to visit a trusted and skilled dermatologist, like Dr. Paul Frank. Only after examining your skin and the blemishes you’d like to correct, will Dr. Frank be able to provide an accurate recommendation to improve your appearance. Dr. Frank’s caring manner will make you feel comfortable during the consultation and treatment, while his skill ensures you will be pleased with the results.