There are a number of treatment options available for age spots including exfoliating treatments, chemical peels, laser resurfacing, and photorejuvenation. After a thorough skin examination, your doctor will determine which treatment option is best suited to your needs and skin care goals.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is a light exfoliating treatment that utilizes a high-speed rotary instrument containing aluminum oxide- crystals that are blasted onto the skin to remove surface damage. The process allows new, healthy skin to emerge, creating a smooth and even-toned complexion. The treatment is painless, requiring no downtime afterwards and can be used on all skin types and skin tones. To effectively remove smaller age spots patients may require 6 to12 treatments. In the case of larger spots, additional sessions may be necessary.
Intense Pulsed Light treatment (Fotofacial)
The Fotofacial uses a hand piece that emits a broad band of high intensity light to target age spots from deep within the skin. The heat intensity from the light also works to stimulate new collagen growth helping to create a smooth and soft appearance. Because the light source penetrates far into the dermis, the surface layer of the skin is left untouched, meaning patients can return to work and resume their daily activities immediately after treatment. The entire process lasts about 45 minutes, with minimal discomfort to the patient. For optimal results, patients may require approximately 4-6 treatments every 3 weeks.
Chemical peels
There are variety of chemical peels that can easily remove age spots and improve skin texture. Chemical peels provide a controlled level of damage to the skin, removing the surface layers and revealing the fresh and healthy skin underneath. Because every patient has a unique skin type, your doctor will recommend which peel treatment is right for you. There are three depths of peels light, medium, and deep.
Light peels affect the surface layer of the skin and can be best compared to an exfoliating treatment. Because this type of peel is so superficial, the results are subtle, providing a better suited option for patients with small, light colored age spots. Light peels require little to no down time.
Medium depth peels create a safe, controlled injury to the upper level of the dermis. The process stimulates new collagen production and helps to add volume to the skin while softening the skins appearance. Patients might experience a slight burning sensation that can be easily controlled with cold compresses or topical anaesthetic.
Deeper peels penetrate into the mid dermis and involve more intense injury to the skin. Most deep peels are performed under general anaesthesia and require extensive recovery time, usually up to a month. This type of peel is recommended for more severely damaged skin and provides the most dramatic results compared to the other two types of peels.
Laser Resurfacing
Laser resurfacing can successfully eliminate age spots using varying intensities of laser energy. One of the most effective laser procedures used to treat age spots is the Fraxel Laser. This is a non-invasive laser treatment that provides a safe and controlled level of damage to certain areas of the skin that in turn stimulates the growth of fresh, healthy skin cells and collagen. To find out which treatment is ideally suited to your skin condition talk to your doctor.
