Sun Damage & Brown Spots

Overexposure to sunlight changes the production levels of melanin, the substance that maintains your skin’s normal color. Melanin overproduction leads to the hyperpigmentation or dark spots, also known as:

• Sunspots
• Age spots
• Brown spots
• Liver spots

No matter what you call them, some characteristics of dark spots include:

• Flat, freckle-like round spots
• Regular or irregular borders
• Brownish-gray color
• Small or as large as a nickel
• Fade less quickly than freckles
• Common in dark, tanned skin
• More visible in light, fair skin

You might refer to them as age spots because they are frequently seen in older adults, but this is because they can develop slowly over time as the skin produces excess melanin due to the regular sun exposure.

Since brown spots develop mainly due to the sun, they commonly appear on the hands, arms, legs, face, and shoulders, particularly on the left side of your face and body as a result of driving.

The best way to minimize your risk is to avoid overexposure to the sun, but you know how difficult that can be in San Diego. As a result, you may have brown spots regardless of how careful you’ve been.

Our board-certified dermatologists understand that this type of sun-damaged skin can impact your appearance and self-esteem, as it can make your skin look aged and even unhealthy. In fact, some more dangerous cancerous lesions can often resemble the harmless brown ones. This means that if you notice one or more spots, you should schedule a consultation today at Cosmetic Laser Dermatology to assess whether or not your sunspots are harmless. 

If we determine that your sunspots could be cancerous or pre-cancerous, we can refer you to West Dermatology Skin Cancer Center in San Diego, our sister practice next door, where you can be evaluated further and discuss other, more relevant treatment options.

Laser therapies can be administered with only one laser or with a combination treatment plan that involves multiple lasers to achieve even better results. At San Diego’s Cosmetic Laser Dermatology, our range of lasers of 50+ lasers include:

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) – Using high-intensity pulses of light, IPL penetrates the skin and triggers a natural healing process in the skin that eliminates hyperpigmentation, texture, and other skin irregularities. Our most popular IPL treatments, Lumenis Stellar M22 and the original M22, are excellent for treating a broad range of skin concerns, including sun damage, age spots, rosacea, facial veins, birthmarks, seborrheic keratosis, and more.

Q-Switched Ruby/Q-Switched Alexandrite Laser – These two lasers of different wavelengths specifically target pigmented skin to break up the abnormal pigment and allow it to be exfoliated from the skin surface.

PicoSure/Picoway – Delivering quick pulses of light energy at a rate of 100 times shorter than other light therapy options, PicoSure and Picoway’s picosecond lasers offers an unparalleled impact on hyperpigmentation, allowing patients to undergo fewer treatments in order to achieve clearer skin.

Fraxel Dual and Re:pair  – Utilizing a highly effective fractional 1927 nm Thulium laser, Fraxel Re:Store Dual targets the abnormal skin to eliminate unwanted pigmentation, resulting in clearer, smoother, healthier skin. The treatment targets only a “fractional” portion of the skin, ensuring that the healing process is shorter than more aggressive resurfacing procedures. Fraxel Re:pair is an ablative laser that can target even more advanced signs of aging.

Clear + Brilliant – This gentle fractional resurfacing laser targets early signs of aging, including brown spots, sun damage, and uneven pigmentation.

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) – Also known as an ALA treatment or a Levulan/Amaleuz photofacial, PDT combines the use of a photosensitizing topical medication with rejuvenating light therapy to trigger cell turnover for a clearer, healthier skin.

Active/Deep FX – These CO2 fractional lasers penetrate deep in the skin’s dermal layers to address sun damage, hyperpigmentation, brown spots, and other signs of aging.

ResurFX – ResurFX is an FDA-approved non-ablative photo-fractional laser that resurfaces and rejuvenates the skin to even out tone and texture while minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Combination therapy – For comprehensive skin rejuvenation, we often combine effective sun damage and pigmentation treatments, such as one or more lasers with microdermabrasion, micro needling, chemical peels, or facials. Additionally, patients can also undergo anti-wrinkle treatments, such as Botox/Daxxify/Xeomin, facial fillers, or non-invasive skin tightening Ultherapy or Thermage FLX for a youthful appearance.

RF MICRONEEDLING

Radiofrequency (RF) microneedling with Potenza RF combined collagen induction therapy with RF energy to break up unwanted pigmentation and rejuvenate the face and body.

CHEMICAL PEELS

Chemical peel is excellent if you have minor pigment-related issues. Some of the most effective peels that we offer at our San Diego office are the Signature Peel-Jessner, Glycolic Peel, and the JetPeel. By removing the micro-thin top layer of the skin, both procedures transform the surface of your skin by lightening hyperpigmentation and refining pores. Furthermore, if you have a special occasion just around the corner, a chemical peel is a quick, easy, and non-invasive way to completely rejuvenate your skin’s appearance with virtually no downtime.

MICRODERMABRASION

A microdermabrasion treatment uses a vacuum tip handpiece and very fine crystals to remove a razor-thin layer of skin to reveal fresh, new skin that looks fantastic.

You can undergo a microdermabrasion to:

• Minimize fine lines and scars
• Balance uneven skin tone
• Eliminate whiteheads and blackheads
• Smooth rough texture
• Lighten brown spots

For both chemical peels and microdermabrasion treatments, results are noticeable immediately and then improve over time as the new layer of skin emerges. For optimal results, a series of micro-treatments and/or chemical peels may be suggested.

SKINCARE

In addition to advanced dermatologic treatments, we carry a top-of-the-line selection of medical-grade skincare products to not only nourish and beautify your skin, but also protect against sun damage. Learn about our San Diego office’s range of proven sunscreen products from esteemed brands, such as SkinMedica, Skinceuticals, Neocutis, Calecim and more.

Schedule a Sun Damage Consultation Today

At Cosmetic Laser Dermatology, our physicians are experts at treating and correcting sun damage, brown spots, and various other pigment-related issues. Our dermatologists have undergone extensive training and even developed highly-refined techniques to improve your skin and rejuvenate your appearance.

We urge you not to ignore pigmentation issues and sun-damaged skin, as they can become more dangerous if left untreated. If skin cancer is suspected, we can refer you to our sister practice, West Dermatology Skin Cancer Center, for further assessment and treatment options.

At Cosmetic Laser Dermatology, our team realizes the importance of good skin health not only on your appearance but also on your overall health and wellbeing. With more than 100 years of combined experience, we assess your skin condition and work with you to determine the customized treatment plan for you, just as we have done for more than 100,000 of your neighbors in La Jolla, San Diego, and neighboring Southern California communities.

To learn more,  schedule a consultation today at Cosmetic Laser Dermatology.