Ways to remove Sunspots from your Face
Ways to Remove Sunspots From Your Face
Sunspots are those flat brown spots of various sizes and shapes. They are the result of exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun or from a tanning bed. The light causes the overproduction of melanin in a single area that we may call liver spots or age spots. The more scientific among us may call them solar lentinges. The good news is that sunspots are harmless. They will never become cancerous or affect your health in any way. The bad news is that they can be unsightly, particularly when on the face. Now, more good news: Sunspots can be removed easily.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels reveal the pigment-free layers of skin beneath the sunspot. There are different types of chemical peels of different strengths. The active ingredient may be lactic acid, mandelic acid, salicylic acid, glycolic acid or, for a deeper peeling, trichloroacetic acid. The acid solution is applied topically for an even, controlled shedding of the skin cells.
Cosmelan Mask Skin Lightening System
The Cosmelan Skin Lightening System is a non-invasive, professional-grade treatment for sunspots that is both corrective and preventive. The two-step procedure begins with the dermatologist cleansing the skin with a degreasing agent, then applying the Cosmelan 1 mask. The patient goes home, wearing the mask anywhere from 4 to 10 hours, depending on how severe the hyperpigmentation. After the recommended number of hours, the patient washes off the mask and applies the Cosmelan 2 maintenance cream as directed by the dermatologist, typically two or three times daily for two weeks. Within a few days, the skin begins to peel, lightening the sunspots.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is a minimally invasive treatment that uses non-chemical exfoliation to remove sunspots by gently removing the outermost layer of the skin. A specialized tool with an abrasive tip uses tiny particles to sand away dead skin and remove sunspots, then suctions away the shedded skin. The advantages of microdermabrasion are that it does not destroy skin tissue, causes little to no pain and does not require any notable recovery time.
Microneedling
Microneedling is performed with a medical-grade, stainless steel roller covered with hundreds of tiny needles that prick the skin—so tiny that you cannot see the pricks when the procedure is finished. We apply numbing cream to your skin before the procedure. The procedure removes sunspots by breaking up melanin in the skin and absorbing it into the body for a no-fail treatment for sunspots. Also, a hyaluronic acid + vitamin C compound, or another skin-lightener, may be applied to the pricked skin to lighten the spots further, particularly for those with darker skin tones. Your skin may be dry and flaky for several days, but there are no side effects, it is safe for all skin types, and the results are long-lasting.
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy removes sunspots by freezing them off with a liquid nitrogen solution. The dermatologist uses a cotton-tipped swab to apply liquid nitrogen to the sunspot for five seconds or less. The heavily pigmented areas peel off, and the skin continues to appear lighter as healing progresses. There may be temporary blisters or scabbing, but the treatment takes only a few minutes.
Laser Skin Resurfacing
During laser resurfacing, a wand-like device directs an intense beam of light to sunspots. The light (laser) eliminates the sunspot layer by layer, breaking up the pigment particles in the skin. The heat from the device stimulates collagen production so that new skin is able to grow in the place of the sunspot. The procedure can take from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on how many sunspots you treat. Healing, accordingly, can take from 10 to 21 days.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
IPL is very similar to laser skin resurfacing. The difference is that the laser delivers a single wavelength of light energy and IPL delivers multiple wavelengths, enabling it to treat larger areas of skin in less time. The IPL treatment targets sunspots with pulses of light energy that heat up the area. An IPL session usually takes less than 30 minutes, causes little to no pain and requires no downtime.
For a knowledgeable consultation and a pleasant, safe experience ridding yourself of bothersome sunspots, contact us or book an appointment online now. We are conveniently located in Fulton and serve Columbia MD, Clarksville, Ellicott City, Laurel, Bowie, Silver Spring and surrounding areas in PG and Howard County, Maryland.
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