What are age spots?
Age spots – also called liver spots, sun spots or lentigines – are flat tan, brown or black areas on the skin. They mainly appear on the face, backs of the hands, the shoulders and arms, particularly in people aged over 50.
Age spots are the result of an excess production of melanin (skin pigment), possibly due to overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) light.
There are no health risks associated with age spots, but they may make people feel self-conscious about their appearance.
Treatments and skincare at Dr MediSpa
We can offer you the following treatments and skin care products for age spots:
- chemical peels that burn off the surface layer of skin, encouraging new skin to grow in its place
- cryotherapy, which freezes and destroys age spots with nitrous oxide
- pigment-reduction laser treatment that destroys the melanin-producing cells.
Harmony pigment-reduction laser
The Harmony non-ablative laser is a safer alternative to traditional ablative laser resurfacing. It uses ‘pulsed light energy’ to safely and selectively target areas of hyperpigmentation, freckles and age spots, without damaging healthy skin.
How does it work?
The light energy heats the melanin in the lesion, causing it to break down and be absorbed and eliminated by the body. It causes minimal damage to the outer skin layer, thereby minimising redness and downtime. The dark patches of excess pigmentation are made less visible or completely destroyed, leaving more even-toned skin.
During treatment, some patients may feel a mild discomfort, but you should not need a numbing agent or anaesthetic.
The treatment is quick and effective, usually needing between 3 and 6 sessions, once every 4-6 weeks, to achieve the desired results.
Side effects and downtime
Depending on your skin type and the condition being treated, you may experience some redness and swelling.
This should subside within 48 hours of the treatment.
It is also normal for the treated area to appear darker and flake between 5 and 7 days of the treatment.
Obagi skincare
Obagi products are formulated to balance the skin’s PH level and restore healthy cellular function.
The Obagi range offers a wide range of rejuvenating and anti-ageing benefits for men and women of all ages and with any skin type.
Their powerful condition-specific products and systems also gently but effectively treat age spots and other common skin conditions, such as:
- fine lines wrinkles and pores
- sun damage
- irregular skin tone or hyperpigmentation
- redness and rosacea
- skin laxity.
We recommend the following Obagi products for a more even-toned complexion.
Obagi Nu-Derm Clear: possibly the leading skin lightening and correcting cream. It contains hydroquinone, the active ingredient for age spots, dark spots, hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone and discoloration. It is suitable for all skin types.
Obagi Nu-Derm Blender: also containing hydroquinone, this is a prescription-strength skin lightener and blending cream. It penetrates deep into the skin, combating uneven melanin distribution and leaving you with a brighter, more even skin complexion. It is suitable for all skin types, and you can achieve best results by using the product daily in the evening.
Obagi Nu-Derm Sunfader SPF 15: a hydroquinone-based skin lightener and sunscreen lotion in one, this product penetrates on a topical level to reduce brown spots and other impurities on the surface of the skin. As well as a factor 15 sunscreen, it gives added protection against damaging and harmful free radicals present in the environment.
Tebiskin LC
Tebiskin LC (Lightening Cream) is a safe alternative to hydroquinone-based products. It is highly effective at reducing the hyperpigmentation that leads to age spots.
Using the cream over a number of weeks allows the natural ingredients to build up in the skin, leading to a normalisation in melanin levels.
Older, darker skin cells are replaced by new, lighter skin cells through natural shedding. This can be further improved using a mild exfoliant.
Tebiskin LC avoids the risks associated with hydroquinone. It contains a combination of other ingredients that do not release potential carcinogens or damage the pigment-producing melanocyte cells.
For more information about treatments and skincare for age spots, and to book your consultation with one of our specialists, please contact us at Dr MediSpa.
