Are your hands revealing your age?
Problem one : Brown spots
Brown spots are hyperpigmentation (a local increase or darkening of skin colour due to internal, age-related, metabolic, genetic or environmental factors, such as sun exposure).
Solution one : Chemical peels
The most common form of chemical peels are AHA- or glycolic-acid-based and range in strength depending on skin type and age. The peel session, which only takes about two minutes to perform, removes the superficial
layers of skin, decreasing the appearance of brown spots and fine lines. Light (or low concentration) Tri-Chloric Acid (TCA) peels are the most effective long-term solution for eliminating uneven pigmentation and smoothing the skin. "TCA is a chemical that acts as a bleach to lighten the brown spots," says Dr. Kevin Rod, a medical cosmetologist at the Toronto Clinic of Medical Cosmetology. The procedure may have to be repeated a few times. Side effects can include a chemical burn on the skin, while high-concentration TCA can cause depigmentation or hyperpigmentation, which is the reason low concentrations of acid should be used. "These are the downsides," says Dr. Rod. "[TCA is] better for lighter skin tones because the risk of hypopigmentation [fading of skin colour in localized areas] is high in darker skin and the contrast of colour can be difficult to correct. Sessions usually start with a lower concentration, such as five per cent, and gradually increase to about 30 per cent, at which point the spots will fade and skin will become harmonized in colour over three to six sessions."
Cost: $60-$150/session.
Number of sessions needed: Three to six.
Recovery time: "As you remove the superficial layer of skin by peels you need to protect the skin by applying a soothing or healing cream [the clinic will provide you with these creams], two to three times a day for two days post-treatment. You'll also need to wear SPF 30 when you're outside. Your hands will feel normal after a few days."
Solution two : IPL
To prepare for an Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatment, your clinic should provide you with a cream to use for four weeks prior to your first treatment, to harmonize the texture and the colour of your skin as much as possible. This will lighten the colour of your skin and reduce the possible chance of side effects, (mainly hypopigmentation). IPL is a ray of light that concentrates on the layer of the skin that has the melanin. The treatment has two main anti-aging effects on the skin: fading brown spots by reducing the melanin concentration and stimulating fibroblasts, which produce collagen in our skin. After a few sessions, your skin tone will be more even, glowing and healthy looking.
Cost: $100-$200/session.
Number of sessions needed: three to six.
Recovery time: Downtime is minimal, although you'll need to wear at least SPF 30 immediately after the treatment and SPF 15 at all times.