Dermatology: Q&A

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Brown Spots and Broken Capillaries - How to Get Rid of Them?

I am a 53 year old Asian female. I was using .05% Atralin, a pea-size amount once a week for 3 ½ months to remove some light brown spots on my face. I stopped using it when I notice broken capillaries. The PA at my derm office said that I should continue using Atralin. It will fix (remove?) the broken capillaries. Is that true? What are my alternatives to get rid of the brown spots and broken capillaries? Is microdermabrasion an option? Also, it is true atrophy is a possibility with laser/IPL?

3 Doctor Answers | Asked by Scar4Life in San Francisco, CA
+2

IPL improves both brown spots and broken capillaries

Atralin is a vitamin A drug most commonly used to treat acne by exfoliating the skin and stimulating cell renewal. Even though it is often prescribed to reduce brown spots, it may not be the best option for you since it is causing irritation. The Atralin will not improve capillaries, in fact it can cause them to worsen over time. The alternative for you would be an IPL that can be safe and effective in reducing both your brown spots and your broken capillaries. Theses treatments can... more
+2

Light brown spots and red capillaries are best treated with lasers

The red capillaries can only be treated with lasers. No topical products will help their improvement. A pulsed-dye laser or VBeam would be the best for this. The brown spots could be caused by a variety of conditions, and they should be evaluated by a dermatologist. However, if they are simple lentigines, a Q-switched laser is the best to remove them. IPL is intense-pulsed light and will not remove the red or brown, but will lighten them. IPL does a lot of... more
+2

Remove brown spots and broken capillaries

Your main problem is light brown spots and broken capillaries. Treatment options for this include a comprehensive skin health program such as Obagi, which uses retin-A (Atralin) with alpha-hydroxy acid/hydroquinone creams. This is used daily. I have never seen any benefit from using only retin-A weekly in such small amounts. In the Obagi program, we use 0.1% retin-A with the other products to get rapid resolution of age spots and pigmentation. I do not think broken... more
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These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.

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