Age Spots Treatment: Q&A
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What's the Best Way to Get Rid of Age Spots on Asian or Ethnic Skin?
I am mixed with Chinese and East Indian and I have developed age spots on my cheeks. How can I get rid of them? Many of the solutions I have read about work best on fair skin, especially lasers, which although effective, seem to be potentially harmful to darker skins. My skin type is a combination of Chinese and Indian.
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6 Doctor Answers |
Asked by
dw1009
in Hilversum, Netherlands
+3
Sun damage on Ethnic Skin
Treating age or sun damage on Ethnic Skin can be tricky because IPL/BBL lasers can make it worse, these type of laser's pick up pigment in the skin and can not differentiate between your natural pigment and a sun spot, risking burn's or hypo-pigmentation (white spots). We always pre-treat our ethnic skin patients with a 4% Hydroquinone topical cream for at least 4 weeks to settle down the pigment cells. My preferred method is using...
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+3
Be conservative with age spot removal on ethnic skin
As you intimated, one has to be careful with light devices such as IPL in your case.
I would recommend topical treatment first. There are many agents which can help with these lesions, dyschromia. I would recommend Retin A microgel 0.04.
A recent paper in the dermatology literature showed that the weaker strength Retin A worked better since it did not cause the inflammation, which could only make things worse. Retin A works by casuing the cells to move out faster and making it difficult...
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+2
Careful pretreatment and post treatment care and combination therapy
As you pointed out, treating ethnic skin is a challenge as potential side effects are more common and can be significant. There should be a strict pre and post treatment care, specially after light base treatment such as laser, to avoid common problem such as post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. In our experience, a carefully designed combination treatment that typically involves topical treatment (e.g. hydroquinone, tretinoin), IPL with very conservative settings, and light chemical...
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Age Spots on Ethnic Skin
One of the most effective ways to reverse the effects of age spots and chronic sun damage on ethnic skin is by using a combination of two prescription strength medications: tretinoin cream and 4% hydroquinone. Unlike the unsubstantiated claims made by over-the-counter skin care products, the results of using these creams are backed by real medical science. More aggressive treatments such as lasers in ethnic skin are more of a risk to cause increased pigmentation. We recommend the Obagi...
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Help for age spots
Creams such as retinoids (Retin A, Differin and Tazarac) may be mildly helpful for age spots. However, use of lasers such as Medlite or Ruby in non-summer months with appropriate preparation and precaution are usually the most effective.
In my recent interviews, I have discussed this topic as well as other age related skin rejuvenation methods/treatments.
Please refer to my recent articles:
Don’t Let Age Spots Show Your Age
Which Age-Defying Method Is Right for...
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+1
Fraxel Dual For Age Spots in Ethnic Skin
Indeed most lasers are potentially harmful to darker skin. Skin coloration and age spots are made of a pigment called melanin. Melanin tends to absorb laser energy very easily. So patients who have more melanin (hence darker skin tone) will absorb more of the laser energy than those with very fair skin.
This can pose the risk of overheating and scarring, which develops as a result.
However, there are some lasers that use very specific wavelengths which are relatively more...
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