Age Spots on Arms: Fraxel Alternatives

Fractional CO2 laser is an excellent tool for skin rejuvenation in our center in Santa Monica. We use the fractional multi-depth ablative approach to help resurface the skin, recontour acne scars, improve incisional plastic surgery scars, and reduce surface irregularities from skin tone to dark pigmentation. Our approach utilizes a multi-depth approach that targets melanocytes in the epidermis and collagen fibroblasts in the dermis. This approach can be combined with a TCA Peel in a process known as a sapphire peel. Fractional laser is excellent for acne scars and contour scars in the skin. Patients are advised to undergo skin protocols with Melarase creams before and after treatment to help reduce pigmentation. Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads can seriously improve surface sun damage and UV related pigmentation. After the laser, we expect redness for a few weeks as the skin improves. PRP and Hydrafacial enzyme facials can further improve skin quality after fractional co2.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

The q-switched alexandrite laser made by Candela is our favorite tools for treating age spots on the arms. If performed by a skilled dermatologist, you should see significant improvement in one treatment. Dr. Liz Tansey and Tina Alster are excellent and located close to you.

The Fraxel Restore is a great resurfacing device.  However, the best lasers to treat brown spots in the arms are Q-switched lasers such as a Q switched Nd:Yag or Alexandrite laser.  In my experience they are more effective and the treatments are less costly.

Fraxel Dual is the best laser that I have seen for treating brown spots on the arms and hands.  In fact it has replaced the IPL for this particular indication (I still love my IPL for redness).  Your lack of results may be due to sun exposure between treatments, settings on the laser used for your treatments or perhaps your doctor has the older laser (not the Dual).  It seems that you doc is trying hard to accomplish your goal with complementary treatments and Liquid N2 ( still an excellent way to remove a few big spots).  I think you are on the right track, not everyone gets the best results and your do is giving you good alternatives.

Hi,

Fraxel Restore is fractionated Erbium Laser which is set on varying densities or how close the dots of laser light are set together based on the patient's skin type.  What we do in our office is that we realize that since the dots of laser light are not set together, they will not completely remove a sun spot.  We add in a complimentaty IPL which removes any residual brown spots 3 weeks after a Restore treatment.   IPL is based on targeting brown and red pigment so any brown spots usually fall off within 4-7 days after an IPL. Patients are very happy with results. 

I think the the Alexandrite laser works best on brown, sun freckles or sunspots.  I use the Fraxel laser to improve texture, for tightening, and toning.  However, brown spots respond best to the Candela alexandrite laser.  Often, only 1 treatment is needed, and it is very effective.

If you have flat brown age spots or freckles that you want to treat, the best option may be intense pulsed light (IPL). IPL is one of the best treatments for brown pigment.
Fraxel is a great treatment for texture and it helps lighten brown pigment to some degree, but pigment isn't the primary target for Fraxel like it is for IPL.