Is there a permanent way to remove sun spots?

Question

I have olive skin and have 3quarter- size dark hyper pigment areas on my face. I've been using Tri-Lumina which worked very well. However I recently spent a week in Ca in sun often while using 3 layers of spf 35+ sunscreen. In one week my sun spots came back with a vengeance. Is there a more permanent removal of these sun spots?

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Fractional laser is an amazing and highly effective treatment in our office. We use the laser treatment to help with acne scars, large pores, fine wrinkles, tissue collagen loss, scars, sebaceous hyperplasia, active acne, and for brightening dark pigmentation. Although there are very strong fractional lasers such as CO2 laser, we use lighter treatments for corrective skincare and maintenance of results. Our Thulium fractional laser, clear and brilliant laser, and Ultra Thulium laser are excellent options in our clinic. We also perform CO2 fractional and erbium depending on skin tone and tolerance for downtime. Patients do have to use a Melarase cream before and after treatment to help further reduce pigmentation after laser. Dark spots can improve with these treatments. I recommend fractional laser for incisional scars as well, especially after plastic surgery.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Sun spots will need life-long maintenance. A combination approach will give the most improvement long term with lasers (Fraxel, Tattoo lasers, Excel V, Pulsed Dye) and microneedling/prp. It may take a few treatments to get improvement and will need life-long treatments to maintain. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Lisa Jenks, MD · Answer

You should consider IPL/photofacial treatments in order to permanently remove your sunspots.  I recommend a series of 4 treatments, about a month apart.  People usually look worse for 3-5 days after each treatment because the brown spots get darker and come to the surface of the skin, where they flake off.  You can wear make-up and sunscreen immediately.
Tri-Lumina is a great product for decreasing hyperpigmentation.  However, it does contain hydroquinone, which should only be used for short terms on your skin.  Talk to your provider about switching to a non-hydroquinone based skin-lightening product in order to augment the results of your laser treatments.

Rebecca Gelber, MD · Answer

Great question. Be sure to see a very experienced laser specialist to make sure these spots aren't melasma. If it is, fractional laser is the safest option. If they are just sun spots, then IPL / BBL is your best bet. Once a spot is removed, it is gone for good, however with new sun exposure and time, new spots will appear, so people do best with a few treatments a year - just like exercise or getting your teeth cleaned. The good news is that these treatments do a lot more than just remove the brown. They slow down the rate at which your skin ages.

Chi-Hong Wong, MD, MBBS · Answer

Hi, 
The short answer is "No".  Sunspots develop as a cumulative result of life time sun exposure and ageing skin, and sometimes maybe precursors of non melanoma skin cancers such as Basal cell carcinomas or Squamous cell carcinomas.  Also you are likely to continue to develop more new solar keratosis as you treat existing ones. If it is a skin cancer, it will need to be treated in its own right.
However you do have many choices of how you treat solar damaged skin - cheapest method liquid nitrogen (complications may include hypo- or hyperpigmentation, scarring), Topical chemotherapy cream, chemical peels etc.  Expensive methods include Laser resurfacing.  Every method have its own advantages and disadvantages, totally depends on your desired goal, downtime, cosmetic outcome, budget.  Find a good doctor to examine your skin for cancers first.  Discuss with your doctor to see which treatment is suitable. Protect yourself from further damage using a really good sunscreen, hat all the time.  Good Luck.

Alain Michon, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. The most effective way to permanently remove sun spots is with IPL / laser treatments. I recommend that you see an expert for a proper evaluation and treatment plan. All the best, Dr. Michon

Is there a permanent way to remove sun spots?

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