What's the best treatment to remove brown, age spots? (Photos)

hi TB.  We use q-switched lasers like the Palomar Qyag V for sun spot removal.  The reason why this type of laser (q-switched) works so well is that it is designed to remove lesions like tattoos and birthmarks to it's very high powered (see link for before and after).  While BBL/IPL is good for diffuse pigment or discoloration, a well defined age spot like you have normally will not respond to IPL.  Best of luck.  

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

I tend to get a very good result treating brown spots like yours with a picosecond laser. These lasers emit rapid pulses that effectively break up the melanin so the spots disappear. The treatment requires expertise and precision, so I recommend scheduling a consultation with an experienced, board-certified dermatologist and laser expert for further recommendations and a customized treatment plan.

Darker concentrated pigment spots require somewhat of a "punch" to fragment the pigment granules.

Multiple treatments are required. Consider the faster lasers such as Enlighten - which also has a "field" option called Pico Genesis to lighten diffuse pigmentation.

Thank you for your question!  Hyperpigmentation is quite common. In general, hyperpigmentation of any kind needs a combination approach of peels like Cosmelan, lasers like Clear + Brilliant, Aerolase and Laser Genesis, radiofrequency treatments like Venus Viva, and constant skin care and sun protection. Bimonthly facials with SilkPeel / DermalInfusion are essential to hydrate, exfoliate and infuse vitamins and antioxidants into the skin. You can also get great results at home by getting a free consultation with a Skin Care Specialist who can recommend the best product for your needs. Medical-grade skincare, along with the free consult with the Skin Care Specialist can be found at Emeragecosmetics.com.  (see link below).I suggest getting a formal evaluation with an expert in lasers and peels. Best, Dr. Emer.

Thank you for your question!  Pigmented lesions are something we see quite often in our practice, and are best treated through a multimodality approach.  A treatment or series of treatments with Sciton's BBL or IPL will start to diminish the pigmentation.  In addition a fractionated Erbium laser, or Halo laser, is also an excellent treatment to diminish these spots.  It is important to have a great skin care regimen as well, which includes a medical grade sunscreen, a retinoid or retinol, and a Vitamin C based anti-oxidant.  I would consult with a board certified provider for a full evaluation and to discuss a treatment plan. I hope that this helps!-David Gilpin

The Lumecca IPL is one of the more popular treatments for diminishing age spots. It’s benefits include:
The procedure can be customized to suit different skin tones and textures. The intensity of the pulsed light can be varied accurately by the skin care specialist. This helps to improve the efficiency of the method. Even severely damaged skin and pigmentation issues can be corrected thanks to the high power light technology being used. The treatment on the whole is quick and can be used to address a large area. Most conventional IPL methods might call for a lot of repetitions to obtain perfect results, but with Lumecca IPL, most cases may only require one to two treatment sessions to show results. The procedure is non-invasive and does not cause any discomfort. Recovery after the procedure is also almost instantaneous. 

Hello, The best and most effective treatment to remove brown and age spots would be IPL.  Typically people need anywhere from 1-3 treatments (possibly more) for the spots to disappear.  Also something great to use at home is hydroquinone (skin lightening) pads, they are usually sold at a doctors office that offer cosmetic procedures/treatments.

IPL treatments are great for correcting sun damage and broken capillaries. We typically recommend a series of 3, spaced four weeks apart. It is best to do these during the fall/winter months when you're not going to have as much exposure to the sun. Chemical peels a great for improving brown spots as well as texture. In addition to in office treatments, your skincare regimen plays a huge role in the health and appearance of your skin. To maintain your results, a physical SPF is going to be your best friend.  To assist with lightening pigmentation, and prevent hyperpigmentation you should be using a product containing hydroquinone starting with 4%.  

Brown age spots are caused by a pigment in your skin called melanin which is meant to serve as a form of protection from the potential damage caused by UV rays. Here at the Dr.U Hair and Skin Clinics in Los Angeles, we use Fraxel Dual to clear away unwanted age spots in patients of color. It uses a very specialized wavelength, 1550nm to destroy unwanted melanin so that your body can then clear away the age spots. IPL, on the other hand, uses a multitude of different wavelengths which may help for general improvements, but they are less specific for very specific issues. Also, the 1550nm wavelength is less  easily absorbed by the surrounding melanin in your skin. This is important to prevent the issue of overheating which may lead to other problems like permanent scarring. Below is the link to a patient who was successfully treated with Fraxel Dual for brown spots.

IPL treatments are still the gold standard for sun damaged skin. I would do 4-6 treatments one month apart depending on how severe your sun spots are. See a provider for a proper evaluation. Hope this helps. JB