Sunspots, also known as age spots or liver spots, can appear on our skin when we have an overabundance of melanin. This production of melanin in our skin is sped up by ultraviolet (UV) light, which is present in sunlight and in sunlamps and tanning beds. While these brown spots on the skin are completely harmless, they are often unsightly and cause men and women who suffer from them to feel self-conscious and embarrassed. Many people even hide their skin away with long-sleeve shirts (even in the summer!) because they don’t want others to see their skin blemishes. But this is no way to live. Instead, why not do something to rid your skin of these sunspots? The good news is that there are several different options that Dr. Ariel Ostad offers to help minimize the appearance of these marks so you can feel confident and comfortable showing some skin.

What Kinds of Treatments Are There for Sunspots?

Lasers and intense pulsed light (IPL) along with chemical peels are the most effective ways to get rid of unwanted sunspots and age spots to give you a clearer, more natural skin complexion. However, there are many different types of these treatments. So, which is the best for you? Here is some information to help you make a better choice.

Fraxel® Laser

Fraxel® Laser treatments are some of the most trusted laser treatments available. In fact, it was the first non-ablative skin resurfacing treatment. This non-surgical, non-invasive treatment works by emitting light energy at the skin. This energy penetrates to the deeper layers of your skin to increase the production of collagen. After this new collagen is produced, you will have new, healthy, and (most importantly) beautiful skin.  

Dr. Ostad is proud to offer both Fraxel® Dual and Fraxel® CO₂. Fraxel® Dual  gives only fractional corrections to the damaged lower layers of the skin, whereas Fraxel®  Dual uses fractionated CO₂ energy to completely remove the outermost layers of the damaged skin. It is often recommended that patients start with Fraxel® Restore before moving on to the more involved Fraxel® CO₂ treatment.

CUTERA®

CUTERA® uses light energy to penetrate deep into the skin to correct skin blemishes like sunspots. Dr. Ostad offers CUTERA® excel V™ Laser and CUTERA® Genesis™ Laser, which, like Fraxel® lasers, correct in slightly different ways. The CUTERA® excel V™ Laser treatment works by closing certain troublesome blood vessels off. This causes the skin to become clearer and blemish-free. Conversely, CUTERA® Genesis™ Laser treatment works by shrinking the oil glands and killing bacteria present in your skin.

PicoWay

PicoWay is a revolutionary laser treatment that uses extremely short (picosecond) light pulses to break down pigmentation issues in the skin. After your PicoWay treatment, you will have clearer, smoother skin that you’ll be excited to show off to the world. 

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels are one of the most effective treatments for clearing up the skin. Unsightly skin blemishes can be reduced and even erased after a chemical peel treatment. These treatments work by removing the treated skin from dead cells and other toxins while also stimulating the production of collagen. A variety of chemical peels are available from glycolic acid, salicylic acid, Jessner’s solution, azelaic acid, and trichloroacetic acid. In addition, topical treatments are recommended to be used at home in combination with in-office chemical peels. After your treatment, you can feel proud of your new and rejuvenated skin appearance and feel!

For more information about sunspot treatments, contact Dr. Ariel Ostad online or call us at 212-517-7900.