Fading Dark Spots: When OTC Products Aren’t Working

Your fight against blemishes continues long after a pimple has healed. Acne marks or dark spots usually follow, which can then make your skin look dull and tired. The sad it can take months or even years to fade dark spots and are difficult to get rid of. 

In an attempt to speed up their fading process, many turn to over-the-counter treatments or skin lighteners. These usually contain brightening ingredients such as kojic acid, glycolic acid, arbutin, and vitamin C.

When your chosen skin lightener seems to do little or nothing after weeks or months of use, it may be the time to look for other remedies. You may also want to consider nonsurgical aesthetic treatments that can lighten your spots and make your skin radiant.

Here are some procedures worth considering for fading dark spots

Limelight IPL

Limelight IPL uses an FDA-cleared “intense pulse light” technology to address dark spots, freckles, and pigmentation. The treatment can be used on any part of the face, neck, and décolleté with dark spots, skin redness, and tiny facial veins.

The procedure works by delivering pulses of light the draw spots on the skin’s top layers. They will then scab and fall off after three to five days. The spots may turn darker after the procedure, but this is normal. They will soon get better after a few days, revealing brighter skin.

A minimum of five treatments, scheduled two to three weeks apart is recommended for optimal results. You may also require additional sessions depending on the severity of your spots or if you have excessively sun damaged skin.

VI Peel

This medical-grade chemical peel treatment safely exfoliates the damaged top layer of the skin to promote cell rejuvenation. You can turn to VI Peel for reducing or eliminating age spots, freckles, and hyperpigmentation. It can also clear acne skin conditions, as well as soften lines and wrinkles

The VI Peel solution will be applied directly on the skin. The procedure may last for an hour but the solution must stay on your skin for about four to five hours. This can give your skin a tanned appearance, but this is safe and you can leave the clinic and wash off the solution at home.

After the healing and peeling process, you will notice brighter and healthier skin with less prominent dark marks and brown spots. In fact, some patients report tighter pores and suppler skin following the treatment.

Cutera Pearl

This US FDA-cleared device can help you deal with sun damage, wrinkles, and skin problems like acne scars and hyperpigmentation. It provides “stem-to-stern” rejuvenation in less than a week.

Pearl laser resurfacing treats the top layer of the skin with pulses of light. This removes a portion of the damaged skin surface, triggering the skin to produce a natural protective dressing. This will peel off after three to five days, revealing a healthier skin with a “pearly glow”.

It restores the skin’s youthful glow by addressing pigmentation issues and stimulating collagen growth. Skin experts recommend Cutera Pearl to patients who are starting to show signs of aging, leathery skin due to wrinkles, and cumulative sun damage. This makes it a top choice for skin rejuvenation among a list of nonsurgical treatments.

The procedure has a downtime of five to seven days, but you can see noticeable improvements after just one treatment. You can also expect a minimal discomfort, but this can be managed using topical anesthetics. Keep in mind that this downtime is necessary to allow your skin to heal and recover. 

Schedule a consultation today

If your dark spots or pigmentation bother you, don’t hesitate to consider the treatments mentioned above. Contact Cutis Laser Clinics today and schedule a consultation with our aesthetic doctors to learn more about these procedures and other effective skin lightening treatments.