Spending time on the sun may have its benefits, but doing it too much and not wearing protection can be harmful for your skin. Too much and constant UV exposure can cause premature aging, with visible skin damage like wrinkling of the skin and age spots.
Age spots (also called liver spots or sunspots) is a type of pigmentation that usually start appearing around the age of 50, but they can also pop up at an earlier age if you spend too much time in the sun.
They can make the skin appear dull and aging, which is why many are looking to lighten their age spots. We have discussed about what is pigmentation before, but today we will dive deeper about age spots and how can it be effectively treated.
While age spots don’t cause any skin textural changes, they cause uneven skin tone. The spots are usually darker than the rest of the skin and can be light brown, tan, or black in color. Age spots may also vary in size, shape, and number.
Age spots are mainly the results of the over production of melanin, the pigment that gives your skin and hair color. There are also a number of other possible causes such as sun exposure, skin aging, and other forms of ultraviolet exposure, like the use of tanning beds.
Age spots are mostly visible on the areas that receive the most exposure to the sun. These include your face, back of the hands, forearms, shoulders, and upper back.
If your age spots bother you and are looking to get rid of them, here are some of your options:
Doctors usually prescribe topical medicated creams like hydroquinone and retinoid to fade age spots over time. Obagi is one skin care brand that can help reduce the appearance of age spots, as they have topical products with prescription strength of 4% hydroquinone. This is considered a simple, safe and effective way in treating dark spots.
If you’re considering using creams and lotions to lighten your age spots, it is best to consult an aesthetic doctor first to make sure it’s suitable for your skin type. Doing so can also help you save time and money, as a skin specialist can help figure out which one is right for you and meets your needs and concerns.
VI Peel in Singapore is a safe and effective chemical peel treatment that is used to treat sun damage, as well as fine lines and acne marks. It serves as an effective treatment for pigmentation, especially in reducing the appearance of brown spots and freckles.
This chemical peel features a blend of vitamin C, salicylic acid, phenol, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), and other various clinically-proven ingredients to improve the tone and texture of the skin.
VI Peel involves the application of the solution on the face, which will remain for at least four hours in the skin. You will have to leave the clinic with the solution on your face and wash it off after four to five hours at home. You don’t have to worry though, as it is safe, dry, and not very obvious.
You may notice skin peeling on the second or third day after the procedure and this may last up to seven days. Just be sure to avoid picking or peeling to skin to avoid scars and irritation. Read our previous blog to learn more about VI Peel and how it can improve your skin.
Limelight is a non-invasive skin tightening treatment that uses intense pulse light (IPL) to deal with skin surface problems such as sun damage, redness, and pigmentation. It can be used on any part of the face, neck, and décolleté with brown spots, redness, or tiny veins.
Limelight works by delivering intelligent pulses of light that is safe and customized to your skin tone. This aids in targeting pigmentation, drawing the darkened spots on the skin’s top layer. This will then scab and fall off after three to five days.
It is important to note that a certain degree of discomfort or irritation may be expected during and after the treatments. The brown spots may also turn darker after the procedure, but they fill flake or crumble off after five to seven days. Then, your pigmentations will get better after this period.
It is also good to know that light or low contrast brown spots, which were previously difficult to treat, respond well to Limelight treatment.
Cutera Pearl is a nonsurgical resurfacing procedure that can help restore your skin’s youthful glow. It can help reduce solar damage, reduce wrinkles, and correct uneven texture with fewer treatments and less overall recovery than other treatments.
The Pearl procedure treats the top layer of the skin using pulses of light in a pre-selected pattern. The laser then sends heat to the deeper layers of the skin to stimulate new collagen growth. The skin will immediately form a protective dressing, which will peel off after three to four days. This reveals a healthier and even-toned skin.
Cutera Pearl combines the power of resurfacing lasers with the gentleness and safety of non-invasive procedures to treat sun-damaged skin. This produces significant results with less downtime in just one treatment, especially when compared to fractionated laser procedures.
You may experience some redness and peeling off the skin after the treatment, but this normal. It is advisable not to pick or rub your skin while healing to avoid irritation. You should also stay out of sun and wear or applying protection like sunscreen when going out.
Regardless of what treatment option you choose, sun protection is of utmost importance after getting rid of your spots. It is best to wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 before you go out.
We recommend Clear Defense SPF 45 or Sheer Defense Tinted SPF 46 from Dr. Sylvia Skin Care. Both products are non-greasy, oil-free and suitable for all skin types.
You can also protect your skin from the sun using clothing, hats, and sunglasses.
Get rid of dark spots and age spots with these tips. Contact Cutis Laser Clinics in Singapore today and schedule a consultation with our Harvard-trained aesthetic doctor, Dr. Sylvia Ramirez, to find out the right treatment that suits you best.
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