Toronto Sun Spot Treatment

Sun spots (lentigos), also known as ‘age spots’, ‘liver spots’, ‘brown spots’ and ‘freckles’, are multiple, flat spots on the skin caused by uneven distribution of melanin (skin pigment). They typically appear on sun exposed areas of the skin like the face, neck, arms and shoulders.

The melanin pigment in our skin absorbs sunlight and helps to protect our skin from UV rays. However as we age, our skin's natural ability to fend off UV rays gradually deteriorates, and we see the development of age spots and more and more other sun damage.

Other quick facts about sun spots and freckles:

• Freckles may start to appear at a very young age. After age 40, our skin is less able to regenerate from sun exposure and the sun spots become more prominent.
• Freckles most commonly occur in light-skinned people who have less melanin pigment that can protect the skin from sun exposure. Abnormal melanin such as in the freckles and brown spots are also commonly seen in those who have a genetic tendency to develop freckles.
• Most sun spots are benign, but if you notice any with abnormal changes in color or shape, you should see a dermatologist to determine if they are cancerous or not.
• Excessive exposure of UVA and UVB light from tanning beds may also lead to brown spots.

Treatments of Sun Spots and Freckles

There are so many over-the-counter skin creams that promise to remove sun spots, but many of them are actully ineffective. Sun spot treatments with laser & pulsed light devices are generally considered to be more effective. Sun damaged skin may improve gradually over a period of a few years simply with daily sunscreens and lightening creams, but for those who wish for more rapid results, one or two treatments with the IPL or laser will make drastic improvement within two weeks.

At Q Esthetics Laser Clinic, we treat sun spots for most skin types with IPL. With many patented innovations, Palomar LuxG and LuxY hand-pieces can deliver optimally-filtered wavelengths of pulsed light to safely and effectively clear sunspots. The specific band of light targets the melanin in sun spots, where the light is converted into heat. The heat selectively destroys the brown spots, which are shed away, clearing the lesion and revealing fresher, healthier skin. Clinical studies have shown that sun spot treatment with Palomar IPL handpieces can achieve results as good as or better than the treatments performed by single-application “gold standard” lasers, in addition to its superior comfort and no downtime.

Before	After

At Q Esthetics, we also use the fractional laser to treat more deeply pigmented lesions. For detailed information and options for removing your age spots and freckles, please call us to book an appointment for your free consultation.

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