Dermatologists sometimes recommend laser treatment for age spots. Laser resurfacing uses the power of light energy to reduce the appearance of dark spots. Dark skin cells absorb the light energy pulses emitted by the laser head. Once inside, the energy from the laser kills the dark skin cell.
A dermatologist can offer creams or procedures to lighten dark spots, or in some cases, remove them. Procedures are more expensive than creams and are more likely to cause side effects, though they tend to work faster.
During a microdermabrasion session, a skin specialist will gently remove your top layer of skin using a specialized tool that exfoliates the top layer of skin, removing sun spots, discoloration and some acne scars. Microdermabrasion also helps promote the growth of new collagen.
Once what's causing the dark spots or patches is found and stopped, fading can take time. A spot that is a few shades darker than your natural skin color will usually fade within 6 to 12 months. If the color lies deep in your skin, however, fading can take years.
Might Lighten Dark Spots
Vitamin C-based skin care products may lighten patches that are darker than the rest of your skin, called hyperpigmentation. In one study, vitamin C applied to the skin for 16 weeks significantly cut down on these spots.
It can take a while, but dark spots tend to become lighter over time, and eventually go away completely. It can take anywhere from 3 months to 2 years for them to vanish from view. That doesn't mean you have to wait forever in hopes that your dark spots will fade.
Retinol can be effective in lightening the skin and reducing the appearance of dark spots. It does so by promoting skin shedding, which improves cell turnover rate and hinders the activity of the enzyme tyrosinase, which encourages the production of melanin.
Sometimes known as age spots or even liver spots, sun spots are harmless, but often embarrassing. Fortunately, dermatologists can provide hyperpigmentation treatment that reduces dark spots and restores the youthful appearance of skin.
Unsurprisingly, professional removal of age spots isn't exactly cheap. Typical pricing can start from $150 - $350 per lasering or light therapy session, with multiple sessions recommended—ideally at least three. Cryotherapy typically runs between $50 - $100 dollars.
High-energy pulsing lasers can safely and effectively remove many unwanted brown and red spots on your skin, including liver spots, age spots, sun spots, broken capillaries, birthmarks, and angiomas (red spots). Once the lasers do their job, you can have a more even skin tone.
Microneedling is a cosmetic procedure. It involves pricking the skin with tiny sterilized needles. The small wounds cause your body to make more collagen and elastin, which heal your skin and help you look younger. You might also hear it called collagen induction therapy.
Three of the best vitamins for lightening dark spots are vitamin C, vitamin B12, and vitamin E. Vitamin C helps your skin produce more collagen while inhibiting the formation of melanin. Vitamin B12 also promotes collagen formation while supporting the growth of new skin cells.
When vitamin C is exposed to light it becomes unstable, the consequences include irritation, inflammation and acne. All of these can cause post inflammatory pigmentation, leaving you worse off than when you started.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant and slows the rate of free-radical damage to collagen that can contribute to dry skin, fine lines and wrinkles. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects and repairs your skin and can help prevent premature aging of your skin and damage to your DNA.
Vaseline body lotion works as an effective moisturiser for the neck, chest, hands and body, offering both fast relief for your dry skin and reducing the appearance of dark spots. Suitable for daily use, the non-sticky formula of this lotion makes it quick to apply with no residue.
Combine equal parts apple cider vinegar and water in a container. Apply to your dark patches and leave on two to three minutes. Rinse using lukewarm water. Repeat twice daily you achieve the results you desire.
Will the spots return after treatment? Not usually. In general, we find that laser removal of age spots is permanent, however people do sometimes see new spots appear as they go back out into the sun. These are new spots forming as a result of age spots, not a recurrence of the old, removed spots.
Laser treatment for dark spots uses an Intense Pulse Light (IPL) laser. The laser head (about the size of a postage stamp) emits light that's absorbed by dark skin cells. The darker the skin cell, the more energy it absorbs, killing that particular cell.
The most common (and expected) side effect is a darkening of the more superficial brown spots of the areas being treating. This darkening of superficial brown spots will flake off after about 7-14 days.