Applying prescription bleaching creams (hydroquinone) alone or with retinoids (tretinoin) and a mild steroid might gradually fade the spots over several months. The treatments might cause temporary itching, redness, burning or dryness. Laser and intense pulsed light.
Spot treatments can be done by a variety of chemical and laser devices (Q switched lasers, Excel V, fractional ablative/nonablative). I suggest seeking a cosmetic dermatologist with experience in treating sun spots/pigmentation in all skin types. Best, Dr. Emer.
Laser Treatment
This treatment option works well for certain types of dark age spots. The treatment works by delimiting a bright light through a laser. The dark spot absorbs the light, allowing the spot to fade. You might also consider laser treatment if you have scars.
The price of treatment can vary depending on how many spots or how many areas need to be treated, but the usual range is $200-$700 per treatment. While q-switched lasers work extremely well, our experience shows most of our patients need anywhere from 1-3 treatments to completely and permanently clear their sun spots.
If you want to get rid of dark spots fast, a procedure that removes layers of discolored skin may work better than a lightening cream. These techniques include laser treatments, freezing (cryotherapy), dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, microneedling, and chemical peels.
A cream called 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is a type of chemotherapy drug used to treat sunspots and sometimes squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in situ (Bowen's disease). 5-FU works best on the face and scalp. Your doctor will explain how to apply the cream and how often. Many people use it once or twice a day for 2–4 weeks.
Medical aestheticians working under a doctor's supervision have access to a variety of advanced hyperpigmentation products and dark spot correctors (such as SkinCeuticals' Discoloration Defense) that can effectively reduce discoloration.
The cost of treatment is $250 for 15 minutes of work. Most treatments last 15 - 30 minutes depending on the size of the veins being treated.
Age spots are caused by overactive pigment cells. Ultraviolet (UV) light speeds up the production of melanin, a natural pigment that gives skin its color. On skin that has had years of sun exposure, age spots appear when melanin becomes clumped or is produced in high concentrations.
There's also evidence that it may help manage dry skin, acne, and age spots, among other conditions. ACV is generally safe to use, but it does come with a risk of irritation or worsening skin symptoms, especially for people with sensitive skin or skin conditions.
Sun Spot Treatments
Sun spot treatment can often be resolved with laser treatments such as the Alexandrite and Intense Pulse Light (IPL). Each treatment is noninvasive and all can safely and effectively remove discoloration. A typical treatment program includes two to four sessions performed at four week intervals.
It works by breaking down the excess melanin in the age spots and gradually reducing their appearance. So, when used properly and in appropriate concentrations, hydrogen peroxide can be an effective and affordable option to remove age spots on the face.
Can sun damage be reversed? Once UV radiation changes your skin cells' DNA, the DNA damage can't be reversed. However, this doesn't mean that you can't change the appearance of your skin. You can treat, reduce and/or repair the effects of sun-damaged skin.
Often, patients elect to have these spots removed with our Q-switched Alexandrite (AlexTriVantage™) laser or our picosecond laser system (PicoWay®). These devices specifically target the brown color of the unwanted lesions. The laser is placed from spot-to-spot where it briefly flashes a light on the skin.
But most people find the small groove is preferable to the red appearance of the broken blood vessels. Your dermatologist or vein specialist can talk to you about the likelihood of developing these grooves. Since the treatments are considered cosmetic, insurance almost never covers them.
How much does laser age/ sun spot treatment cost? Cost varies is based on a few variables but generally it is between $100-300 per spot/ area per treatment.
Broken capillaries can return after laser treatment, especially if the underlying condition is not addressed.
Laser skin resurfacing is best for patients who want to minimize wrinkling, improve the skin's tone and texture, and treat discoloration. The following types of sun damage are best treated with IPL: Pigmentation changes such as age spots, liver spots (solar lentigines), and freckles.
Immediately after an IPL photo facial, your skin may look and feel like you have a sunburn. This feeling should go away within a few hours, although some redness may last for a few days. You may see some of your hyperpigmented spots become darker, but only temporarily. They will peel away painlessly within a few weeks.
There are some things you can do to get rid of age spots. You can try at-home treatments, which can help dark spots go away after a few months. Or you can see a dermatologist for in-office treatments. In-office treatments for age spots may include chemical peels or laser therapy.
Hydrocortisone is a popular corticosteroid that is often used to reduce the dark pigmentation of age spots and prevent further irritation in the future. Injectable tranexamic acid cream is also effective in some cases, but more likely to cause an allergic reaction than corticosteroids.
TRI-LUMA® (fluocinolone acetonide, hydroquinone, tretinoin) cream 0.01%/4%/0.05% is the only FDA-approved topical treatment available to help reduce the appearance of dark spots associated with moderate-to-severe facial melasma.