Safe Treatments for Sun Spots

By Anne Marie Tremaine, MD

The effects of the intense Florida sun keep me very busy at work. One of the most common complaints from my patients is the appearance of their photodamage skin and how to correct it. My patients are looking to improve the appearance of brown spots, broken blood vessels, and dullness of the skin all caused by exposure to ultraviolet sun light. As a cosmetic surgeon, I have many tools in my tool box to treat the appearance of sun damage. My favorite therapeutic options are laser and light treatments, which utilize heat to target removal of brown spots and broken blood vessels and stimulate collagen turn over.

One of my favorite devices, especially great for first time cosmetic patients, is Broadband Light (BBLTM), often referred to as a photofacial. It is a gentle light treatment that uses visible and infrared wavelengths of light to reduce both brown discoloration and redness caused by sun damage. In just a few days, the brown spots darken and then start to slough off revealing brighter, healthier skin. I recommend a series of treatments for optimal results, although you will see improvement after only a single treatment. In addition, regular therapeutic sessions with the BBL will stimulate collagen turn over to slow the aging process. This treatment is great for active individuals because there is so little downtime. It can be done with or without topical anesthesia and all areas of the body can quickly and easily be treated with this device.

If you want to kick the results up a notch, then I recommend the HaloTM fractional hybrid laser. This laser delivers both ablative and non-ablative wavelengths simultaneously to resurface the skin. The combination of wavelengths targets deep for improvement in fine lines, wrinkles, pores, as well as, superficially to
treat pigmentation. Because the treatment is fractional, you can expect less downtime
comparted to more traditional resurfacing devices. This laser offers the ability to choose the appropriate settings to skillfully customize the treatment to meet your specific dermatologic concerns and expected downtime. The Halo does require topical anesthesia and does have more downtime than the BBL, however, the results are more dramatic. The BBL and Halo can be paired together in a powerful same day treatment for even more impressive results with less treatment needed.

Before any cosmetic treatment, I do recommend having the skin examined by a dermatologist to ensure there are no pre-cancerous or cancerous lesions that need to be treated first. Treating medical concerns always trumps cosmetic treatments and you don’t want to laser a skin cancer!

Finally, it is important to not only prepare your skin before a laser procedure, but then follow up with a proper skin care regimen to protect your investment after. The most important step is applying SPF 30 -50 on a daily basis. After evaluation, you may also receive recommendations for antioxidant serum, topical retinoid, and/or discoloration serum.

Dr. Tremaine is a board-certified dermatologist with fellowship training at Harvard Medical School in laser and cosmetic surgery. She has contributed as a dermatology expert for online and print magazines including Family Fun, msn.com, menshealth.com, and ccn.com. In addition, she frequently lectures to
professional societies on her diverse research.

For more information about skin care visit the Skin Wellness Physicians website at: www.skinwellnessflorida.com