Getting rid of brown or age spots can be tricky, as the treatment depends on the type of spots you have. Always see a qualified dermatologist to decide on the best option, says Dr. Todd Minars of Minars Dermatology, based in Hollywood, Florida. He adds that laser treatment is also an excellent option for many types of brown spots, with little downtime and good results.
Many treatments are available to get rid of brown or age spots, depending on their nature. Their scientific name is “solar lentigines,” but we know them as “age,” “sun,” or “liver” spots. Flat and brown, they range in size from one to five centimeters, and commonly appear on the hands, face, or chest in fair-skinned people of middle age.
Genetics play a role, but these spots are primarily the result of years of excessive sun exposure, although melasma can also be a culprit. There are also brown spots which occur after trauma to the skin, for instance, if you have dark skin and have a pimple, it can heal with a brown spot, which is called “post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.” And, of course, there are moles, freckles, and even some skin cancers that are brown spots.
Determine the Type of Spot
The first thing is to figure out what kind of brown spot it is, which is why you see a dermatologist. You also don’t want someone who is not a dermatologist treating your brown spot because you don’t want to risk someone at a med spa lasering off a melanoma.
There is not a great treatment for some brown spots. Many genetic freckles will come back even if you treat them, even if you laser them off. Sun spots or age spots, however, tend to respond nicely to lasers. Several laser options will work. We use the Alexandrite laser. We laser the skin, or the entire face, and the spots tend to crust up over the next few days and flake off. Some people call that procedure a FotoFacial.
Other brown spots, such as those as a result of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, respond better to bleaching creams than lasers. It’s the same thing with spots which are the result of melasma. If these spots go way with laser treatment, that is more often than not only temporary, and they will eventually come back. So we tend to use bleaching creams.
Hands and Faces Respond Best
When it comes to age spots that we treat with lasers, the best success we have is on hands and faces. I get the worst results on legs. I have stopped even trying on legs because of this. The end result means that it’s not really worth the effort. Moles can sometimes actually be shaved or cut off, and many seborrheic keratoses can be off frozen with liquid nitrogen.
Overall, there are many types of brown spots, and treatment you have and how successful it will be all depends on what kind you have. Remember that if you and your dermatologist decide to opt for laser treatment that your brown spots will initially turn a bit darker before they crust away and disappear, within seven to 10 days.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
