What are brown spots?
Skin that has not been protected from the sun can develop uneven pigmentation. Deposits of melanin can develop which appear as brown spots on the face, chest neck, back or even the tops of the hands. Freckles have also been called brown spots and can be treated as well.
What are other names for brown spots?
These can be called age spots, sun spots or liver spots but medically they are known as solar lentigines.
Are these types of brown spots dangerous?
It is important to have your brown spots checked by a board-certified dermatologist. Most of these brown spots are benign and are not dangerous. Every now and then a brown spot can be dangerous but it needs to be biopsied and checked under a microscope. If it was dangerous it could be either a dysplastic or abnormal mole or even a malignant melanoma.
Can tanning beds cause these brown spots?
It is unsafe to go into tanning beds. Dr. Jaliman advises her patients to avoid tanning beds as they prematurely age the skin and increase the risk for skin cancer.
Do sunscreens help brown spots?
It is very important to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily to prevent more brown spots and to prevent the darkening of existing ones.
Can creams help brown spots?
In Dr. Jaliman’s office she has many topical modalities that she recommends to help treat and lighten brown spots including preparations that have niacinamide, retinoids, hydroquinone, glycolic acid, Azelaic and salicylic acid.
Can lasers be used to treat brown spots?
Dr. Jaliman provides her patients with a wide range of different lasers to treat brown spots. It depends upon how many brown spots you have and the color of your skin. The Accutip laser can be used for a few spots. If you have dark skin you may need to be treated with the Medlite laser. The Limelight IPL is also very effective if you have lighter skin and many spots. The Faxel laser can be used for brown spots but requires a few days of downtime.
How many laser treatments will I need?
Each person is different. It depends on how dark the spots are and how deep the pigment goes. The treatments are usually 4 weeks apart. After your consultation an individual treatment plan will be tailored to your specific needs.
Is the laser treatment painful?
Most of these laser treatments require no anesthesia or pain medication. Most people find the laser treatments very tolerable. Only the Fraxel laser requires a topical numbing cream.
What parts of the body can be treated?
Brown spots on almost any area of the body can be treated.