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I know I should wear sunscreen to prevent sun damage, but can anything be done to erase the sunspots I already have?

March 28, 2011 | Blog, Other, Skin Care

We’ve all experienced the painful sunburn that can develop with too much sun exposure.  However, the cumulative effects of sun damage on our skin may go unnoticed (initially). Exposure to the sun’s UVA and UVB rays sends signals to the cells within our skin (melanocytes) to produce more pigment or melanin.  This pigment is what makes us “tan”.  Sometimes though, increased exposure to these rays causes the cells to overproduce pigment leading to freckles and eventually to age/sun spots.

We have several treatments that are useful in reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation from sunspots.  A proper skin analysis is required to accurately assess which skin treatment will work best, but most patients benefit from IPL Photofacial & Phototherapy Treatments, Melanage chemical peel, or microdermabrasion treatment.  Our Melanage chemical peel and microdermabrasion treatment options are better suited for those patients with limited sunspots since they work by speeding the skin cell turnover rate so that new, undamaged cells can surface.

IPL Photofacial & Phototherapy Treatments sessions use a mixture of radio frequency (RF) and controlled pulses of light to break up the unwanted pigment and stimulate the production of new cells and increased collagen.  Given the deeper penetration of this treatment, it is better suited for those patients with more advanced symptoms of aging (loss of elasticity, wrinkling, etc.)  and sun damage.  In addition to sun damage, the IPL Photofacial & Phototherapy Treatments can also help treat unwanted facial veins, decrease redness associated with rosacea, and improve skin texture by reducing the visibility of pores.

To learn more about the anti-aging skin treatments available at AYA Medical Spa visit our website, subscribe to our newsletter, or read our blog.