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Age Spots, Skin Tone, and Texture

Find Reliable Skin Treatment at
Dermatology Specialists of Charlotte

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Age Spots, Skin Tone, and Texture

Find Reliable Skins Treatment at Dermatology Specialists of Charlotte

dark spots

Age Spot Removal

The flat brown and black spots that occur on areas exposed to the sun are called age spots, sun spots, or even liver spots, though they have nothing to do with the liver.

The dark spots known as age spots are caused by aging, exposure to sunlight, and exposure to UV in tanning beds.

Problem age spots can be successfully treated with anti-aging treatments available at Dermatology Specialists of Charlotte.

Topical creams help block the sun that darkens the spots.  Bleaching agents such as hydroquinone and other botanical agents help to lighten the pigment.  Retinoids help by blocking pigment transfer to the upper layers of the skin where they are visible.  Finally, the Medical Skin Care Systems include all these factors to minimize age spots and concurrent sun damage.

Chemical and laser peels as well as microdermabrasion exfoliate or peel off age spots.  BBL treatments remove pigment irregularities as well as persistent red lines often seen together in sun damaged skin.  Deeper pigmented lesions can be lightened with fractional lasers such as Profractional and HALO.

Freckles

Ephelides is the technical term for freckles, which are little tan or brown spots found on the skin of light-skinned people with red or blond hair and gray, green, or blue eyes.  They are more numerous on the skin of younger people and during the summer. They disappear in the winter, and usually aren’t seen on people over about 45 years old.  With time, freckles become intermixed with age spots. Several lightening and removal options are available.

Hyperpigmentation Treatments

There are many causes of excess brown pigment in the skin including age spots, freckles, melasma and persistent darkening of the skin after inflammation or injury of the skin (PIPA).

Multiple modalities may be used to help remove the superficial layers of pigment.  It is very difficult to remove the deeper layers.  This will happen over time. If possible, remove the cause of the hyperpigmentation and use optimal photo protection as the sun intensifies pigment on the skin.

Sunblocks help to block the sun that darkens the spots.  Bleaching agents such as hydroquinone and other botanical agents help to lighten the pigment.  Chemical and laser peels as fractional lasers help to break up and remove unwanted pigment.

Melasma

Melasma is a dark skin discoloration normally found on sun-exposed areas of the face. It is a very common skin disorder. Though it can affect anyone, young women with brownish skin tones are at greatest risk. Melasma is often associated with the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. It is especially common in pregnant women (often called the Mask of Pregnancy), women who are taking oral contraceptives, and women taking hormone replacement therapy. Melasma is effectively treated in our office utilizing crystal-free microdermabrasion, Intense Pulsed Light/BBL light therapy, HALO, ablative lasers and utilization of specific skincare products.

Hypopigmentation Treatments

Hypopigmentation of the skin occurs when the pigment making cells (melanocytes) are unable to make pigment.  This can be as a result of sun damage, vitiligo or marked inflammation or injury to the skin (PIPA).

Treatment usually revolves around making surrounding lighter to minimize the contrast.  Hypopigmentation due to sun damage and PIPA can be improved by the Profractional laser and Laser Skin Peels.  Alternatively, the BBL could be used to remove the browns so that the white blends in better. Protect the hypo pigmented areas from the sun.  These areas are more vulnerable and more likely to burn.

New medical treatments for vitiligo are available and require a visit with one of our medical providers.

Hand Rejuvenation

Thinning skin on the hands due to sun damage and natural volume loss lead to thin skin.  Underlying blood vessels and muscle tendons become visible.

Fillers are primarily used to refill volume loss and provide a cushion under the skin. BBL helps to remove age spots that age the hands.   Profractional can remove age spots and increase collagen formation in the skin.

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