Do you have brown spots on your skin? This problem is common, can affect any skin tone, and is known by dermatologists as hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation is typically harmless but can have a negative impact on a person’s self-image and confidence. Why does hyperpigmentation happen, and how can you find the treatment option that’s right for you?
First, let’s talk about three causes of hyperpigmentation.
- Sun damage is the leading cause of hyperpigmentation in light-skinned people. Overexposure to the sun can cause dark spots, especially on fair skin, and can worsen melasma.
- Melasma often happens during pregnancy. It’s a patchy discoloration, brown in color, which happens on the sun-exposed areas of the face. Also known as the “mask of pregnancy,” it can appear in anyone, is more common in dark skin, and often happens in women who are pregnant or taking estrogen supplements or birth control pills.
- Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation occurs because of injury or inflammation to the skin. Conditions like acne, eczema, or psoriasis can cause increased pigment production that results in dark spots. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is more common in people with darker skin tones.
Fortunately, no matter what has caused your hyperpigmentation, there are treatment options to correct it. At Skin Cancer Specialists, P. C. & Aesthetic Center, we treat brown spots using several different types of treatment:
- Resurfacing laser treatments: Using microscopic pinpoint beams of laser energy into the skin, we’re able to target brown spots while leaving the skin between the treated areas intact. With minimal discomfort and only a few days of downtime, this treatment yields dramatic results, triggering your body’s own natural healing processes to improve the tone and texture of your skin.
- Chemical peels: A cosmetic procedure that exfoliates the top layer of skin in order to improve tone and texture and reduce skin irregularities, a chemical peel can be used on the face, neck, and hands. At Skin Cancer Specialists, we use Vitalize and Rejuvenize peels, which are appropriate for all skin types, including dark skin.
- IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) Photorejuvenation: A skin treatment that uses a broad spectrum of light wavelengths to treat sun damage, IPL Photorejuvenation can also renew the skin’s color, improve its elasticity, and refresh its appearance. It reduces the signs of aging and can be used to treat a number of skin conditions, including sunspots, vascular lesions, and pigmented lesions. At Skin Cancer Specialists, P.C. & Aesthetic Center, the platform we use for IPL Photoregeneration is the Lumenis M22 IPL/YAG, a breakthrough solution for skin conditions such as rosacea, birthmarks, freckles, and spider veins. Efficient and safe, it uses the principle of selective photothermolysis, in which the wavelengths of light heat and destroy the targeted tissue without damaging the tissue around it.
At Skin Cancer Specialists, P.C. & Aesthetic Center, we offer innovative and effective treatments, to treat brown spots, fine lines and wrinkles, and many other skin issues. Originally conceived as a practice solely devoted to treating people with skin cancer, we have expanded our services to also become a premier dermatology practice with an aesthetic center that is staffed by licensed cosmetologists and aestheticians. Continually adapting our practice to reflect new and improved technique and procedures, we adhere to the highest standards in the industry.
We perform procedures onsite in our affiliate surgery center, Skin Cancer Specialists Surgery Center, LLC. Because of our commitment to safe and effective patient care, we’ve earned the Joint Commission’s (JCAHO) prestigious Gold Seal of Approval® for Ambulatory Health Care. Call one of our offices or contact us through our website to learn about our personalized care and what we can do for you.