Help! What Can I Do About Sun Spots & Age Spots?
So summer is winding down, and even though you were super careful about sunscreen, dark freckles are showing up on your nose and shoulders. Or, no matter the time of year, you’ve been protecting your skin but are noticing new dark spots when you get out of the shower.
You’re thinking: Where are these spots coming from? And more importantly, what can I do about them?
The first question has a relatively short answer: these spots will naturally appear as a result of sun exposure or genetic predisposition. Sun spots and age spots are actually the same things (the medical term is lentigo), and though we know some of them can be prevented by reducing UV exposure, other spots will just appear over time as we age.
The second question has quite a few answers—and we can help you with all of them!
IPL or BBL™
Our top recommendation for reducing sun and age spots for those with fair skin are treatments that utilize intense pulsed light (IPL) or BroadBand Light (BBL™) technology. These two different—but similar—treatments are known for their pigment erasing power. (They also have some great side benefits, like smoothing your overall skin tone and tightening your skin.)
But keep in mind: you can only do these treatments when you don’t have a tan on your skin. Because of that, fall or winter is a great time to book IPL or BBL™. You can book your Photofacial / IPL treatment, you can book your BBL™ at Mint & Needle’s Middletown, DE office.
Chemical Peels
A chemical peel is one of the most effective ways to reduce sun and age spots. A spot’s melanin—which is what makes it look darker than the skin around it—is contained in the upper layer of the skin. A chemical peel causes that top layer to turn over dead cells and grow new ones, leaving you with a fresh and more even complexion.
Our Medical Grade Chemical Peel can be customized for your skin’s unique needs and for maximizing age spot reduction. The only even better way to treat sun and age spots is by combining your chemical peel with microdermabrasion. You can book your Chemical Peel at our Middletown, DE, or Lewes, DE offices.
Correcting Pads
One of our all-time favorite options are our very own Correcting Pads. These innovative pads contain botanical skin brightening agents, antioxidants, and skin-soothers to visibly brighten uneven skin tone. And these pads go way beyond just reducing sun and age spots by also revitalizing dull skin, reducing redness, relieving irritated skin, improving signs of aging, and providing antioxidant protection against intrinsic factors.
To get the most out of reducing sun and age spots, we recommend purchasing our Corrective Pads with Hydroquinone. But please note: Our online Correcting Pads do not contain the Hydroquinone additive, and therefore do not require a prescription. However, to have Hydroquinone added for maximum benefits, that requires a prescription, so you'd just need to stop into the Middletown, DE office to request Hydroquinone and sign the consent form.
Retinoids & Vitamin C
Another option for brightening and evening skin tone is the use of retinoids or Vitamin C. Again, these actually have even better results when they are combined, so we went ahead and created products that combine them for you:
All of our retinol creams—Retinol Gentle, Retinol 0.5% + CE Complex, and Retinol 1%—have Vitamin C built into them to assist in brightening skin tone as the retinol helps your cells turn over.
If you are not already using retinol in your skincare routine, start with Retinol Gentle and build the skin’s tolerance over a few weeks or months. Then you can graduate to the stronger retinols, where you’ll see increased results for decreasing sun and age spots.
With any of the above approaches, you can always book a consultation to discuss your plan for clearing away those spots! We are happy to talk through which treatment would work best for your unique skin and best help you reach your skincare goals.
And remember: after reducing your sun spots, be sure you have a good sunscreen on hand to prevent more!
