Sunspots – small, discolored spots that appear on our skin as we age – are more than a cosmetic concern. These small blemishes often serve as visible reminders of our skin’s encounters with the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.
Men and women of all ages and skin types can get sunspots. While sunspots are harmless and don’t pose any threat to your health, you may be curious about what causes sunspots and how to prevent them.
This article looks at sunspot causes, prevention, and treatments. It also gives you a comprehensive list of all the treatments at Stadia Med Spa that can help you get rid of sunspots for good!
Sunspots appear when your skin is damaged by ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds. When you get a tan, your skin reacts to the sun’s rays by becoming darker. Your melanin production increases and your skin slowly darkens in response.
Melanin gives our skin color and acts as a defense against UV radiation. It absorbs and dissipates the sun’s rays. However, when you repeatedly expose your skin to UV radiation, it can cause an uneven distribution of melanin. Thus, sunspots appear.
Sunspots are more common in older individuals because your skin’s ability to repair and regenerate slows down as you age.
People often confuse sunspots and freckles. They may look similar, but freckles are a genetic skin marker that gets darker and more noticeable with sun exposure. Sunspots, on the other hand, appear as a direct result of sun exposure.
You can prevent sunspots with a few simple solutions, including actively protecting your skin from the sun. Not only does the sun cause noticeable spots, redness, and irritation – over time, the sun can also cause premature aging of the skin.
Here are Stadia Med Spa’s top tips for how to prevent sunspots:
You can’t always prepare for intense sunshine, so you will also need a few reliable ways to get rid of sunspots when they appear. In this next section, we will look at Stadia Med Spa’s treatment recommendations to prevent and treat sunspots.
A skincare routine is an essential part of preventing and treating sunspots – and that starts with choosing the right skincare products.
Sometimes, regular skin care practices aren’t enough to keep your skin at optimal health, and you may consider adding medical-grade treatments to your skincare routine. Stadia Med Spa offers several treatments that prevent and treat sunspots, including the IPL photofacial, Ultra Glo laser treatments, and chemical peels.
The Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) facial, also known as a photofacial, is a simple non-invasive cosmetic procedure that can prevent and treat sunspots. During your IPL facial, broad-spectrum light targets the darker pigments on your skin, including sunspots, age spots, and freckles.
The melanin in the darker spots absorbs the light. Directly following your treatment, the sunspots will appear darker, and then eventually they will fade. As a bonus, the IPL photofacial also stimulates collagen production to improve your overall skin tone and elasticity.
As far as prevention goes, the IPL photofacial can increase your skin’s resilience against UV damage and reduce the appearance of emerging sunspots. In general, individuals need multiple sessions spaced out over several weeks to fully reduce sunspots.
Ultra Glo lasers – including the LaseMD laser used for skin tightening, acne treatments, hair restoration, and more – are also effective in preventing and treating sunspots. The lasers use light to target melanin in the skin and break it down. After a few sessions, the sunspots gradually fade.
The treatment can reduce the appearance of emerging sunspots to prevent them from becoming more noticeable. Ultra Glo lasers promote collagen production to improve overall skin texture and elasticity. Increased collagen production can also reduce signs of aging caused by sun exposure, including fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging.
Chemical peels are a cosmetic procedure that uses a chemical solution to exfoliate damaged cells and pigmentation, including sunspots. They are more powerful than any exfoliation treatment you may try at home, and can be used to promote healthy skin rejuvenation, enhance skin tone, and bolster UV damage resistance.
The chemical peel targets superficial discoloration, lightening the appearance of sunspots, age spots, and freckles. Over time, the dark spots start to fade. If you have deeper sunspots, you may need a more intense, and specialized chemical peel.
Overall, the prevention and treatment of sunspots can include a combination of at-home skincare and in-office treatments like chemical peels and laser therapy.
Find out the best option with a free consultation at Stadia Med Spa. One of our experienced providers will meet with you, examine your sunspots, and recommend treatments that can help you meet your goals!
At Stadia, we want to support your skincare journey, at home and in the office. Our cosmetic treatments – including the IPL photofacial, Ultra Glo laser treatments, and chemical peels – can prevent and treat sunspots for healthy, glowing skin.
Ready to see what Stadia can do for you? Contact us to book or schedule a free consultation today!
If you were considering Venus Legacy skin tightening at Stadia Med Spa, you should know that the treatment cannot make your cellulite worse! Clinical trials have shown the treatment is a safe and effective solution to reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Still not sure if Venus Legacy is right for you? Contact Stadia Med Spa for a free consultation!
Call 210-881-6270 today!
