Ugly age spots can begin to show up on people of all skin colors as they age.
Beyond an annoyance, these marks, also known as liver or sun spots, can also turn cancerous. Whether these spots are dangerous or simply aesthetically vexatious, laser resurfacing can be the perfect solution to get rid of them.
Age Spots Defined
Age spots, also known as solar lentigo, are flat, brownish areas of skin. Some are more circular in shape, but they are also often irregularly shaped spots. They have the ability to range from as small as a pea to as massive as a nickel. The root cause is sun exposure, which is why most age spots are found on the face, hands, arms, neck, shoulders and upper back. These spots are the result of accumulated pigment or melanin within the epidermis or upper layers of skin. Because they’re embedded in the skin layers, they don’t fade and darken with the seasons like freckles do. The development of age spots does signal an increased risk for skin cancer, and if you notice any spots that have changed shape and are growing, you should report them to your physician for analysis.
Prevention and Treatments
The only way to prevent age spots is to stay out of the sun as much as possible and to liberally apply sunscreen before subjecting your skin to the sun’s rays. Treatments for existing age spots include bleaching creams, chemical peels, and fotofacial treatments, but perhaps the most effective method is laser resurfacing. This is a process that uses a sensitive laser to burn off the spots. Lasers, like the CO2 laser for example, are very adept at slicing just deep enough to remove long-standing wrinkles and skin discoloration as well as age spots all during only one or two treatments. This resurfacing is so-called because the laser removes the epidermis skin.
Recovery and Results
Because that top layer of skin is removed during laser resurfacing, you’re prone to have some redness, pain, peeling and scabs as the skin heals. While this process is not pleasant, it doesn’t last very long. You can expect your skin to have cleared up in about one or two weeks. The recovery period includes the application of ointment and bandages for the first several days. The size of your bandages will depend on the amount of skin you had treated, but you may need to wear a head mask or wrap for bigger jobs. Even if you’re required to wear one, you will usually be permitted to remove it after two days at most.
While you wait for you skin to heal, you will need to avoid the sun as much as possible. This means staying at home and indoors. To help the healing process, you should also refrain from strenuous exercise and other activities. You can begin to use make-up again after a week or two when new skin has covered the area treated by laser resurfacing. The redness might gradually fade over several months, and you might experience sun-sensitivity for a complete year after the procedure. So continue your regimen of sunscreen use. The full benefit of your laser resurfacing process will start to be visible anywhere from six months to a year afterwards and you can enjoy that glowing new complexion free of age spots for up to five years.
Laser resurfacing has associated risks like any cosmetic procedure, but they are rare. Your doctor can help you figure out if this procedure is the best choice for effectively removing your age spots.
About the Author
To smooth wrinkles and diminish skin discolorations, many seek laser resurfacing. Lake County professionals at New Trend medical spa offer laser resurfacing and other rejuvenating skin treatments. Contact them at http://www.newtrendmedicalspa.com.
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