Sun Spots

Liver Spots

(IPL) Intense Pulsed Light

Sun spots, brown spots, liver spots, and other discolored skin can often be treated with Intense Pulse Light (IPL), or our Q plus C laser.  Other age spots like Seborrheic Keratoses may require treatments from our physician. We can help you determine your best treatment option during your free consultation.

What really separates our laser from others is the Opti-Beam technology that distributes energy efficiently over the  treated area. It is widely considered to be the best laser for your skin. This technology will remove your spots faster, easier, and will decrease your chance of scarring.

Our goal is to bring your skin back to normal as possible.

Here are some results from a lovely lady in just two treatments.

The Intense Pulse Light (IPL) laser will breaks up the discolored skin pigment with a photo acoustic laser effect and your body will flush that discolored skin pigmentation away and allow your skin to heal back to its normal skin tone. The treated spot will initially turn white and then darker before it sloughs off in one to two weeks. Occasionally the skin can develop a bruise or a purple discoloration surrounding the treated area following the laser treatments. Upon healing, the treated skin area may appear pink before returning to its normal skin tone.

Most patients experience only mild stinging during the procedure, similar to the sensation of a rubber band hitting the skin.

The number of laser treatments required for pigment resolution varies. Sometimes a test treatment session is performed one month prior to laser treatment to determine optimal treatment parameters and the likelihood that your spots will resolve with laser treatments. Most patients require several treatments to each area for resolution of pigmentation. A one month interval between treatments is generally recommended before retreating the same area, however adjacent areas can be treated sooner. While most patients experience improvement in their brown spots with laser treatments, rarely Q plus C laser treatments are unsuccessful at removing or lightening brown spots.

The most common risks of laser treatment for Sunspots and brown spots are a temporary lightening or darkening of the pigment of the skin. Rarely this pigment change can be permanent. A flare of acne, skin infection, burn or rarely scarring including elevated and keloidal scars are other potential risks of laser treatments. Patients with a history of abnormal or keloidal scarring, who have taken medications for this in the past year or who are taking medications or have health conditions that may compromise their ability to fight infection may not be candidates for laser treatments.

It is important to avoid sun exposure and to use a broad spectrum sunscreen for two weeks prior to treatment. You should also inform your physician of any health problems or history of abnormal scarring.

It is important to avoid sun exposure and to apply a broad spectrum sunscreen to the treated area for a minimum of one month following treatment. If your skin color has not returned to normal within one month you should continue to apply sunscreen daily to the treated area until your skin color has returned to normal. To prevent recurrence of your brown spots, it is important to continue to protect your skin by using a broad spectrum sunscreen daily. If you develop a blister, crust or sore following treatment you should apply Aquaphor healing ointment to the site and contact your physician. You should not apply makeup to open, crusted or sore areas.

Laser treatment of brown spots is considered a cosmetic procedure and is not covered by most insurance plans.