Our gold-standard IPL option, effective for individual spots or broader treatment across the face, hands, and arms.
Age Spots
Age spots, also called liver spots or, medically, solar lentigines, are light to dark brown patches that appear on sun-exposed skin. They’re extremely common, affecting as many as 90% of Caucasians over the age of 60, and they’re also frequently seen in Fitzpatrick III and IV skin types, including many Native American, Asian, and Latino patients. African American skin tends to develop fewer age spots, likely due to naturally higher melanocyte activity offering some built-in protection.
How It Happens
Understanding
Age Spots
Age spots are benign lesions caused by UV light exposure, including from tanning beds, and typically have well-defined borders with consistent coloring, ranging from a couple of millimeters to about half an inch, sometimes merging into larger patches. Because age spots signal significant sun exposure, the number one risk factor for skin cancer, it’s important to have any lesion evaluated before treatment. Spots that are changing in shape, size, or color, or that become inflamed, should be examined for the possibility of something more serious.
Prevention
Avoiding sun exposure between 10am and 3pm, when UV rays are strongest, offers real protection. A daily sunblock of at least SPF 30 should be part of your routine year-round, including winter, reapplied roughly every two hours while outside. Protective clothing, including long sleeves, long pants, and a broad-brimmed hat, adds another layer of defense. Seeking shade rather than direct sunlight helps too.
How We Treat Age Spots
Q-Switch Laser
Treats individual spots with excellent long-term results, often better than BBL for isolated lesions.
Fraxel Laser, HALO
Both are excellent adjuncts to topical treatment for larger areas, typically requiring more than one session.
Erbium Laser Resurfacing
Our preferred ablative option, carrying less risk of permanent pigmentation change than other ablative lasers, and ideal for patients with widespread facial lentigos who want complete resurfacing.
Skin Care
Prescription-strength topical treatment, such as the Obagi NuDerm System, can also improve the appearance of facial lentigos as part of a broader plan. Age spot treatment is considered cosmetic, so it’s typically not covered by insurance.
Why choose Lazaderm
Related Concerns
Real Patients. Real Results.
Your Best
Skin Starts Here
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