Sunspots on Skin

While sunspots on skin are not very attractive, they are not dangerous to an individual. They are a very common skin issue that many individuals deal with. Sunspots on skin occur when the skin is exposed to direct UV rays for an extended period of time. This often takes years or decades to make sunspots appear on the skin. Do note that tanning beds are also responsible for sunspots on skin. Tanning beds often cause the skin to prematurely age, creating dark patches of skin.

What do the sunspots on skin look like?

Sunspots on skin can vary in colorus, sizes and shapes. They will appear on the body parts that get the most sunlight. Sunspots on skin are often seen on the hands and face. Individuals that have fair skin are more likely to get sunspots on skin rather than dark skinned individuals. Individuals that are fair skinned over the age of 60 are 90% more likely to get sunspots on skin than those individuals with darker skin tones.

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What are some methods of treating sunspots on skin?

There are many different methods that can be used to treat sunspots on skin. Some methods work better than others. An individual may wish to treat sunspots on the skin with an over the counter product, or a skin specialist may prescribe a prescription treatment. There are many home treatments as well that can help to prevent and/or reduce sunspots on skin. Vitamin A compound, best known as retinol, can be applied to the skin during rest time to help restore the skin. This moisturiser will help reduce the appear of sunspots.

IPL(intense pulsed light) photorejuvenation is often used for treating sunspots on skin. This laser treatment will lighten and remove sunspots on skin in three to five treatments. Typically the sessions are scheduled once every three to six weeks. Most individuals will see an improvement within each treatment, with gradual clearing of the skin. The laser will emit a range of light waves that will target the sunspot on skin. As the laser pulses the light into the skin, the melanin is absorbed by the body after being broken into tiny pieces. This makes them appear to be less visible. This treatment is mild in pain tolerance, often feeling like a rubber band is snapping at the skin. The treatment will take about half an hour to an hour and a half depending on the size of the areas that is being treated. Only a skin specialist with adequate training should perform IPL photorejuvenation. After the first treatment, the skin may see some redness with darkening of the brown spots on the skin. Generally, this will resolve itself within a few hours to a week after having the treatment done. The skin will be softer and smoother after the treatment, with a more even skin tone.

What are some ways to prevent sunspots on skin?

One of the best ways to prevent sunspots on skin is to limit the amount of time an individual spends in the sun. If an individual can not avoid sun exposure, a high quality sun screen should be applied that protects the skin from both UVA and UVB rays. An SPF of at least 30 should be applied 15 minutes before the skin is exposed to the sun in order for the sun screen to be allowed to penetrate the skin.

Wearing a hat outdoors will also help to shield the face from the sun’s rays. Wearing light, long sleeves will keep the arms protected. Individuals that spend a lot of time driving in a vehicle should have an anti UVB coating on the vehicle installed to avoid getting sunspots on skin.

4 replies
  1. Ivy
    Ivy says:

    I have sunspots on my chest. Because of this, I will not wear a swimsuit or low cut shirts that expose this area. I wondered if my laser clinician would be able to do the IPL photorejuventation on my chest? Does anyone know if this is a treatment area? These sunspots on skin are just awful looking and make me self conscious. I would love to be able to get rid of them or at least lighten them so they are not so noticeable.

    Reply
  2. Perry K.
    Perry K. says:

    I have several sunspots on my hands. I am only 44 years old but my hands look like that of an 80 year old. It is very frustrating to have sunspots on skin at this age. I have never heard of IPL photorejuventation before, and just assumed that there was nothing that could be done for my hands anyways. I often keep them hidden so others do not have to look at them. Or so they do not embarrass me. However, I want to try this treatment. I wonder if my local dermatologist would be able to do this for me . I really hope so because it would be so refreshing to not have to worry about these ugly sunspots on skin!

    Reply
  3. Jean
    Jean says:

    Sunspots on skin is something that I used to worry about. I used to spend hours out in the sun when I was younger, before protecting the skin was an issue. Nope, I never wore sunscreen. And yes I am very fair skinned. I developed sunspots on skin when I was in my early 30s. I just did not feel good about myself so I talked to my doctor and she suggested we try a series of IPL photorejuventation for my sunspots on skin. I agreed and set up a series of 4 treatments. My sunspots looked awful but they were not so extreme that it needed 5 sessions. However, my dermatologist did state that she has done IPL on an individual that had such severe sunspots on skin that she needed more than the 5 sessions. Anyways, the treatment was the best thing that I did for the skin. It did snap a bit but after a few minutes my skin just sort of got used to it. The first session was the zingiest, and each session after that gradually tapered off for me pain wise. The sessions lasted 45 minutes for me. My skin was red immediately afterward and it lasted for about 5 hours. But this was not an issue for me as I did not care because I knew that I was making a difference in the way that my skin was going to look.

    Reply
  4. Twinkle
    Twinkle says:

    I have some sunspots on my skin that I dread looking at. I was worried that I possibly had skin cancer, but thankfully they are just sunspots. I have tried so many different methods and treatments at home to get rid of them. Lemon juice did not work well for me, it only irritated the skin. And then I heard that aloe Vera gel works wonders. Yes it made my skin feel great but did nothing for the sunspots on skin. I bought a few over the counter products and those were pretty much a joke. I believe I am going to ask my doctor about IPL. It sounds like a good treatment to do. I know that I could handle a bit of snapping on my skin. With as much pain as I have already put it through, I know that this would be a breeze.

    Reply

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