As you get older, the likelihood grows that you’ll develop brown spots on your face, the backs of your hands, your shoulders, or other areas often exposed to the sun.
The spots — which are called age spots, liver spots, or lentigines — look like big freckles. They’re more common in people over the age of 50, but can develop at any time.
At Osteopathic Center for Healing, our providers, Neil Spiegel, DO, and Jennifer Gularson, PA-C, IFMCP, want you to enjoy optimal health, and that includes feeling good about your appearance.
To that end, we offer numerous cosmetic services, including Tixel Skin Resurfacing and products from ALASTIN Skincare®.
The reason you have skin color is melanin. Melanin is a natural pigment, and the amount of it you have determines your skin color.
Over time, and with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun, melanin cells become overactive and either clump together, forming a brown spot or produce too much, also forming a brown spot.
Anyone at any age, even children, can develop brown spots. But as you might expect from the fact they are sometimes called “age spots,” the older you are, the more likely you are to have them. After all, the older you are, the more exposure to the sun you’ve had.
People with lighter skin are also more prone to developing brown spots. Another risk factor is a history of sunburns.
Often, our patients worry that a brown spot could be cancerous. Since they are related to sun exposure, it’s a reasonable worry, but brown spots themselves aren’t cancerous.
If you have brown spots, you might also develop actinic keratoses, which are precancerous scaly, red elevations. It’s a good idea to contact us about any spots that concern you.
Even if your dark spots aren’t cause for worry, you may still want to be rid of them. Feeling good about how you look is important for healthy self-esteem.
Another reason to consider treatment for your brown spots is that doing so encourages you to take better care of your skin overall. For example, if you make the investment in treating your spots, you’re more likely to remember to use sunscreen daily.
We offer two services that can fade brown spots. The first is the Tixel Treatment®. This innovative system uses natural heat, applied directly to your skin.
A treatment typically takes about 20 minutes, and if necessary, we provide analgesic cream — though most patients find they don’t need it.
Following treatment, your skin may be swollen and red for a few hours. The day after your treatment, you may notice some mild crusting, but you can cover it with makeup.
The end result is noticeable improvement in your skin texture and complexion overall and fewer prominent brown spots specifically. You may need a series of treatments over a few weeks to get optimal results.
We may also recommend you use ALASTIN Skincare products to protect your skin and reduce the appearance of dark spots. The ALASTIN line includes anti-aging products, as well as products to address visible signs of aging, such as dark spots.
We’re happy to help you develop a skin care routine that protects and nourishes your skin and that also helps you look fantastic. Schedule your appointment today at our Rockville, Maryland, office.
