Patients don’t always care for their skin properly when they are younger, which can lead to the appearance of age and brown spots over time. Daily sun protection and an appropriate skincare routine can prevent signs of aging like spots, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone.

Age spots are brown spots on the skin that have less to do with age and more to do with sun exposure. They commonly appear on the face, neck, chest, hands, arms and legs – the areas exposed most to direct sunlight. Age spots and brown spots can occur around your 40s and 50s but can appear sooner for individuals that spend a significant amount of time outdoors.

At Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York, our renowned, board-certified dermatologists are the laser experts with more than 100 devices available. We can customize treatments with the precision necessary to ensure the safest, most effective procedures. 

Brown spots form due to an overproduction of melanin. Lasers are a safe and effective treatment option that targets the melanin in the skin without damaging surrounding skin and tissue. The lasers trigger the body’s healing process to break up the pigmentation and boost collagen levels to rejuvenate the skin. Lasers can be used individually or in combination to eliminate brown spots and address other age-related concerns. Some of the lasers frequently used for this purpose include:

• Ruby laser: This Q-switched laser targets brown spots with a short pulse and higher power without damaging the surrounding skin.
• nd:YAG laser: This Q-switched laser uses rapid pulses to break up melanin with minimal downtime and side effects.
• Fraxel lasers: Fractional lasers stimulate the body’s natural healing process by creating micro-channels in the dermal layers for rejuvenation and improvement from the inside out.
• LaseMD Ultra and Clear & Brilliant  lasers: This non-ablative fractional laser corrects pigmentation issues at a cellular level, similar to the Fraxel lasers.
• PicoSure laser: This FDA-approved laser uses picosecond bursts of energy to break up stubborn pigmentation.
• PicoPlus laser: This laser combines nanosecond and picosecond wavelengths to target irregular skin pigmentation in fewer treatments than single wavelength devices. This laser is particularly helpful for skin of color.

Side effects after a laser treatment are usually mild and temporary and may include:

• Redness or irritation
• Swelling
• Slight bruising
• Crusting or peeling skin

Laser treatments for age spots and brown spots are long-lasting, and some types of pigmentation can be permanently eliminated. Using sun protection and an appropriate skincare routine, patients can avoid new damage and longer results.

Some patients may require multiple treatment sessions to achieve their initial results. Maintenance procedures after that are generally unlikely. Proper skin care and sun protection ensures laser results extend even longer in some cases.

Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York is a renowned practice with fellowship-trained, board-certified dermatologists and plastic surgeons. We provide customized treatment plans that get to the root of the problem and achieve natural, beautiful results.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn more about laser treatments for age spots and brown spots.