As you age, you may experience the formation of age spots, also known as liver spots or solar lentigo. Those with fair skin or people who spend a lot of time in direct sunlight are more susceptible to the formation of age spots, which are a form of sun damage. At Sutton Place Dermatology, our dermatologists can address your personal needs and desires with the most advance, up-to-date technology currently available. With laser age spot removal, we can safely and efficiently treat cases of sun damage to leave you with glowing, clear skin.
Age spots are flat brown, black, or tan spots on the skin that usually appear on your hands, shoulders, arms, or areas of your body that are exposed to the sun regularly. Patients forty and older are the most likely to develop age spots, but it is possible that younger patients can develop age or liver spots, too. Although age spots can be numerous, dark, and resemble serious skin conditions, they are harmless and usually do not negatively affect your health. The pigment of your epidermis, or your top-most layer of skin, is given its color by melanin, which is the agent that causes your skin to tan after being exposed to sunlight. The ultraviolet rays of the sun accelerate the production of melanin, which would prevent your skin from sunburn by creating a darker tan that absorbs the sunlight more efficiently. Age spots form on areas of your skin where this process has occurred multiple times. Age spots can be prevented by avoiding excessive exposure to sun and using sunscreen when spending time outside.
Procedures are available for those who desire a more even skin tone. A true age spot is harmless, but it can be treated for cosmetic reasons. If you experience any of the following symptoms or changes with your age spots, please immediately contact us, as these can be signs of melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer.
Contact us if you have spots that:
In most cases, your age spots will be assessed by a visual inspection by our dermatologists, but in some cases, a skin biopsy may be needed to determine if it is truly an age spot or something more. Laser therapies are noninvasive, effective treatment options for the treatment of sun damaged skin and age spots. During your laser age spot treatment, light energy in the form of pulses is delivered to your skin. This laser treatment gently breaks up the excess skin pigmentation caused by the production of melanin.
After the excess pigmentation caused by melanin is removed from the skin of your hands, face, shoulders, or other sun damaged areas, your skin regains its youthful appearance. The heat given off from this laser therapy also promotes the body’s natural healing response, which promotes the healthy production of new collagen. In the months following your initial laser age spot removal procedure, your age spots will fade and be replaced by glowing, healthy skin that will continue to heal into a smooth, even skin tone.
Our dermatologists would be glad to discuss age spot removal with you. To request a personal consultation with our dermatologists to discuss possible age spot treatment options, please request an appointment online or call 212.838.0270.
