Age Spots/Freckles

What are “Age Spots” and how are they different from “Freckles?” Actually age spots have very little to do with age, but rather result from sun exposure at some point in the past. Melanin is the pigment produced to form the brownish discoloration. It is an attempted response by the melanocyte cells to protect the skin from damage. Sometimes it surfaces as excess pigment in one area, hence the term, “HYPER –pigmentation.” So actually, there is no “Safe” tan. All tanning represents sun damage. Even “freckles” that appear on young children, while sometimes thought of as “adorable,” are actually the body’s response to injury. What can be done to remove the discoloration? Although intense pulsed light is considered the gold standard at the moment, there are a variety of options:

• Obagi Skin Care (with Retin-A and prescription level hydroquinoine)

• Microdermabrasion

• Chemical Peels

• AFT

• Revlite Laser Peel