Brown Spots, Freckles, and Age Spots

​

Brown spots, freckles, and aging spots are some of the most common cosmetic complaints. Depending on the nature and number of the lesions, the treatment options may vary.

​

At The Bellevue Laser & Cosmetic Center, we offer numerous treatments for brown spots, freckles, and aging spots. Chemical peels such as alpha hydroxy acid, Beta Lift, or TCA may be helpful. Most brown spots and freckles also respond beautifully to IPL Photofacial rejuvenation. This procedure is safe anywhere on the body and is also safe for patients with darker skin with absolutely no downtime. For patients who are also looking for improving texture, fine lines and wrinkles, the Palomar LUX 1540 non-ablative fractional laser may be a good alternative. For more stubborn lesions, especially those associated with deeper wrinkles and significant photodamage, a more aggressive treatment called Fractional CO2 laser resurfacing may be the best choice.

​

Aging spots, also known as seborrheic keratoses (SK’s), are hereditary lesions that may not respond well to laser therapy (except for CO2 laser). They may be any color (but are often brown to black), in any location on the body, have a well-defined “stuck-on” appearance on the skin, and are waxy, scaly, or crusty in nature. People develop more SK’s as they get older. They are absolutely harmless but may be cosmetically concerning. Treatment may include liquid nitrogen treatment (freezing off), curettage (scraping off), or electrodessication (burning off with electric needle).

​

Prescription strength bleaching agents containing hydroquinone may also be beneficial. The Obagi NuDerm system which contains hydroquinone and Retin A can be used as initial therapy to lighten brown spots as well as maintenance therapy to prevent lesions from returning once they have been successfully treated.

 

Call us today for a consultation!