Brown Spots

Brown spots may seem harmless when they appear. But years of sun exposure and skin damage can lead to clusters of spots marring your skin and prematurely aging you. If you’re unhappy with dark spots on your face, arms, hands, chest or elsewhere, there are a variety of noninvasive treatment options to help clear them up.

What causes brown spots on the skin?

Spots on the skin are most often caused by sun exposure. The ultraviolet rays within sunlight trigger the production of melanin in the skin. This is a protective pigment, which the body creates to help protect the skin from the harmful UV rays. The pigmented skin fades as the cells gradually move toward the surface and are exfoliated away.

But this isn’t the case for all pigmentation. Areas that receive a great deal of sun exposure (usually the face, hands and arms) are more likely to develop spots that refuse to fade. As these build up over time, the skin appears older than it really is due to the clusters of spots.

Brown Spots vs. Hyperpigmentation vs. Melasma

You may have heard different terms being used to describe dark spots on the skin. “Hyperpigmentation” is a blanket term for darker pigmentation appearing in the skin. “Brown spots” is a loose catch-all for signs of sun exposure (they can also be referred to as age spots, liver spots, sun spots, and solar lentigines). “Melasma” is a term for a more specific condition that is caused by a combination of sun exposure and hormonal fluctuations, and is most common in women (especially during pregnancy).

We will examine your skin to determine the underlying cause of your excess pigmentation, and select the treatment option that best suits your needs.

Can I reduce brown spots at home?

Using sunscreen whenever you are spending any time outside (even on a cloudy day) is the best defense against brown spots, as well as skin cancer. Covering up whenever possible is also helpful and will reduce the appearance of new spots.

Existing spots may fade over time as you reduce sun exposure and practice good sun protection. For those patches that remain in place, there are a range of treatment options. Our staff will discuss your unique needs and select the treatment combination that works best on a personal level.

Hyperpigmentation Treatments

• IPL – The IPL device targets pigmentation to remove it and reveal even skin tone.
• CryoCorrect – CryCorrect provides spot treatment for brown spots and skin tags across the face and body.
• HydraFacials – The HydraFacial offers all-in-one cleansing, hydrating and exfoliating with a single soothing session.

Age Spot Treatments Near You

If you’re interested in learning more, request a consultation at one of our three convenient offices across Northwest Indiana. We offer brown spot treatments in La Porte and brown spot treatments in Crown Point as well as Valparaiso. Request your appointment today to take the first step!