| "Dr. Fairfield, are these age spots? Help! Make them go | | | | dermatologist may recommend treatments that |
| away!" This is something I've heard from my clients | | | | operate below the skin surface, to work directly on the |
| forever. Fortunately, now there are effective | | | | age-spot culprit – the cells that produce melanin |
| treatments to fade, or even abolish, these unsightly | | | | (skin pigment). It's when these cells start cranking out |
| darkened blotches that appear on the face and the | | | | too much pigment that age spots result. To go deeper |
| backs of hands. It's true that the tendency to get age | | | | and destroy these cells, your cosmetic dermatologist |
| spots runs in families, but you may get them even if | | | | may suggest light-oriented treatments, using either |
| none of your cousins did. And, with modern cosmetic | | | | laser or broadband light. The best of these |
| technology, you can finally do something about it. We'll | | | | technologies pass right through the skin's surface cells, |
| take a look at two methods – mechanical and light | | | | causing no damage. An added benefit? No recovery |
| treatments – but first, I have to plug prevention. | | | | time at all. |
| We probably can't completely prevent age spots, but | | | | Intense Pulsed Light Therapy (IPL), adjusted by the |
| something we should all be doing anyway will help | | | | cosmetic dermatologist for your skin, delivers |
| ward them off. That something is sun protection. Sun | | | | microbursts of broad-spectrum light energy to skin |
| damage definitely causes skin pigment cells to go | | | | cells. In the darker skin cells, the light converts to heat |
| wonky, and that brings on the age spots. Do the right | | | | energy, destroying them. One variant of this procedure |
| thing: keep the sun off your skin as much as possible | | | | uses LED light (for example, the GentleWaves® |
| with protective clothing. Invest in some great hats, and | | | | system) to emit coded pulses of low-intensity light with |
| use a UVA/UVB sunscreen, at least SPF 30 daily. | | | | less energy than a 25-watt light bulb. In this treatment |
| And, don't forget that solar radiation can penetrate right | | | | there is no heat energy involved and no discomfort at |
| through clouds and windows. | | | | all. These broadband light treatments combine well with |
| But I'll admit it – even if you do everything right, you | | | | microdermabrasion, producing an even skin tone, |
| may still get age spots. So, let's take a look at some | | | | reducing fine wrinkles, and leaving the skin softened |
| treatments you can discuss with your cosmetic | | | | and refreshed. |
| dermatologist, to see what's best for you. | | | | Laser treatments use an intense light at a single |
| The leading mechanical age-spot remedy is | | | | frequency. Some laser treatments do damage |
| microdermabrasion. Rubbing the skin with extremely | | | | surface skin cells and cause them to exfoliate. This |
| fine crystals, either on the tip of a wand or in a stream | | | | can leave the skin reddened, increasing recovery time |
| that blows against the skin and is suctioned away, | | | | and possibly yielding uneven results. So, for my clients, I |
| microdermabrasion removes the dead cells of the | | | | prefer to use the Fraxel™ laser. With this |
| skin's outer layer where the discolored cells reside. The | | | | breakthrough device, the energy passes through the |
| treatment brings bonuses: increased blood flow, | | | | surface skin to target darkened and damaged middle |
| stimulation of new cell growth and collagen, reduction | | | | layer cells. This process stimulates the skin to create |
| of fine wrinkles, deep cleansing of blackheads, and | | | | new cells and produce collagen for elasticity and |
| improvement of mild acne scarring – all are | | | | overall skin rejuvenation. With the Fraxel laser, too, |
| microdermabrasion benefits. | | | | there is no recovery time. This is the treatment I have |
| Further advantages to microdermabrasion are | | | | used on the backs of my own hands, and I'm very |
| convenience and safety. With few side effects and no | | | | impressed with the results. |
| anesthetic, microdermabrasion is quick enough to take | | | | If you see these little blotchy marks of age appearing |
| in over your lunch hour. Effective on all skin types and | | | | on your skin, don't despair. I haven't found a way to |
| colors, it's perfect for chemical-sensitive skin. You'll see | | | | keep them from showing up, but the science of |
| immediate results that increase over a series of | | | | cosmetic dermatology is definitely giving us ways to |
| treatments. | | | | show age spots to the door. |
| But, for longer-lasting results, your cosmetic | | | | |