Because the sun is something of a rarity in our country, we are notorious for being slightly reckless when it comes to going out in it. Yes, we all know that too much sun is bad for us and can lead to permanent skin damage as well as increasing the risk of skin cancer but we still need our vitamin D and that feel good boost which comes with a little careful tanning.
Even the most sensible tanners can find they sustained damage from years ago but it is only now showing on our skin in the form of sun spots or sun damage.
What are Sun Spots?
Sun spots are discolourations of the skin which usually occur on the hands, the forearms, the back and the shoulders but it’s the ones on the face that usually bother people the most. They’re caused by too much melanin (skin pigment) being produced in a particular area so no amount of washing will make them go away. Special products and treatments are required to remove sun spots.
How are Sun Spots Treated?
It’s not always possible to totally remove sun spots but, if you want your sun spots to be less noticeable, treatments are available to lighten or sometimes even remove them completely.
Sun spot treatments include: Medications such as prescription bleaching creams (hydroquinone) which can either be used alone or in conjunction with retinoids (tretinoin) and a mild steroid may gradually fade the spots over several months. You may see over the counter or commercially available cosmetics which claim to remove or lessen sun spots but they’re very rarely, if ever, effective.
How We Treat Sun Spots
We offer cosmetic product treatment options such as chemical peels or resurfacers which do help but the most immediate answer is our laser treatment.
The PicoSure laser targets the pigment in your skin smashing it into tiny particles for your lymphatic system to gobble up and dispose of naturally. The treatment lasts around 15 minutes and is mildly uncomfortable with minimal downtime and after effects. Your skin will feel and look flushed for around an hour but will be left pigment free. Double up with a Focus Treatment straight afterwards for optimum results which will also leave your skin tightened whilst closing large pores and increasing collagen and elastin.