Can Laser Skin Resurfacing Help With Sun Damage and Age Spots?

By Your Health Magazine Contributor

Your Health Magazine Contributor

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Can Laser Skin Resurfacing Help With Sun Damage and Age Spots?

Years of spending time outdoors in San Diego can leave their mark on your skin. You may begin to notice brown spots on your cheeks, uneven skin tone, rough patches, or fine lines that were not there before. These changes are common as we get older, but that does not mean you have to ignore them if they bother you.

Laser skin resurfacing is one treatment that can help improve the look of sun-damaged skin and some age spots. It uses focused light to remove or treat damaged areas and encourage healthier skin to grow. However, the results depend on the type of damage, your skin tone, and the laser used.

That said, below are six things to understand before considering treatment.

1. Understand What Causes Sun Damage and Age Spots

Sun damage builds up over time. Each time your skin is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) rays without enough protection, the rays can affect the cells and structures beneath the surface. Years later, this may show up as wrinkles, uneven color, rough texture, and brown spots.

Age spots, also called sun spots or solar lentigines, are flat brown or grayish marks that often appear on areas exposed to the sun. These include the face, hands, shoulders, and arms. They are more common as people get older, but long-term sun exposure plays a major role in their development.

Not every dark spot is an age spot, though. Some marks may be linked to other skin conditions, including skin cancer. Have a new, changing, or unusual spot checked by a qualified medical professional before trying to remove it.

2. Learn How Laser Skin Resurfacing Works

Laser skin resurfacing uses focused beams of light to treat damaged skin. Depending on the type of laser, it may remove thin layers of the outer skin or heat deeper layers to encourage collagen production and skin renewal.

As the treated area heals, new skin forms. This can make the surface look smoother and help improve uneven color, fine lines, and some signs of sun damage.

At clinics such as Gupta Plastic Surgery, fractional laser technology is used to treat small sections of skin while leaving healthy areas between them. These untreated areas help the skin heal, which can reduce recovery time compared with treating the entire surface at once.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons lists sun-damaged skin and liver spots among the concerns that laser resurfacing can improve. However, the treatment may not remove every spot or correct every type of pigmentation. Learn more about laser resurfacing.

3. Know Which Skin Concerns May Improve

Laser resurfacing can help with several changes caused by aging and sun exposure. The exact results depend on the treatment and how deep the damage goes.

Some concerns that may improve include:

• Brown sun spots: Certain lasers can target excess pigment and help fade some age spots.
• Uneven skin tone: Treatment may reduce patchy color and give the skin a more even look.
• Fine lines: Some resurfacing methods can soften small lines, especially around the mouth and eyes.
• Rough texture: Removing damaged surface layers can leave the skin feeling smoother.
• Mild skin changes: Certain treatments can improve the overall look of skin affected by years of sun exposure.

The American Academy of Dermatology notes that laser treatment can often clear age spots in one or two sessions, with results that may last longer than those from fading creams. However, lasers can also cause temporary crusting or darkening.

4. Choose a Treatment That Suits Your Skin

During a consultation for laser skin resurfacing in San Diego, it’s important to discuss your skin history, the spots you want treated, and any past reactions to skin procedures. Ask what type of laser is being considered and what results are reasonable for your skin.

That’s because not every laser works the same way. Some treatments are stronger and remove more of the outer skin, while others use gentler energy and work more gradually. A stronger treatment may offer more noticeable changes, but it can also involve more downtime and a higher risk of side effects.

Your skin tone is another important factor. People with darker skin may have a greater risk of dark or light patches after certain laser treatments. This does not mean laser resurfacing is always unsuitable, but the provider must choose the right device and settings.

5. Prepare for Recovery and Follow Aftercare Advice

Laser treatment does not always mean you can return to your usual routine immediately. Your skin may feel warm and tight, much like a sunburn. Swelling, redness, dryness, and peeling can also happen as it heals.

Recovery time depends on how deeply the laser treats the skin. With the fractional approach described by the clinic, treated areas may heal within four to seven days, while redness can take six to eight weeks to fade. Your own recovery may be different.

After treatment, follow your provider’s instructions carefully. You may need to:

• Clean the treated skin gently as directed.
• Apply the recommended ointment or moisturizer.
• Avoid picking, scratching, or peeling loose skin.
• Stay out of direct sunlight while your skin heals.
• Use broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher once your provider says sunscreen is safe to apply.

Contact your provider if you notice signs of infection, severe pain, or a reaction that seems unusual.

6. Protect Your Skin to Maintain the Results

Laser resurfacing can improve existing sun damage, but it cannot stop new damage from happening. If you spend time outdoors without protection, new spots may form and your results may fade. So it’s important to protect your skin from the sun.

Make sunscreen part of your daily routine, even when the weather is cloudy. Wear a wide-brimmed hat, seek shade when the sun is strongest, and use clothing that covers exposed areas when possible.

You should also ask about a skin care routine that suits your needs. Gentle cleansers, moisturizers, and selected products for uneven skin tone may help maintain your results. Avoid adding strong exfoliants or retinoids too soon after treatment, as your skin needs time to recover.

Give Your Skin the Care It Needs

Laser skin resurfacing can help reduce some age spots and signs of sun damage, leaving skin smoother and more even in tone. Still, the right treatment depends on what is causing the changes and how your skin is likely to respond.

Start with a proper skin check, discuss your options with a qualified provider, and follow aftercare advice closely. With good sun protection, you can also help maintain your results over time.