Skin Damage – Sun Spots
Conveniently located to serve the areas of Santa Monica and Los Angeles
A sunspot is a pigmented mark on the skin that occurs as a result of excessive exposure to the sun. To protect itself from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, the skin creates a dark pigment called melanin. This pigment does not always spread itself evenly, resulting in sun spots. Skin damage can build up throughout one’s life and make the skin appear patchy and aesthetically unpleasant. To address this issue, there are a variety of skin damage treatments that can reduce the appearance of sunspots and provide a uniform complexion. These include chemical peels, laser and light treatments, and more.
At Derm & Rejuvenation Institute, Dr. Tanya Kormeili offers effective sun spot treatments for patients in Santa Monica and the Greater Los Angeles area. She is a highly experienced dermatologist who utilizes the latest innovative technology and medical science to provide exceptional skin care. For more information, call (310) 526-8301 or contact us online.
Before and After Photos
Contents
About Skin Damage Treatment
UltraViolet (UV) rays begin damaging our skin as soon as we are first exposed to the sun as children. Over time, the damage that they cause accumulates into signs of photoaging, characterized by wrinkling, brown spots, and melasma (dark and patchy pigmentation), as well as different types of skin cancers. (1) Treating sun damage with minimally invasive to noninvasive procedures can significantly improve the quality and appearance of the skin, bringing it a new and youthful look. Because sun damage can indicate or lead to serious conditions, Dr. Kormeili has a treatment protocol that prioritizes safety for her patients:
- Evaluation of any actual skin cancers and their prompt treatment
- Examination for any pre-skin cancers (actinic keratosis) and coming up with a treatment plan to eliminate them before they become cancerous
- Assessing the level of sun damage
- Plan for brown spot removal (which indicates sun damage via UV rays)
- Plan for DNA damage repair (remove DNA sun damage)
- Removal of the DNA-damaged skin to promote healthy cell growth (sun-damaged skin turnover)
The specific treatments that can address sun-damaged skin will be different for each person. Dr. Kormeili can recommend the best treatment for you at a personal consultation. The treatments available at Derm & Rejuvenation Institute include chemical peels, Fraxel laser therapy, IPL photofacial therapy, Vbeam laser treatment, and blood facial PRP.
Chemical Peel
Chemical peels can treat skin damage on the face, neck, chest, shoulders, arms, and legs. They are chemical solutions that work by removing the outermost layers of skin, revealing fresh and healthy-looking skin underneath. Different types of chemical peels target varying depths of skin, so this treatment can be custom-tailored to treat your skin damage. In addition to improving the color consistency of your skin and brightening your complexion, they can also smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. (2) Our chemical peel options include:
Fraxel Laser Therapy
Fraxel laser therapy is a non-invasive treatment that can treat skin damage on the face, neck, and chest. It can provide skin rejuvenation without causing damage to the skin by applying fractionated beams of laser energy. This technology can treat specific areas of the skin while leaving other parts intact. When the Fraxel laser affects the skin, it stimulates the production of collagen, a structural protein that can replace old skin cells with new and healthy ones. This can effectively reduce sun spots, as well as scars, stretch marks, fine lines, and wrinkles.
IPL Photofacial Therapy
IPL photofacial therapy utilizes a specialized light system to perform photo-rejuvenation on the skin. It can treat sun damage on the face, neck, and chest. The treatment involves a device that applies Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) to the skin to remove pigmented molecules (including sun spots). This also stimulates the production of collagen, further improving the appearance of the skin.
Vbeam® Laser Treatment
Vbeam® laser treatment applies Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL) energy to the skin, which is absorbed by blood vessels and discolored pigments on the skin. PDL energy contains a dye that directly changes the color of the skin to improve complexion and reduce redness. This treatment can address sun spots, rosacea, red blotches, broken blood vessels, and red birthmarks.
Blood Facial PRP
Blood facial PRP, also known as a “vampire” treatment, utilizes the power of a patient’s own blood to rejuvenate the skin on their face. By taking the patient’s blood and processing it in a centrifuge, we can make Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP). Rich in growth factors and healing compounds, PRP injections can increase skin health and reduce the appearance of damage and sun spots. It can also reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
Benefits of Sun Spot Treatment
Numerous benefits make receiving skin damage treatment at Derm & Rejuvenation Institute an efficient and effective solution. These include:
- Reducing sun spots, brown spots, and general discoloration of the skin
- Diminishing fine lines and wrinkles
- Rejuvenating the appearance and health of the skin overall
- Reducing the chances of developing skin cancer
- Improving complexion and making skin tone more consistent
- Increasing self-confidence and strengthening self-esteem
Who is a Candidate for Skin Damage Treatment?
While our damaged skin treatments are relatively noninvasive and easy on most skin types, some conditions may make these procedures unsafe or ineffective for you. If you have a history of abnormal healing or dark complexion with your scarring, a sensitive skin condition, or are on certain types of acne medication, these treatments may do more harm than good. If you have a darker skin tone, you may experience uneven pigmentation as a result of these treatments. Dr. Kormeili can let you know about your unique skin tone at your consultation. If you have severe wrinkling, sagging skin, and other signs of aging, more invasive surgical procedures like a facelift or eyelid surgery may be better suited for your goals.
Personal Consultation
At your personal consultation, Dr. Kormeili can tell you all about our skin damage treatment options, walking you through the procedure processes for each one. She will examine the condition of your skin, and you can tell her about the results that you hope to see. She will also ask you about your medical history, including details about your past prescriptions, surgeries, and conditions. With safety and efficacy in mind, she will be able to recommend the best treatment option for you. She will create a personalized treatment plan for you and will be able to provide an accurate cost estimate. At the end of your consultation, you can schedule your first procedure appointment with our office.
To schedule your consultation, call (310) 526-8301 or fill out this form.
Preparation
Preparing for your skin damage treatment will bolster the ease, safety, and success of your procedure. After your consultation, we will give you personalized preparation instructions based on your procedure plan and the particular treatment that you will be receiving. These may include important changes to your prescriptions and daily life. Before any skin treatment procedure, there are some general precautions that we recommend:
- Avoid electrolysis and skin waxing one week before your procedure
- Avoid abrasive and acidic skin care products for two days before your procedure
- Apply sunscreen consistently and avoid excessive sun exposure
- Quit smoking to promote better healing
- Avoid NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) like ibuprofen and aspirin, as well as vitamin E and certain herbal supplements, to avoid excessive bleeding and bruising
- Stay consistently hydrated
Skin Damage Treatment Procedure
At Derm & Rejuvenation Institute, we perform our skin damage treatment procedures on an outpatient basis. The procedure process will vary widely depending on the treatment that you receive. If necessary, we will provide local anesthesia or a topical numbing agent to prevent any discomfort.
Recovery
Our skin damage treatments require little to no downtime from work or everyday activity. This will depend on the extent of your treatment and your rate of healing. We recommend avoiding strenuous activities until you are completely healed. If you receive a chemical peel or laser treatment, your skin will take a few weeks to heal, and you may experience dryness, redness, and peeling. If you receive blood facial PRP treatment, your injection sites may exhibit redness, swelling, and irritation. Any discomfort that you experience as a result of these treatments should go away on its own. If these symptoms become bothersome, we can recommend or prescribe medications that can alleviate them. We will give you specific recovery guidelines and precautions based on your treatment plan.
Results
Because most of our skin damage treatments utilize the body’s own healing processes, including interactions with growth factors and collagen, your results will reveal themselves gradually. If you receive a chemical peel, your outermost layer of skin will peel off to reveal a new and healthy layer. This new skin may appear pink for a few weeks until it heals. The results of your treatment will last up to several years. Leading a healthy lifestyle while avoiding excessive sunlight and keeping a consistent skincare routine will help to prolong them. It is possible to receive additional skin damage treatment to maintain your results long-term.
How Much Does Sun Spot Treatment Cost in Santa Monica?
The exact cost of your skin damage treatment will depend on the treatments that you undergo and the number of sessions that you come in for, among other factors. To learn more about how much skin damage treatment costs at Derm & Rejuvenation Institute, call (310) 526-8301 or visit our contact page.
FAQ
Why do sunspots form?
When the skin is exposed to the sun, it creates a dark pigment called melanin to protect itself from harmful UV rays. Melanin does not always appear evenly, which can create spots and patches of darker pigment on the skin. Sunspots naturally accumulate with age, and dermatological procedures like chemical peels and laser treatments can address them.
What is collagen?
Collagen is a naturally occurring structural protein that keeps the skin strong and healthy. With age, the production of collagen slowly diminishes, resulting in weakened skin that can show more signs of damage and aging. This can make the skin more vulnerable to developing sun spots. Through treatments that encourage new collagen production, the skin can rehabilitate itself and improve its appearance.
Are chemical peels painful?
Chemical peels create controlled injuries within the skin to remove the outermost layer and promote healing and regrowth. While this sounds like a painful process, providers apply the appropriate numbing agents to their patients’ skin to avoid discomfort during the chemical peel procedure. Patients may feel some irritation while their skin peels, heals, and recovers, but this is typically mild and can be treated with medication.
References
- Rittie L, Fisher GJ. Natural and Sun-Induced Aging of Human Skin. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine. 2015;5(1):a015370-a015370. doi:https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a015370
- Samargandy S, Raggio BS. Skin Resurfacing Chemical Peels. PubMed. Published 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547752/