Dark Spots

What causes dark spots?

Dark spots, which can be brown, gray, or even black, occur for a variety of reasons. They usually develop in areas that have the most sun exposure since your skin produces extra pigmentation (melanin) to try to protect itself from the sun’s harmful rays. Dark spots can also form because of:

• Family history of dark spots
• Tanning bed use
• Hormonal changes
• Older age

Vitiligo and tinea versicolor are other conditions that lead to lighter spots, or even light pink or reddish discoloration. While it isn’t well understood why some men and women develop light spots on their skin, having a weakened immune system, autoimmune disease, family history, or even certain environmental factors can all contribute.

How are dark spots treated?

At Advanced Dermatology, your provider sits down with you and discusses your entire medical history before putting together your treatment plan. Depending on the cause of your dark spots and their severity, your treatment plan may include:

• Laser skin resurfacing
• Intense pulsed light sessions
• Chemical peels
• Microdermabrasion
• Cryosurgery

If you have light spots, your provider may recommend steroid treatments, ultraviolet light therapy, or certain topical solutions. In some cases, more than one type of treatment is needed to achieve even-toned skin and reduce the appearance of dark or light spots.

How many dark spot treatments do I need?

It’s common to need a series of dark (or light) spot treatments. After all, it takes time for your skin to regenerate new cells and tissues, and push away old damaged cells. You could need at least 2-3 treatments, each spaced at least a month apart, to notice a dramatic improvement.

During your skin evaluation at Advanced Dermatology, your provider lets you know about how many treatments you need and when you can expect results. Because dark and light spots can surface again in the future, especially if they stem from sun exposure, age, or family history, your provider could recommend coming in several times each year for touch-up visits to keep your skin healthy and prevent issues with future discoloration.

Before living another day with uneven skin tone issues, book a consultation at Advanced Dermatology. Click the online scheduler or call your closest office.

Individual results may vary.