Over time, we all accumulate annoying brown spots/freckles/age spots/melanin deposits on our skin. Whatever we refer to them as, they are always something we strive to lighten or erase. We look at them and regret all that unprotected time in the sun we enjoyed when we were young! There may be many products that line our bathroom cabinets that we have bought to lighten them. Topical products can help, but as this article explains, work best when used with procedures offered in a medical spa.
We asked Dr. Nicole Norris at Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa which medical grade cosmetic procedures/products work the best for minimizing brown spots in the skin. “This is a very common complaint that I hear during my consultations with patients. It is important that I examine brown spots closely. Some are treatable in my office and some are best treated with removal by a dermatologist or surgeon. The brown spots that I treat are usually caused by sun damage to the skin. Melanosomes are cells in our skin that make melanin or brown pigment. When melanosomes are stimulated by radiation from the sun, hot temperatures, LED lighting, or inflammation in the skin, they produce pigment that builds up in the skin over time. This is how we get a suntan, this is how we get freckles, and this is how we get age spots! The most important thing to do if you don’t want brown spots or you don’t want any new ones, is to wear sunscreen every day and a hat/protective clothing when outdoors. The next thing I discuss with these pigment perplexed patients is products at home. There are multiple medical-grade corrective products that can lighten pigment or keep it away once we have treated it. I like to get my patients on a combination regimen of topical vitamin C&E in the morning, retinol at night, and hydroquinone 2% twice a day. Then we talk about in-office procedures. IPL (Intense pulse light/photofacial) laser procedures are very effective. This laser energy is attracted to brown pigment under the surface of the skin. The energy destroys the pigment and over the next 7-14 days, the now microscopic pigment particles, come to the surface and slough off. This treatment has little or no downtime and feels like warm rubber band snaps. Patients usually start with a series of 3-5 and then do 1-2 every fall for a touch-up after being in the heat. Another procedure that is very effective for pigment are medium or deep chemical peels. These procedures are not painful, but are usually accompanied by dry, flaking skin for 3-5 days after medium-depth peels and 5-14 days of flaking skin with deep peels, such as my favorite, the Retinol 6% peel! The Retinol 6% peel is also effective for treating other signs of aging skin, such as loose skin, thin skin and wrinkles. If you are ready to wage war on your brown spots, we are ready to help you!” answered Dr. Norris.
Now through the end of January, come in for a consultation for your annoying pigment and you will receive a discount on your homecare regimen. Also in January, try a Retinol 6% peel and an IPL laser treatment for $499 (a $300 savings) or and then have the opportunity to buy a package of 3 of whichever you like better for 20% off in 2019. Call Now to book you Consult with Dr. Norris!
