SKIN SPOTS REMOVAL

 

Coffee colored skin spots typically give an aged appearance to those areas of our body that have suffered most from the effects of photo-aging. The areas most affected and for which treatment is indicated are:

 

• the hands
• the face
• shoulders
• the neckline

 

Spots of this type can result from prolonged exposure to the sun (sunspots) over the years in the absence of adequate sun protection. They can also simply be the consequence of the passing of years on particularly predisposed skin types (age spots).

 

Skin hyperpigmentation can appear on surgical or traumatic scars or on burned areas. The superficial nature of these lesions makes them the perfect  target of non-invasive pulsed light treatments.

 

THE PROCEDURE

 

During the treatment, the wavelength of the pulsed light is calibrated so that it is absorbed only by the melanosomes of the darkened tissue, raising the temperature to generate the explosion of the pigment. Then the target cells are destroyed without harming the surrounding tissues.

 

In the weeks prior to treatment, and immediately after, exposure to sunlight and / or UVA lamps should be avoided and drugs that increase photosensibility should not be taken. Sunscreens are essential before exposing the treated area to sunlight to avoid hyperpigmentation.

 

The treatment is carried out in the outpatient clinic. During the pulsed light session the patient does not feel pain, only a slight tingling. The duration depends on the extension of the affected area and on the type of intervention, but in general it can be said that the single session lasts around 30 minutes.

 

POST-TREATMENT

 

The interval between the sessions and the number of applications varies according to the individual cases but is usually 4 weeks. Once the spots to be removed have been identified,  transparent gel like the one used for ultrasound scans is applied to the area. The treatment takes place by placing a cold quartz lens in contact with the tissue.

 

You will feel a tingling sensation with a slight erythema that may last for half an hour. 

 

At the end of the session the spots will begin to darken and this color change will increase in the following days. The spots will appear a darker brown after a few days. 

There will be no scabs on the skin. For a few days it is preferable to use moisturizers on the treated areas, but it will be possible to wash and to applymake up, even physical activity will be possible since there will be no skin lesions or scabs, but only darkening of pre-existing spots.

 

Within 10-15 days the darker areas will tend to "flake", giving way to the well-healed underlying skin of a homogeneous color. 

Sometimes it is indicated to repeat the treatment to obtain a more complete result, but not before 30 days.

 After the disappearance of the spots it will be necessary to apply high sun protection creams in the photo-exposed areas such as the face or hands. 

After the treatment there are no recovery or convalescence times, because it will be enough to be careful not to expose the treated skin to the sun or at least to protect it with adequate sun screens.