Brown Spots/Skin Aging

Mohs Surgery & Dermatology Center

Dermatologists & Mohs Surgery located in Elgin, Huntley & Crystal Lake, IL

Brown spots that develop from skin aging and sun exposure can’t be avoided, but there is a solution. The team at Mohs Surgery & Dermatology Center can safely eliminate your brown spots with a photofacial using a cutting-edge device: Sciton® BroadBand Light™. To learn more about eliminating brown spots and restoring your appearance without surgery, call one of the offices in Elgin, Huntley, Crystal Lake, and Fox Lake, Illinois, or book an appointment online.

Brown Spots/Skin Aging Q & A

What Causes Brown Spots as Your Skin Ages?

Whether you call them brown spots, liver spots, sun spots, or age spots, they’re all the same cosmetic problem. These skin discolorations are caused by an overproduction of melanin, the pigment in your skin, in a condition called hyperpigmentation.

As you get older, the cells in melanin get larger and become more visible. Exposure to ultraviolet light from any source, whether the sun or a tanning bed, accelerates melanin production.

Your cumulative exposure to ultraviolet light over the years combined with skin aging leads to brown spots.

How Does Broadband Light Treat Brown Spots?

Phototherapy with the Sciton BroadBand Light (BBL) is a noninvasive treatment that uses innovative light-based technology to eliminate brown spots. The BBL delivers rapid pulses of a wide range of wavelengths.

The light is filtered to emit a wavelength that’s only absorbed by the melanin pigment in your skin. As brown spots absorb light energy, the pigments break down and they’re permanently eliminated. Meanwhile, the surrounding skin isn’t damaged because it didn’t absorb the light.

What Can I Expect During and After Treatment for Brown Spots?

Before your treatment, you’ll undergo a skin evaluation so your doctor can determine the number of treatments you’ll need.

During your treatment, BBL emits short pulses of light, causing a sensation described as a rubber-band-snap sensation. Although it’s well tolerated by most patients, your provider at Mohs Surgery & Dermatology Center can provide a topical anesthetic to ensure your comfort.

Your eyes are covered to protect them from the light, then your provider places the handheld BBL device against your skin and sends out a light pulse. The procedure takes about 15-30 minutes, depending on the size of the area being treated.

Afterward, your skin may be slightly red but that goes away in a few hours, so you don’t need to plan downtime. Over the next 7-10 days, the treated brown spots darken and flake off.

If you’re ready to regain a youthful appearance by getting rid of brown spots, call Mohs Surgery & Dermatology Center or book an appointment online.

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