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Q: Now that summer is over, my tan is fading. I have dark brown patches and spots on my face that are making me feel very self-conscious. If I use a tanning bed through the winter months to stay tan, will it help hide these brown spots?
A: Stop… Back away from the phone… Do not schedule a tanning appointment. Covering up sun damage by getting more sun damage is never the answer.
First, understand that the UV radiation (exposure to the sun or a tanning bed) is the reason these unwelcome spots are appearing on your face in the first place. Though tanning your skin may initially camouflage them, those spots will become darker and multiply very quickly. Not only that, but eventually these unwelcome visitors will bring friends in form of lines, wrinkles, broken blood vessels, and poor skin texture. Your skin is giving you an initial visual warning. It is saying “STOP abusing me or else!” And believe me, “or else” means it will punish you by introducing you to lines, wrinkles, large pores, and rough texture next!”
Many people find themselves caught in the same viscous circle. They develop sun damage. Then to cover the sun damage, they sun tan. Then they develop more sun damage. It isn’t until the sun damage is so bad that it can no longer be hidden, that people truly realize what they have done to their skin. Your best bet is to give your skin the protection it is demanding and begin to correct the sun damage that is causing you to feel self-conscious.
So let’s talk about ways to correct your sun damage. There are many options that will help you to some degree or another. It is important to seek advice from someone who specializes in aging, sun damaged skin such as a Board-Certified Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon. They will help you match the amount of sun damage you have to the appropriate treatment. Usually the less expensive options are less aggressive and therefore give less result or require multiple treatments. If you are someone who is willing to be patient, some of the less aggressive options may work well for you. I will start with the least invasive options and work up.
Topical skincare treatment:
1. Avoid sun exposure as much as possible and protect your skin faithfully by applying a medical grade physical sunscreen every single day of the year, not just when it is hot or sunny. (THIS IS A MUST NO MATTER WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING SOLUTIONS YOU CHOOSE) We have 4 medical grade sunscreen options available here for our patients to meet the needs of any skin type.
2. Use a prescription skin lightening agent with retinol every night for 6 weeks. Both of these will help lighten the brown spots over time but you will need to be patient.
3. In addition, applying Vitamin C and E topically to the skin every morning may also improve your spots.
4. Talk with an experienced medical skincare specialist within a Cosmetic Plastic Surgeon’s office. Ask her or him to build a medical-grade skincare program for you based your skin injuries. Remember that there are no magic creams out there but there are some scientific based medical skincare products that will make great improvements to your skin. However, you must be faithful in applying them as directed.
Chemical Peels:
There are several formulations of strengths when it comes to chemical peels. I suggest you seek an experienced cosmetic plastic surgeon to develop your chemical peel plan. Chemical peels have a quantitative effect, so typically you would expect to have multiple peels. You need to protect your skin from UV radiation and use a physical sun block every day.
Intense Pulse Light (IPL) Treatments:
Intense Pulsed Light can improve both brown spots and redness. You should plan on three to six treatments depending on the severity of your sun damage. Expect redness and swelling for a few days following each treatment. Your brown spots will get darker before they get lighter. Then they will come to the surface and flake off. Again you will need to protect your skin from UV radiation and use a physical sun block every day.
CO2 Micro-Fractional Laser Resurfacing:
CO2 Micro-Fractional Laser Resurfacing is typically the best treatment for sun damage in the form of brown spots, melasma, lines, wrinkles, and the break-down of collagen and elastin. In most cases this is a one- time treatment. You will need to take about four days off from work or social activity as you will be swollen, red and your skin will peel between days three and five. This option will give you the best non-ablative results available if preformed by an experienced laser practitioner.
Roxanne Grace
Skincare and Laser Specialist
G. D. Castillo, M.D.
COSMETIC PLASTIC SURGERY
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