Brown Spot Removal
Lasers and Treatments
Brown spots (pigmented lesions) are caused by a proliferation of melanocytes or an increased deposition of melanin in the dermis and/or epidermis. Melanocytes are the cells that manufacture melanin, which is the dark pigment in skin. Most of us have some brown spots in one form or another.
They include brown spots (lentigines), freckles (ephileds), moles (nevi) or birthmarks, Dermatosis Papulosis Nigra (small black marks primarily seen on people of Asian or African descent). Different lesions require different lasers and number of treatments. Your doctor will help you chose the best brown spot removal treatment.
Are laser treatments safe for brown spots?
Lasers originally began their use as medical instruments for the treatment of nevi and tattoos in the early 1960’s. Since then, lasers have been safely and effectively used by many specialties, including dermatology and plastic surgery for a wide range of treatments. In the hands of a trained healthcare professional, the use of a laser is safe and effective. If a patient has a family or personal history of melanoma then treatment of nevi must be done carefully, if at all.
How many treatments are needed?
The number of treatment sessions depends on the size, location, depth and color of your brown spots. Age and sun spots generally do well with one or two treatments, while darker or deeper birthmarks may require additional treatments, however as many as six to eight treatment sessions may be required for some lesions. Treatments are usually 4 to 8 weeks apart to allow your body to remove the maximum amount of pigment cells. You will continue to see a lightening of your lesion after each treatment as your body disposes of the pigment cells.
What is the benefit of using a laser over excisional surgery?
Are brown spot treatments painful?
Some patients say they feel a slight sting, like the snap of a rubber band on the skin, followed by the feeling of sunburn. Many treatments do not require anesthetics, however, some patients feel more comfortable with a local numbing agent like ice or an anesthetic cream. For others, a local anesthetic injection may be beneficial.
How does brown spot removal work?
A laser generates a beam of intense, concentrated light. This beam of light brings energy to a specific site, through a small handpiece connected to the laser. For brown spots we use a laser that is absorbed by melanin/pigment (black or brown pigment found in the skin) causing destruction of unwanted cells while leaving healthy cells intact.
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