Treating Dark Age Spots on the Hands with IPL
Hyperpigmentation, those dark spots on the skin commonly known as “age spots”, can add years to a man or woman’s appearance. And while dark or discolored spots on the face are the most noticeable, age spots can appear anywhere on the body. The second most common area where unsightly age spots develop is on the back of the hands – due to the hand’s exposure to the sun’s UV rays year-round.
There are many causes of hyperpigmentation (“age spots”) – from heredity to hormones. And there are just as many “miracle” creams and cures that claim to fade age spots, but that just don’t work.
The only way to truly get rid of age spots on the face or hands is by destroying the dark spots at their source, with professional laser pigmentation removal. The fastest, most effective, and permanent solution to age spots is IPL (intense pulsed light) therapy – available at Advanced Laser Skincare & Spa in the Sterling Heights area.
IPL, is a type of advanced laser treatment which is typically used to refine facial skin. But it is just as effective at permanently getting rid of age spots on the back of the hands. In this article the skin care experts at Advanced Laser Skincare & Spa in the Sterling Heights area explain how IPL can get rid of age spots on the hands.
Causes of Age Spots on the Hands
And every ethnicity, skin color and skin type is susceptible to hyperpigmentation – although dark spots will usually be more noticeable on lighter skinned individuals. UV sun exposure, aging, and a combination of the two, are the most common reasons that age spots develop. But spikes in hormone levels, as well as skin injury, acne, and some medications can also cause the development of age spots, as well.
Age Spots Due to Sun and Aging
The outer layer of skin (epidermis) contains certain cells called melanocytes that produce the pigment Melanin – this is what causes people to tan when they are out in the sun. But melanocytes become less balanced as the body gets older and certain areas—like the hands—will develop a higher concentration of pigmented melanocytes.
When any of these more highly concentrated areas of melanocytes are stimulated by UV ray exposure, hyperpigmentation can occur. So, the older you are, and the more UV ray exposure you have, the greater the likelihood of developing age spots.
Hormonal Causes of Age Spots
Age spots are also sometimes referred to “liver spots” or “lentigines”. And when pigmentation forms patches rather than isolated spots it is typically referred to as “melasma”. Dark spots can develop anywhere that skin is exposed to the sun’s UV rays, but they are most typically found on the hands and face.
Melasma has nothing to do with age – but is the result of fluctuations in hormone levels – such as the rising and falling levels of estrogen and progesterone during pregnancy. In fact, melasma spots on the cheeks, forehead, and nose are often given the name “the mask of pregnancy” because they often show up when a woman is carrying a child.
Injury and Acne Can Causes of Dark Spots
Skin trauma or injury, including acne, can also leave permanent dark spots know as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. This results when inflammation of the epidermis (outer skin layer) causes a spike in the production of melanin to the damaged area.
Treating Age Spots on the Hands with IPL
Hyperpigmentation such as age spots and melasma will generally not simply go away without professional, medical grade skin treatments. Some over-the-counter lightening creams may fade the appearance of dark spots temporarily – but these drug store and online “miracle creams” cannot completely or permanently remove dark spots, like IPL treatments can.
At Advanced Laser Skincare & Spa in the Sterling Heights area we offer state-of-the-art Elos IPL treatments, for the most advanced and effective hyperpigmentation removal. Elos is the first and only IPL technology that uses combined radiofrequency and pulsed light laser energies to effectively and gently restore and rejuvenate the appearance of your skin. Elos is truly the next generation of safe and effective skin rejuvenation technology.
IPL treatments are sometimes called “photorejuvenation” or “photofacial” – even when they are used on the hands. Thermal energy is delivered using powerful flashes of laser light that penetrate deeply into the dermal (lower) layers of the skin – while leaving the outer layers of skin unaffected.
Under the surface of the skin, the precise wavelengths of the IPL light target the darker pigment in the melanin, while leaving the surrounding skin cells untouched. When the heat penetrates the dark pigment particles in the age spots, it breaks them down and destroys them. Then the destroyed melanin particles either rise to the surface of the skin and slough off – or they are naturally eliminated naturally by the body’s lymphatic system over time.
Advantages of IPL Treatment for Hand Age Spots
In addition to being a safe and affordable, IPL treatments come with another advantage: there is no downtime afterwards. Since the IPL wavelengths leave the epidermis (outer layer) of skin intact there is no recovery period, and patients can return to their normal activities immediately.
After an IPL procedure, some patients may experience slight pinkness – but this usually disappears within a few hours to a couple days. And while some results of the IPL treatment are visible immediately after just one session, results will continue to improve over the next several weeks as the body eliminates the destroyed melanin (pigment) cells.
Patients who have darker or more extensive hyperpigmentation, may need multiple IPL to achieve optimal results. At Advanced Laser Skincare & Spa in the Sterling Heights area, we often recommend five sessions for patients with deeper or darker age spots on the face or hands.
IPL for Age Spots on the Hands | Sterling Heights Area
The trained skincare professionals at Advanced Laser Skincare & Spa in Sterling Heights, MI can help restore your skin to a beautiful, clear, smooth and more youthful state with IPL. We will begin with a professional skin consultation, to see if IPL or another one of our advanced skin treatments is right for your specific skincare needs and appearance goals.
Schedule an IPL laser age spot treatment at Advanced Laser Skincare & Spa in the Sterling Heights are – and say goodbye to dark spots on your face and hands for good!
Age Spot Treatments | Sterling Heights Area: 586.286.4508
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