We all want smooth, even, flawless skin. But for many men and women, their quest for beautiful skin is beset by dark spots. These patches, known as melasma, affect about 3.5% of the population and are more common in women than men. 

Dark spots on the face can be particularly distressing, but don’t worry. There are things that you can do to get rid of them.

Join us as we explore what causes them and how to get rid of dark spots.

What Causes Dark Spots?

Dark spots, also called pigmented lesions or melasma, are usually brown patches on white skin. A build-up of pigmentation on people with black and brown skin also causes dark spots.

Whatever your skin tone, what causes dark spots is:

• Exposure to the sun
• Hormonal changes
• Genetic reasons
• Some skincare products

Dark spots are very common and many people, especially women, will develop them at some point in their lives. Most commonly, they are found on the face and forearms. That’s no surprise as these are the parts of our bodies that get the most sun exposure. 

Dark spots that occur due to hormonal reasons may fade on their own. For example, some women develop this condition during pregnancy. It’s so common that it’s sometimes called the mask of pregnancy.

Usually, in these cases, no treatment is needed. It will resolve once your hormones have returned to normal after pregnancy.

Other hormonal causes of dark spots on your face could include:

• Thyroid diseases
• PCOS
• Menopause
• Hormonal birth control.

The best way of removing these kinds of dark spots, is by resolving the underlying hormonal imbalances.

Who Is At Risk?

Anyone can be at risk of developing dark spots, although it’s much less common in men. Genetic factors can play a part, as can lots of sun exposure. As is always recommended in SoCal; it’s good to cover up or wear sunscreen when going outside.

Dark spots occur more commonly in women over the age of 50. However, people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s can also develop dark spots due to sun exposure.

How to Get Rid of Dark Spots

When thinking about how to get rid of dark spots, most people’s first choice is medicated creams. One popular choice is a topical medication called hydroquinone.

This can help to lighten the appearance of dark spots, but it may cause side effects. These include: dry skin, further discoloration, burning, and inflamed skin. 

Your doctor or dermatologist may also recommend other topical treatments. They can also rule out other conditions, which may look like melasma at first. They may prescribe corticosteroids and other stronger treatments to try to even out your skin tone.

How Laser Treatment Works

Creams may help, but one of the most effective treatments for dark spot removal is laser treatment.

The PicoWay Resolve laser treatment is a cutting-edge, FDA-approved, laser treatment for sun damage. It works by sending ultrashort laser pulses beneath the skin. Sessions take only 10-15 minutes. 

The laser works by shattering the build-up of pigment beneath the surface of the skin. The body’s natural healing processes then take over. They remove these minuscule particles of pigment, giving a lighter appearance to the skin.

After the treatment, the skin will initially become darker. Then the lesion will crust over and shed. Within a couple of weeks of a single treatment, you can expect to see results. 

For most people, a single facial dark spot treatment, or maybe two, is all they need to see a huge improvement in the evenness of their skin tone. During your personal assessment, we will evaluate whether one or two sessions are needed. 

The practitioners are experienced, well-trained nurse practitioners. They are fully certified laser technicians.

Using the advanced technology of the PicoWay Resolve system, they are able to target only the dark spots. The surrounding skin is not affected by the treatment. This means that there is very little downtime after a treatment session.

Benefits of Laser Treatment for Dark Spot Removal

Unlike other treatments that may take a long time to work, dark spot removal with lasers is fast.

The lasers target the pigmentation itself. The body then plays its part by removing the shattered pigmentation and healing the affected area. Results are visible within a couple of weeks.

It also fits with your busy lifestyle. With other chemical or abrasive treatments, there may be long periods of downtime after a treatment. With laser treatment, you can return to work or get on with other activities right away.

Another great benefit is that you are not tied into a long series of treatments. Just one or a maximum of two treatment sessions are needed to achieve great results. 

The procedure is also very comfortable. There is very little or no pain involved. The only expected side effect is some minor redness at the treatment site. 

Choose Better Off for Dark Spot Removal

We understand that many women out there are grappling with how to get rid of dark spots. Creams and serums can help, but for fast results, laser treatments are the way to go. 

At Better Off, we understand the science of treating dark spots. The PicoWay Resolve laser technology we use in our med spa eliminates the build-up of pigmentation beneath the surface of the skin. Just one or two treatments are usually all that you need!

Call us today on (760) 452-2722. Alternatively, fill out our online form and we’ll get in touch very soon!