Whether you call them age spots, sun spots, or liver spots, we’re talking about the same thing—those pesky dark areas that tend to appear on the face, hands, chest, and arms.
While these dark spots aren’t usually a cause for medical concern, they can affect your confidence and self-esteem. And we are not gonna let that slide.
You deserve to feel your best every day of the year. If brown spots are holding you back from living life to its fullest, it’s time for a change.
Blush Aesthetics is a med spa in Perrysburg that helps patients look and feel beautiful each and every day. Whether you’re interested in skincare products, injectables, body sculpting, or skin revitalization, our team has the knowledge and expertise to help you reach your aesthetic goals.
In this blog, our skincare experts are taking a deep dive into brown spots. We’re covering everything from the cause of these unwanted spots to the best treatment for brown spot removal in Toledo. So buckle up and get ready for your journey to better skin!
What Are Brown Spots?
First, let’s make sure we’re on the same page about what exactly these brown spots are and where they came from.
What They Look Like
Brown spots can look slightly different depending on your skin tone and type, but generally, these spots are a brown, black, or tan color. They tend to show up in areas that see frequent sun (like your face, hands, arms, and shoulders), but it’s possible for them to appear in less visible areas too.
Brown spots usually have a fairly uniform round or oval shape with well-defined edges. They can be completely flat or raised and warty. If you’re unsure about a spot on your skin, our experienced providers can evaluate the spot and determine the right treatment for your needs.
What They Are
These brown spots are areas of hyperpigmentation in the skin. You have a natural pigment in your body called melanin that gives color to your skin, hair, and eyes. Hyperpigmentation is when there is an increased concentration of this melanin, causing those spots to appear.
What Causes Them
So now that we know what these brown spots are, it’s time to shed light on the cause of their unwanted debut. Brown spots can result from a number of factors, including:
Sun Exposure
Turns out our moms were right on this one—wearing sunscreen is always necessary! Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is one of the primary reasons that we develop brown spots. But how does it work?
UV radiation stimulates the production of melanin in your skin. Ever wonder why your skin tans when you spend time in the sun? It’s all thanks to melanin! And while everyone loves a bit of color to their skin, our bodies actually produce melanin as a protective factor to defend against the harmful UV light.
As melanin increases in your body, it’s more likely to be unevenly distributed and cluster in certain areas of the skin. These effects compound over time, so while brown spots may not be immediately visible, they are more likely to show up as the years pass by.
Aging
And while we’re talking about the years flying by, it brings us to the next culprit of brown spots: aging. As we get older, the natural process of cell turnover in our skin slows down. This means that fresh, new cells take more time to produce, and the dead cells hang around for longer.
Collagen and elastin production also decrease as we age. These essential proteins give our skin support and elasticity, and it’s the reason why we see wrinkles and thinning skin develop over time. When our skin becomes thinner, it makes the pigmentation irregularities underneath the surface more visible.
Related: The Best Anti-Aging Treatments in Toledo
Genetics
Sometimes the reason you need brown spot removal in Toledo simply comes down to genetic factors. If your parents or grandparents had age spots, you may be predisposed to developing them too. Several genetic-related factors can contribute to this, including:
- Your skin type (people with fair skin are more susceptible to the effects of UV radiation)
- Melanin production (some people have genetic variations that result in uneven melanin distribution)
- Tendency to sunburn (individuals who burn easily and have difficulty tanning are at a higher risk for developing age spots)
Hormonal Changes
Over the course of our lives, our bodies go through different hormonal stages and phases. But did you know that hormones can actually influence our body’s melanin production?
This is especially true for women during periods of significant hormonal changes (like pregnancy and menopause). If you take medications that impact your hormones, like oral birth control or hormone therapy, this can also contribute to the development of age spots.
Medical Conditions
The last factors that can impact the appearance of brown spots are medical conditions and medications. The following conditions can impact the appearance of brown spots:
- Adrenal disorders
- Thyroid disorders
- Medications that cause light sensitivity
- Lack of essential vitamins (like B12 and folic acid) in your diet
Treatments for Brown Spots
You’ve made it to the best part—let’s get into the treatments that can erase those unwanted marks! The two main treatments for age spots to really improve the skin are lasers and light therapy.
Lasers for Brown Spot Removal
In Toledo, lasers are one of our favorite treatments to erase aging spots.
Moxi Laser
Moxi is a non-ablative, gentle laser that is perfect for treating signs of aging—which includes brown spots! This laser is so quick and easy that some patients get treatment over their lunch break. After as little as 25 minutes, you can get right back to your day!
Benefits
The Moxi laser is incredible at breaking down excess melanin in the skin to swiftly erase brown spots. But with Moxi, there is even more. This laser can also reduce the appearance of:
- Enlarged pores
- Uneven skin tones
- Melasma
- Wrinkles and fine lines
Halo Laser
Halo laser resurfacing uses a combination of ablative and non-ablative wavelengths to penetrate deep into the skin. By targeting the deeper layers of skin, this laser can target hyperpigmentation at its source.
Benefits
In addition to brown spot removal in Toledo, the HALO laser can also improve:
- Facial redness
- Enlarged pores
- Uneven skin tone and texture
- Scars
- The appearance of small veins
- Fine lines and wrinkles
Learn more about laser rejuvenation in Toledo →
TRL Resurfacing
The Contour Tunable Resurfacing Laser (TRL) is a fully customizable ablative laser that addresses the outermost layers of skin to reduce the appearance of dark spots. We offer two treatments with this laser:
MicroLaserPeel
MicroLaserPeels remove aged, damaged, or discolored layers of skin to reveal fresh, new skin below. Some patients see their desired results with just one MicroLaserPeel treatment!
NanoLaserPeel
NanoLaserPeel is a lighter treatment that removes the topmost layer of skin. If you are looking for a gentler treatment, this peel may be right for you.
Light Therapy for Brown Spot Removal
Another way to treat age spots is with light therapy. Let us introduce you to the protagonist of the show, BBL Hero.
BBL Hero Photofacial
BBL is a light therapy treatment that uses the power of intense pulsed light (IPL) to dramatically improve the health and appearance of your skin. This treatment emits a broad spectrum of light energy to reduce the unnecessary melanin in your skin. With no downtime, you’ll love what this treatment can do.
Benefits
When you get a BBL Photofacial, you can expect more than just brown spot removal in Toledo. Along with dark spots, BBL can treat:
- Rosacea and redness
- Acne
- Sagging skin
- Wrinkles and fine lines
Related: Halo vs. BBL: Which Treatment is Right for You?
Other Treatments for Brown Spot Removal
At Blush Aesthetics, we have an entire selection of treatments for brown spot removal. One treatment that doesn’t fall into the category of lasers or lights is the Subnovii Plasma Pen—a treatment so unique it deserves its own category.
Subnoviii Plasma Pen
The Subnovii Plasma Pen uses the power of plasma to resurface the skin’s surface and minimize the appearance of dark spots. This device uses highly controlled, low-frequency emissions for an incredibly precise treatment.
Benefits
The Subnovii Plasma Pen treats a variety of concerns, including:
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Dark spots
- Sebaceous hyperplasia
- Skin tags
Combination Treatments
The treatments described above offer powerful results on their own, but if you want to see faster results that last longer, combining treatments is the way to go! Combining a light therapy treatment with a laser treatment can make significant improvements to brown spots in just a couple of treatments.
Wondering which treatment (or treatment combination) would be best for you? That’s why we’re here! Our skincare specialists create personalized treatment plans for each patient during their individualized consultation.
It All Starts With a Consultation
If you want to remove dark spots, the process all starts with a skincare consultation in Toledo. At this consultation, you’ll sit down with one of our skincare experts so we can learn more about you, your medical history, and your goals for treatment.
At this consultation, we’ll also examine the area you’d like treated. Using specialized VISIA technology, we can evaluate your skin on a deeper level, measuring and recording skin conditions like UV damage, redness, wrinkles, and more.
This VISIA analysis helps guide our treatments and also gives us baseline measurements. Using this information, we can look back after your treatment course and compare the condition of your skin!
Visit Blush Aesthetics for Brown Spot Removal in Toledo
At Blush Aesthetics, we’ve built our entire practice around providing the skin treatments, resources, and support you need to feel your best. Whether you’re considering your first treatment or are a long-term patient, it’s our mission to provide premier, personalized cosmetic care.
Schedule your consultation to get started.
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