Laser brown spot removal is a procedure that can be used to reduce or eliminate brown spots on the skin. It works by using a laser to remove the top layer of skin. Sometimes, this results in some scarring and discoloration that fades away over time. The cost of laser brown spot removal will vary depending on where you get it done, but on average it costs between $200 and $500 per session.
The best way to find out how much laser brown spot removal will cost is to call around to different dermatologists and ask them what they charge for a session of this procedure.
Laser Brown Spot Removal
The average cost of laser brown spot removal varies greatly depending on the size, number, and location of the spots. Laser treatment can cost anywhere from $50 per treatment to $500 per treatment, so it’s important to find a qualified professional who can give you an accurate quote.
In this article we will discuss laser treatment for dark spots side effects and best laser for age spots
Laser light treatment is a flash, similar to a camera flash. The frequency of that light is best absorbed by the dark pigmented spots in the skin. The surrounding light skin, which is not pigmented, does not pick up that light very well, so the dark pigmented cells absorb virtually all of the light’s energy and simply peel off after a few days.
The laser treatment itself takes approximately 30-minutes and is mildly uncomfortable. The sensation you feel is similar to a rubber band snapping on your skin. One treatment is often enough to be effective, but some people may want to do as many as three treatments depending on the level of sun damage.
It’s not uncommon for people to have brown spots on their hands, arms or face. The pigment is consistent and you usually can’t feel them because they’re flat, not raised.
These brown spots are often referred to as age spots, liver spots or sun spots. In medical terms, these brown spots are known as lentigines, which are basically sun spots caused by damage to the skin. Lentigines tend to make our skin look weathered, old and unsightly.
Cost of Laser Treatments
If you plan to opt for laser skin treatments in India, then the cost per session will be between Rs. 2000 – Rs. 40,000. You can also avail of laser treatment packages, which include several sessions for a specific issue at affordable rates.
Generally, the cost of your laser skin treatment relies upon the factors like:
- Type of laser used for the treatment
- The severity of your skin condition
- Expertise level of your dermatologist
- Clinical procedure prescribed
- Quality standards followed by the skin clinic
Risks
Laser resurfacing can cause side effects. Side effects are milder and less likely with nonablative approaches than with ablative laser resurfacing.
- Redness, swelling, itching and pain. Treated skin may swell, itch or have a burning sensation. Redness may be intense and might last for several months.
- Acne. Applying thick creams and bandages to your face after treatment can worsen acne or cause you to temporarily develop tiny white bumps (milia) on treated skin.
- Infection. Laser resurfacing can lead to a bacterial, viral or fungal infection. The most common infection is a flare-up of the herpes virus — the virus that causes cold sores. In most cases, the herpes virus is already present but dormant in the skin.
- Changes in skin color. Laser resurfacing can cause treated skin to become darker than it was before treatment (hyperpigmentation) or lighter (hypopigmentation). Permanent changes in skin color are more common in people with dark brown or Black skin. Talk with your doctor about which laser resurfacing technique reduces this risk.
- Scarring. Ablative laser resurfacing poses a slight risk of scarring.
Laser resurfacing isn’t for everyone. Your doctor might caution against laser resurfacing if you:
- Have taken the acne medication isotretinoin (Amnesteem) during the past year
- Have a connective tissue or autoimmune disease or a weak immune system
- Have a history of keloid scars
- Have had radiation therapy to the face
- Have a history of previous laser resurfacing
- Are prone to cold sores or have had a recent outbreak of cold sores or herpes virus
- Have darker brown or Black skin or are very tanned
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Have a history of an outward-turning eyelid (ectropion)
Before laser resurfacing, you might also need to:
- Take medication to prevent complications. If you’re having ablative laser resurfacing — or nonablative laser resurfacing and you have a history of herpes infections around your mouth — your doctor will prescribe an antiviral medication before and after treatment to prevent a viral infection. Depending on your medical history, your doctor might recommend other medications before your procedure.
- Avoid unprotected sun exposure. Too much sun up to two months before the procedure can cause permanent irregular pigmentation in treated areas. Discuss sun protection and acceptable sun exposure with your doctor.
- Stop smoking. If you smoke, try to stop at least two weeks before and after your treatment. This improves your chance of avoiding complications and helps your body heal.
- Arrange for a ride home. If you’re going to be sedated during laser resurfacing, you’ll need help getting home after the procedure.
What Causes Age Spots?
The main mechanism behind the formation and appearance of age spots is the melanin production in the skin, which occurs due to the sunlight exposure that the skin bears over the years. The ultraviolet radiation from the sun causes an increase in melanin production, which clumps together and leads to the formation of these flat, brown/black spots. This is the primary cause of age spot formation.
UV radiation from not just the sun but also from artificial sources like tanning beds can increase the incidence of age spot development. The natural aging process can also contribute to their formation. They are often seen in people who have light or fair skin and are more constantly and repeatedly exposed to sunlight.
Must Read: How To Get Rid Of Sun Tan?
What Are The Symptoms Of Age Spots?
Though age spots are most frequently seen in fair-skinned people, other skin types can also be present them with age or excessive sunlight exposure. The identification of age spots can be done by keeping this signs and symptoms in mind –
Flat, oval spots that are darker than the surrounding skin
Size can range between 10 mm to 13 mm (similar to the size of freckles)
Usually brown or black in color (can also be tan colored)
Found on skin areas that are most exposed to sunlight
Painless spots
If these spots increase in size rapidly and have an irregular border, it is best to get them checked by a dermatologist. If itchiness, redness, pain, and/or bleeding is present, consult a dermatologist immediately for a thorough analysis and diagnosis.
On Which Areas Of The Body Can One See Age Spots?
The areas of the skin that receive the most direct sunlight are the areas where age spots are often found. These include the following –
Age spots on the face
Age spots on the back of your hands
Spots on the shoulders and upper back
Age spots on the forearms
Treatments To Remove Age Spots
Now that we know the age spot causes and where they are most often found, let us now look at the age spot treatments that you can opt for.
Laser Treatments: The energy from the laser beam enters the skin and targets the pigmented, dark spots. The pigment in these spots gets broken down into tiny fragments, and these fragments are eliminated from the body by the immune system. This non-invasive treatment shows results right after the first session, and after a few sessions, a drastic difference can be observed. Laser therapy does not damage the surrounding skin and only targets the liver spots.
Chemical Peel: A chemical peel utilizes acids extracted from natural sources to exfoliate the top layers of the skin. Depending on the intensity of the age spots, the dermatologist suggests the type and concentration of the peel to be used. As the top layer gets removed, the new and lighter skin present below it comes to the surface. With chemical peels, more sessions may be required to see strong changes in your age spots. Also, proper sun protection during the course of the treatment is mandatory as the peels can make your skin sensitive to sunlight.
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Dermabrasion: Like chemical peels, dermabrasion therapy also involves exfoliating the top layers of the skin. In this treatment, a rotating brush is used along with a vacuum suction instead of the facial acid used in chemical peels. The newer skin is brought to the surface that has lighter spots than before. Repetitive sessions may be advised by the skin specialist to achieve the desired results.
Cryosurgery: The age spots on the skin are frozen using liquid nitrogen (applied with a cotton swab). Once this frozen skin heals, lighter skin replaces it. This treatment therapy is safe for use for single spots usually. The chances of the healed skin being discolored are higher with cryosurgery when compared to the other treatments.
While age spots are not a harmful skin condition, they can ruin the look especially when they are present on the face. The treatments mentioned are frequently employed to remove age spots from the face.
Must Read: What’s The Best Treatment For Ageing Face?
How Much Does Age Spots Treatment Cost In India?
The cost of treating age spots in India ranges between Rs. 5000 to Rs. 20000 per session, when using a combination treatment that includes peel, laser, HIFU and intragen. However the overall cost varies depending on the factors like skin type, age, underlying health conditions, strength of pigmentation, etc.
Before And After Results
How To Prevent Age Spots?
Here are some tips that you can follow to lighten, remove, and even prevent age spots –
Topical medications available over the counter that contain skin lightening ingredients like kojic acid and hydroquinone may help to fade away the lighter age spots.
Excessive sun exposure is best avoided. Additionally, another point to keep in mind is to avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. as the sun’s rays are the strongest during this period.
Use sun protection agents such as sunscreen and sunblock every time you step out in the sun. A sunscreen with an SPF 40 and above is suggested for preventing age spots. Apply it 20 minutes before stepping out into the sun.
Use a sunscreen that has UVA and UVB protection agents included in it.
Do not forget to reapply sunscreen every three to four hours as its effect tends to fade away.
To avoid sun spots on the lips, use lipstick or lip balm that has an SPF of 15 at least.
Wear hats, scarves, pants, and long-sleeved shirts to keep your skin protected from direct exposure to sunlight. Do this in conjunction with the sunscreen application.
Age spots or liver spots are more common in the Indian population than you think. It is important to identify them and treat them using the right methods for their efficient removal. If you decide to go in for a cosmetic treatment, make sure to get the procedure done at a reputed clinic and by a certified dermatologist.
Laser Treatment For Dark Spots Side Effects
Small negative effects
Most laser treatments have modest side effects, whether they are used for cosmetic treatments or laser hair removal. When you receive therapy from a skilled professional, they are usually rare and, if they do arise, are usually simple to fix.
Minor redness is a side effect of laser treatments that is mostly innocuous and may go rapidly or last for several months in extreme circumstances.
Mild Itching – The treated skin may be swollen and itchy, usually when the therapy has made an existing skin issue worse.
Changes in Pigmentation – In some circumstances, you may notice alterations in the treated region’s pigmentation, such as a darkening or lightening of the area. Those with darker skin tones are more likely to exhibit this. This could be a short-term or long-term adverse effect, depending on the type of laser being utilized.
Crusting is a mild but annoying and demoralizing side effect of laser therapy that, if left untreated, might result in scarring or scabbing. Any crusting can be stopped from worsening or leaving scars by moisturizing the skin and avoiding the sun, just like you would if you had a sunburn.
Eye Injury: Although a knowledgeable and skilled expert will take all reasonable precautions to keep their client safe, protection is essential to safeguarding the eyes from any potential harm. Since the lasers are so strong, any mistakes, especially when working on the face, could result in injury.
Minor Infection – If the hair follicles are not adequately cared for after laser treatments, they can be effectively destroyed and damaged, which increases the risk of infection. As with a wound, you should take care of the region by keeping it clean and applying moisturizers to stop drying.
Uncommon Side Effects
While side effects are generally rare and frequently go away on their own or with the use of straightforward therapies, there are a few infrequent side effects that are compared to others are’major’. The following are some uncommon adverse effects, which range from blisters and burns to infections and affects on the eyelids:
You run the danger of suffering from burns and blistering if laser hair removal or other laser treatments aren’t performed appropriately. Depending on your skin type and other underlying issues, they may occasionally happen when being treated by a well-trained, skilled practitioner, but this is uncommon. In order to avoid burns and the negative effects of the heat on the skin, practitioners may utilize a cooling device prior to the treatment. Laser treatments use a high-heat laser to break up either pigment or hair follicles.
Scarring is a very uncommon side effect of laser therapy, however it can happen due to user mistake or improper laser usage. It’s crucial to make sure you adhere to all of your practitioner’s aftercare guidelines because improper aftercare can result in scars.
Mild infections are uncommon, and serious infections are even less often, though they do happen occasionally. Underlying infections like the herpes virus can become worse as a result of the laser’s heat (which causes coldsores). Severe infection can also happen when burns go untreated or when the skin is not adequately cared for after the treatment.
Ectropion can be caused by using lasers in close proximity to the lower eyelid, which turns the eyelid. Although it is a rare adverse effect, if you do encounter it after treatment, talk to your doctor about the next course of action.
Change in Skin Texture – You may be more susceptible to changes in skin texture after laser therapy if you’ve recently used a tanning bed or spent a lot of time tanning in the sun.
Best Laser For Age Spots
Erbium lasers work well for these kinds of aging spots.
The procedure is quick, simple, and barely painful.
The laser treats each location separately, vaporizing the tissue to remove it. It is a very precise laser, and scarring from these kinds of lesions is extremely uncommon when using this kind of laser.