Brown Spots
Dr. Brock Lanier, MD, FACS | OncoPlastic Surgery in Newport Beach
What Causes Brown Spots?
Sun damage and exposure to UV rays - not just getting older - are the main drivers for developing brown spots. Brown spots are clusters of extra/excessive pigment in the skin. Brown spots themselves are not dangerous, but they can be unsightly.
Sun damage over the years:
Brown spots = age spots = sun spots, are manifestations of UV-induced damage, usually from the sun, accumulated over the years.
Not dangerous, but can be unsightly:
Brown spots themselves are not dangerous, but they can be unsightly.
Not dangerous, unless misdiagnosed:
It’s very important not to confuse routine, harmless brown spots with skin cancer, especially melanoma. If you notice a mole or spot changing in any way, then you should show it to your doctor. Melanoma skin cancers are often irregularly or oddly shaped, grow in size, or change color or get darker. Occasionally one will even bleed, even if it doesn’t get bumped it on anything. If you notice a mole or spot changing in any of those ways, you should see your doctor.
Treating Brown Spots
Brown spots are one of the most common concerns that we see. Fortunately there are good treatments for them. Remember that everyone is different. Be an individual and get a personalized assessment by a board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Brock Lanier.
Brown spots: treatment options at a glance
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Sun Protection is essential and the most important thing. This includes consistently wearing sunscreen but also wearing protective clothing when you’re outside and avoiding peak UV hours (10 AM–4 PM).
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Topical treatments include ingredients like retinol, hydroquinone, tranexemic acid or “TXA”, vitamin C, and niacinamide which is actually a form of vitamin B3. These are the most common and most effective topical treatments to improve extra color or excess pigment. These are the active ingredients in the best skincare products, like the ZO Skin Health or SkinMedica. SoCal OncoPlastic Surgery carries both these lines of skincare products and will help you decide what might be the best option.
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Broad Band Light, or BBL, is probably the best treatment for skin color and completion issues, because it specifically targets the pigment creating the spots. When the treatment is done, the pulses of light hit the melanin or pigment, causing them to darken at first but then flake off a few days later. Downtime is minimal or none, and it Broad Band Light doesn’t hurt; no anesthesia or injections is needed.
Treatment using Broad Band Light, or BBL, usually costs a few hundred dollars or starts at less than $1,000. That said, optimal results are achieved with repeat treatments, typically 6-8 weeks apart. That’s why the experts at SoCal OncoPlastic Surgery offer more affordable treatment packages. Getting a personalized assessment is the key first step, and at SoCal OncoPlastic Surgery that’s is free (no consultation fee).
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A powerful laser that removes pigmented layers of skin while stimulating collagen production. It is highly effective but it can involve a few days of redness and peeling. Removing precancerous skin spots (like actinic keratosis) actually reduces the incidence of skin cancer for the long run. Lasers can decrease your risk of skin cancer and make you look better.
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Chemical peels contain different specific acids that exfoliate the top layers of skin, removing sun spots and promoting new skin growth. Recovery depends on the strength of the chemical peel, between 1–3 weeks. We have 5 different peels available, ranging from deep to very, very light.
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Microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy, creates micro-injuries in the skin to stimulate collagen production and break up pigmentation in deeper layers. It also improves overall skin tone and texture.
Our practice, SoCal OncoPlastic Surgery, offers all of these options. We specializing in individualized evaluations in order to avoid one-size-fits-all treatments.