What should you know about treatment to remove sun spots?

Sun spots, also called solar lentigines or age spots, are flat darker marks caused by accumulated ultraviolet exposure. They commonly appear on exposed skin such as the face, hands, chest, and shoulders. Similar-looking marks can have other causes, so a clinician may inspect the colour, border, surface, and change over time before cosmetic treatment.

Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen, protective clothing, and shade help reduce further darkening. Depending on the diagnosis and skin tone, a clinician may discuss Chemical Peel, IPL Photofacial, Picosecond Laser Treatment, or Cryotherapy (Lesion Removal). Each works differently and can cause temporary redness, crusting, irritation, or changes in pigmentation.

Do not pick or treat an unassessed mark at home. Follow the preparation and aftercare instructions closely, especially if your skin tends to develop darker marks after irritation. A treatment plan may address several visible spots while accepting that new sun-related marks can appear later.

Have a spot checked promptly if it is new, changing in size, shape, or colour, bleeding, crusting, itching persistently, painful, or unlike your other marks. Medical review should come before cosmetic removal because some skin cancers can resemble sun spots.

Ask how the mark was identified, which option suits your skin tone, what temporary reactions are expected, and how to reduce the chance of post-treatment pigmentation. Ask when the area should be reviewed and what changes should prompt another examination.