3 Treatments that Get Rid of Dark Spots

Dark spots on the skin, also called “age spots” or “liver spots”, appear on the face, as well as on the hands and body – making a woman or man look and feel much older than they are.

Some over-the-counter lightening products may slightly fade the appearance of dark spots, but they are never strong enough to be very effective or long-lasting.  The reality is that dark spots on the skin will only go away with professional skin care treatments.

Fortunately, there are multiple dark spot treatments available at SpaMedica in Grand Rapids that can effectively reduce or even eliminate skin pigmentation. In this article the skin care experts at SpaMedica in Grand Rapids discuss three of our most popular and effective treatments for diminishing dark spots that can take years off of your appearance.

Causes of Dark Spots on the Skin

Exposure to the sun’s UV rays is the primary cause of dark spots on the skin. Heredity, aging, hormone fluctuations, and even certain illnesses or medications can also contribute to unwanted pigmentation. Flat, round, or oval spots of increased pigmentation due to sun exposure are called “solar lentigines”. And when pigmentation forms patches rather than spots it is usually called “melasma”.

The outer layer of skin (called the epidermis) contains cells called melanocytes which produce a brownish pigment called melanin. But as the body gets older the distribution of melanocytes becomes less even – and the body often develop a higher concentration of melanocytes in certain areas. When these concentrated areas of melanocyte cells become stimulated by the sons UV rays, dark spots develop.

Fluctuations in hormone levels – specifically rising and falling levels of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone – also lead to melasma patches.  The hormone imbalances of menopause and pregnancy are two primary causes of hormone-related melasma. Melasma spots that occur when carrying a child are called “the mask of pregnancy” because they form on the cheeks, forehead, nose, and upper lip of women during pregnancy.

Skin trauma from injury, acne and other inflammatory conditions can also leave behind skin discoloration. This happens because damage to the epidermis (outer skin layer) stimulates a spike in the production of melanin in the damaged area.

Dark Spot Treatment: DiamondGlow

DiamondGlow is a comfortable, non-invasive treatment that can be used virtually anywhere on the body to reduce pigmentation and dark spots…with no pain and no downtime!

DiamondGlow combines three treatments in one: exfoliation, extraction, and serum infusion. This relaxing aesthetic procedure exfoliates and nourishes the skin, while eliminating dark spots and skin impurities. DiamondGlow stimulates skin cellular growth and repair by encouraging increased production of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid.

As the old, discolored skin cells are removed and replaced with new healthy cellular growth, dark spots and pigmentation are replaced with fresh, new, clear skin.

Dark Spot Treatment: IPL Photofacial

Another fast and permanent dark spot reduction treatment is the Photofacial which uses IPL (intense pulsed light therapy). Available at SpaMedica in Grand Rapids, IPL Photofacials use laser energy to refine the skin and permanently get rid of dark spots on the face, arms, and back of the hands.

IPL is also sometimes referred to as “photorejuvenation”. At SpaMedica GR in Grand Rapids we have invested in the advanced CynoSure Icon Laser for the most effective, state-of-the-art dark spots removal.

IPL delivers thermal energy in the form of powerful, short flashes of laser light. A precise is wavelengths of laser light penetrates deep into the dermal (lower) layer of the skin where it is absorbed by the melanin (pigment) – while leaving the outer layers of skin undamaged and intact.

As the laser penetrates the pigment particles in the dark spots, it breaks them apart and destroys them. The destroyed melanin particles then either rise to the surface and form scabs where they slough off – or they are carried away by the lymphatic system and eliminated naturally by the body.

Dark Spot Treatment: Morpheus8 Microneedling

Morpheus8 is a state-of-the art dark spot treatment that combines radiofrequency energy with microneedling. In addition to reducing or eliminating unwanted pigmentation, Morpheus8 also addresses skin laxity, fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone.

Morpheus8 radiofrequency microneedling can be used to reduce dark spots virtually anywhere on the face or body. But, unlike lasers, Morpheus8 does not directly attack the pigment in the skin. This makes it safe and effective for all skin types and tones – including darker skin colors.

Morpheus8 uses extremely fine, ultra-sharp microneedles to penetrate the skin to a depth of up to 4 millimeters – which is deeper than any other microneedling device on the market. The tiny “wounds” from the needle pricks stimulate growth of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid – which are the building blocks of new, smooth, healthy, clear skin.

Most of our Grand Rapids patients begin to see a reduction in dark spots in as little as one session. Depending on the depth and darkness of the unwanted pigmentation, three to four Morpheus8 treatments spaced roughly a month apart can reveal any even more a dramatic reduction in age spots and melasma.

Dark Spot Treatments | Grand Rapids, MI

No matter the cause or location of your dark spots, the trained skincare professionals at SpaMedica GR in Grand Rapids, MI can help reduce pigmentation and take years off of your appearance. We always begin with a professional skin evaluation and consultation, to help select the best skin treatments for each patient’s specific needs.

If you are plagued by frustrating dark spots that make you look years older, schedule a DiamondGlow, IPL Photofacial or Morpheus8 appointment at SpaMedica in Grand Rapids, MI – and take the first step to looking years younger!

Dark Spot Treatments | Grand Rapids: (616) 888-3890