How can I reduce the appearance of brown spots on my skin?

Dermatologist Ellen Marmur, MD, discusses the methods available through your dermatologist to reduce the appearance of skin's brown spots.

Transcript

00:00

So there are the treatments that are more stealth, where you don't have any side effects, and those would include IPL and fractal dual

00:09

using a particular wavelength. [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:18

There are lots of great new ways for you to reduce the appearance of brown spots on your skin in the office with your dermatologist.

00:25

I would avoid going to spas, because sometimes lasers are very strong, and your skin may react, especially

00:32

with a brown spot, in a way that you don't want. For example, a burn or a scar. So see your dermatologist and you can ask for a laser that's super strong

00:41

and will get rid of your brown spot in one treatment. But you might have a little scab for five days afterward.

00:47

So there are other treatments that are more stealth, where you don't have any side effects, and those would include IPL and fractal dual

00:56

using a particular wavelength. So if you want to get rid of the brown spots in one treatment, you have a category of lasers you can use.

01:03

What it does, the laser light turns into heat right in that brown pigment and causes it to burn and just fall right off your skin.

01:11

Like I said, you have a little scab for five days. The other lasers have a lower intensity of light that do also turn into heat and make

01:19

the brown spot turn a little darker for about a week. And then sometimes, it'll just come right off in the shower. So you've got lots of different choices, lots of safe choices

01:27

to reduce the appearance of brown spots with your dermatologist. [AUDIO LOGO]