Age spots, liver spots, solar lentigines — whatever you want to call them, they are a universally detested blemish on the skin that pretty much everyone has if you’re over 40. This is especially true thanks to the high-altitude ultraviolet rays we receive here in sunny Utah.
Dr. Jensen can get rid of these spots with his Cynosure laser, making for a less spotted 2019!
What are age spots?
Age spots are common in adults over the age of 50. They are small dark spots on your skin that appear on areas that receive the most sun exposure: the face, hands, shoulders, and arms.
While age spots can look like certain skin cancer growths, true age spots are harmless and don’t require removal. But if you’re not keen on looking like a leopard or a Dalmatian, you can have Dr. Jensen remove them.
What causes age spots?
Age spots are caused by overactive pigment cells in the skin. UV light accelerates production of melanin in the skin. When produced in high concentrations in areas that have had frequent, long-term sun exposure the melanin clumps and forms spots.
How are age spots removed?
Dr. Jensen puts his Cynosure laser to work on your age spots. He sets the laser wavelength to match the color of the spots he is targeting. The laser energy is then delivered onto the treatment areas in short pulses. The laser energy is absorbed by the melanin in the age spots. Within a few days, this energy breaks up the melanin and the surface of the spot usually lightly peels, while much of the remainder of the melanin is absorbed and removed by the body’s lymphatic system. You’ll know the spots are going the way of the Dodo bird when they initially darken after your treatment. That’s a sign that the melanin has absorbed the laser energy and is reacting.
The result is that your age spots either fully disappear or become dramatically less visible. To fully remove some spots, you may need two or three treatments.
Interested in bidding adieu to your age spots for 2019? Call Dr. Jensen at (801) 728-9258 to make an appointment.