Do you dread baring more in summer because of liver-colored spots on your skin? There is hope – and a treatment.
As you get older, your body begins to change and show signs of aging. Dark spots on the skin are one unwelcome sign.
Here’s the good news:
• These so-called “liver spots” actually have nothing to do with your liver
- They are mostly harmless
- Their appearance can be diminished or removed
If you’ve spent a few too many hours in the sun and you wish those spots would just disappear, light therapy is a simple, welcome treatment.
“Broadband light treatment, or BBL photofacials, is a technology that targets light therapy to the areas where you have sunspots. It provides a refreshed, rejuvenated and youthful appearance to your skin,” says Kacie Robertus, Nurse Practitioner at Central Wellness Medical and Aesthetic Spa, Billings, Montana.
“The results can be seen within just a few weeks,” she says.
What Are Sunspots?
Sunspots, which are more common in adults over 50, can be found on the face, back of your hands, and on the shoulders and upper back. They appear when too much melanin, the pigment in the upper layer of the skin, is produced and clumps to form spots. No matter what your age, worshipping the sun can also lead to an increased amount of spots.
What Can I Do About Them?
“We recommend four BBL photofacial treatments, every 3 or 4 weeks, for continuing results that will last for years,” says Robertus. “The treatments last approximately 45 minutes for the face and are safe, effective and approved by the FDA.”
How Does It Work?
During the treatment, the skin is cooled with a gel and your eyes are protected from the bright flashing lights. After the treatment, which is safe and non-invasive, patients may experience some slight crusting that flakes off in just about a week.
“The BBL treatment delivers a light energy to the targeted area and the heat stimulates the skin cells to generate new collagen,” says Robertus. “As a result, your skin blends into its natural color and makes it younger looking.”
BBL treatment is effective on the face, neck, chest, arms, and hands. There is no need for a topical anesthetic, although if the patient’s skin is sensitive it can be used.
This month, it’s even more important to pay close attention to any spots on your skin. “May is National Cancer Awareness Month, so if any of these markings change in color or size, it’s important to get them checked out by a dermatologist,” says Robertus.
Age spots can often be mistaken for melanoma, or skin cancer. Even if your liver spots are just that, it’s the perfect time to have your skin examined. An estimated 9,940 people will die of melanoma in 2015 and it’s one of the seven most common cancers in the U.S., rising 1.9 percent annually.
Broadband Light photofacial treatments are one of the many options available for keeping your skin healthy. Central Wellness provides state-of-the-art aesthetic, wellness and day spa services in a comfortable, nurturing environment.
