IPL for HAND AGE SPOTS

Get Rid of Age Spots on the Back of the Hands with IPL

Age spots – sometimes called dark spots or “liver spots” or lentigines – are all names for hyperpigmentation that results on the face and body due to age and sun exposure over time. While the face is typically the most troublesome area for the development of age spots, the hands are the second most likely area to develop spots of pigment.

There are many treatments that claim to get rid of age spots – but one stands out far above the rest. The IPL (intense pulsed light) is a relatively quick, painless, affordable and permanent solution for effectively getting rid of dark spots on the hands.

IPL treatment for age spots on the hands is one of our most popular treatments at AMAE Med Spa, in Birmingham, MI. In this article we explain how IPL can restore your hands to a smooth clear complexion – making you look much younger in the process!

Causes of Age Spots on Hands

As we age, it is normal to see spots of hyperpigmentation develop on the face and hands. While, generally, these dark spots are a totally harmless skin issue, they can add years to a person’s appearance. Age spots and dark spots on the hands can have several root causes. UV rays from the sun, hormonal fluctuations, medication or even injury to the skin can cause pigmentation on the face and hands. Age spots caused by UV rays can often be the hardest to treat because, it often means reversing up to 20 years or more of sun damage done to the skin.

The epidermis contains cells called melanocytes which produce the dark pigment Melanin. Both the regulation and distribution of melanocytes becomes less balanced as the body gets older. As a result, certain areas—like the hands—will develop a higher concentration of melanocytes. When any of these more highly concentrated areas are stimulated by UV rays, hyperpigmentation follows closely behind.

Melasma is another type of hyperpigmentation that can occur in the body which resemble age spots. Melasma tends to develop in patches, and not caused by the UV rays, but rather hormonal fluctuations. Women who are pregnant or on birth control pills often over-produce melanin, which results in these patches of hyperpigmentation. Often appearing on women’s cheeks, forehead, nose, upper lip and chin when carrying a child, this condition is commonly referred to as “the mask of pregnancy.”

When a skin trauma or injury to the skin eventually heals, the skin may also have discoloration left behind known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. When the epidermis is damaged, the inflammation stimulates the production of melanocytes and results in hyperpigmentation.

Certain medications can also stimulate pigmentation production that leads to dark spots on the face and hands. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), tetracyclines, antimalarial drugs, amiodarone, cytotoxic drugs, heavy metals and psychotropic drugs are all know to cause pigmentation.

Using IPL to Treat Age Spots on the Hands

Anyone who has tried over-the-counter “fade creams” will tell you that they simply aren’t effective. Unfortunately, age spots on hands will not simply go away without professional medical treatment. IPL treatments are one of the most effective clinical treatments for the removal of age spots on the hands and elsewhere.

IPL — also known as photorejuvenation or photofacial — is frequently performed at AMAE Med Spa in Birmingham, MI to reduce or eliminate pigmentation on the face and hands. We use Nordlys Ellipse IPL, a state-of-the-art treatment that leaves our patients with the clearest skin and the best results possible.

Controlled pulses of light are sent into the upper layer of skin with the Ellipse IPL “Selective Waveband Technology” (SWT). Specific frequencies of pulsed light are selected that will best be absorbed by the skin, based on the patient’s color, depth and degree of melanin pigmentation in the skin.

The pigment in the deeper layer of skin absorbs the light energy, and the resulting heat melts away the dark spots—while leaving the upper layer of skin (epidermis) unharmed. This laser technique is called “Selective Photothermolysis.”

FDA approved and clinically proven, Ellipse IPL laser treatments, are effective at permanently removing the pigmented lesions (age spots) on the hands.

In addition to being a safe way to get rid of age spots on the hands for good, IPL treatments come with another bonus: they require no downtime afterward. Following an IPL procedure, patients may experience some redness. But, unlike many other laser treatments IPL wavelengths are gentle. No resurfacing is being done. So, recipients can expect to return to their normal routines immediately.

How to Treat Age Spots on The Hands

Remember – while IPL treatments will undo hyperpigmentation damage, new age spots can always come back if you don’t take preventative maintenance. The more preventative care you take, the less sun damage you will experience. If you have hyperpigmentation caused by the sun’s UV rays, the best thing you can do for yourself is start lathering up with an SPF 30 or higher sunscreen – and cover up whenever possible.

Prevention, however, may be more difficult for Melasma dark spots caused by hormonal fluctuations. For patients taking oral birth control pills, switching to another methods of contraception may be recommended. Melasma during pregnancy may potentially disappear on its own in time – but there is no guarantee that dark spots will disappear. In these instances, IPL treatments can be effective at removing dark spots.

In cases of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, the best preventative measure is to keep inflammation down. Sticking to a balanced diet, as well as using some topical medications can help keep inflammation at bay. If you have acne, do not pick at it. Try soothing the afflicted area with an aloe or jade roller regularly.

IPL For Age Spots On The Hands | Birmingham, MI

No matter what is causing your skin to show signs of hyperpigmentation, the trained professionals at AMAE Med Spa in Birmingham, MI can help restore your beautiful skin to youthful clarity and smoothness! We offer the best, state-of-the-art technologies in age spot reduction – as well as many other advanced skin rejuvenation treatments. In addition to the Nordlys Ellipse IPL laser, we also offer Morpheus8 RF microneedling as well as Fraxel 1500 laser treatments.

Beginning with a professional skin consultation, skin treatments are selected and optimized to meet your specific needs. Schedule an IPL dark spot treatment, then relax in our Birmingham, MI Med Spa, while we help you look and feel younger, and restore your skin to youthful clarity!

IPL Age Spot Treatment Birmingham MedSpa: 248.335.7200