Sun Damage vs. Melasma

Many clients come in for a consultation and complain about the brown spots on their faces and neck. At DermaHealth, our goal is to determine if problem areas are the result of sun damage or melasma. We offer many different treatment options for both sun damage and melasma, and we can help create a treatment plan to meet your unique skin goals.

Sun Damage

Excessive sun exposure is the most significant cause of aging skin. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun contributes to premature skin aging and skin texture changes, among other conditions:

  • Coarse wrinkles, especially on the back of the neck
  • Fine wrinkles caused by thinning of the skin, especially on the forearms and back of hands
  • Excessive bruising from minor trauma
  • Pigment changes, such as brown spots, freckles, age spots, and liver spots
  • White spots on legs, arms, and the back of hands
  • Red areas on the sides of the neck
  • Moles – some of which can develop into skin cancer
  • Pre-cancerous skin changes, including actinic keratosis

Sun damage can also exacerbate pre-existing skin conditions, such as age spots, crow’s-feet, scars, and frown lines.

Melasma

Melasma is a common skin problem that typically appears as brown or gray patches. It most commonly occurs on the face, especially on cheeks, the bridge of the nose, forehead, chin, and upper lip. However, melasma can also develop on parts of the body that receive sun exposure, including the forearms and neck. Although it is not yet clear what causes melasma, the American Academy of Dermatology suggests that sun exposure, a change in hormones, and irritating skincare products can all contribute to the development of the skin condition. Furthermore, women and people with darker skin complexions are more likely to develop melasma.

Sun Damage & Melasma Treatment

Sun Damage Treatments

Damage from UV rays can cause major changes in the skin’s appearance and structure, including thinner skin, drier skin, less elasticity, an increase in wrinkles or sagging, and reduced production of collagen and elastin. At DermaHealth, we offer a wide variety of services to treat skin conditions caused by sun damage.

Dermal Fillers & Collagen Stimulators

Dermal fillers and collagen stimulators can help minimize the appearance of wrinkles caused by sun damage. They offer a nonsurgical approach to shaping, contouring, and adding volume to the face, hands, and other areas prone to wrinkles. Developed with safety and longevity in mind, dermal fillers offer superior versatility for both cosmetic and reconstructive treatment and are an ideal approach for those who want to minimize wrinkles without undergoing surgery. Further, sun damage (as well as other factors) can affect the skin’s ability to produce collagen. Many of our treatments not only fill areas where collagen has been lost, but they can also stimulate new collagen production. For more information, visit our Wrinkles service page.

Skin Tightening Treatments

Excessive sun exposure causes the skin to become drier and thinner. It also reduces the skin’s ability to retain moisture, elasticity, and structure, which causes sagging skin. At DermaHealth, we offer skin tightening treatments to rejuvenate skin and restore volume loss. Treatment options include noninvasive procedures such as Sublime and Forma, which are two of our most popular skin tightening treatments. For more information, visit our Skin Tightening service page.

Uneven Skin Tone & Texture Treatments

Sun damage can cause skin discoloration, age spots, red blemishes, and changes in skin texture. We offer treatments that address these skin conditions, including microneedling, microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and laser treatments. These services are ideal for those who want to address multiple skin issues – and many clients can combine multiple treatments for optimal results.

Melasma Treatments

While there is no cure for melasma currently, we offer several treatments to improve the skin’s appearance. Melasma occurs when the skin overproduces melanin (a brown-colored protein). Our treatments reduce the appearance of melasma and target melanin-producing cells to help minimize future breakouts.

Medications

To reduce the appearance of melasma, we offer prescription bleaching creams including Epionce MelanoLyte Tx and MelanoLyte Pigment Perfecting Serum, which work in the deep layers of skin to inhibit excess melanin production. We also offer Elure, which works on the surface to lighten and gradually fade the spots over several months.

Lasers & Intense Pulsed Light Therapy

Laser and intense pulsed light therapies destroy melanin-producing cells (melanocytes) without damaging the skin’s surface. Treatments with a laser or intense pulsed light typically require several sessions. After treatment, areas of discoloration fade gradually over several weeks or months.

For more information and to see if you are a candidate for our sun damage or melasma treatments, schedule a complimentary consultation with DermaHealth today.