Sunspots (lentigos) and freckles (ephelides) are related to sun damage of the skin. Identifying a sunspot or freckle is something best done by a board certified dermatologist and not by a non-physician healthcare provider or at a medical spa. We strongly believe that prior to treating any such lesion, that one must make sure the lesion is not cancerous.
The appearance of both sunspots and freckles may be diminished with lasers. If you live in Stamford or Fairfield County, Connecticut and want to reduce the appearance of your sunspots and freckles, schedule a consultation at the Connecticut Skin Institute.
FAQs about Sunspot (Lentigo/Lentigines/Ephelides) removal
Why should I see a dermatologist and not other types of physicians or a medical spa for laser treatments?
There are several reasons why it is imperative to see a well trained board certified dermatologist with expertise in lasers to treat sunspots. First of all, one needs to make sure that the lesion being treated is indeed a benign (noncancerous) lesion and not a melanoma or other type of skin cancer. Only a dermatologist has the training to be able to confidently determine this. Secondly, the field of lasers for use on the skin was developed and advanced by dermatologists, thereby placing dermatologists as the best specialists to treat your skin with lasers.
Does laser for sunspot removal hurt?
The sunspot removal process involves a small amount of discomfort. Generally numbing medicine is not required.
How many treatments does it take?
The speed at which your sunspots will be removed depends on a few things: 1) The type and darkness of the sunspot you have 2) The skill level of the person operating the laser. A dermatologist that understands the physics of sunspot removal is not the same as a nurse or nonphysician who has minimal understanding of the laser. 3) The type of laser used. Many places rent lasers which are moved around from location to location, which lessens the efficacy of the device. We use several state of the art lasers that are not rented or shared by anyone else.
What does it cost to remove my sunspots?
It is not possible to give a simple answer to this question. How much it costs to remove your sunspots depends on the size, and number and this can only be evaluated by a consultation. Be wary of those who offer you a bargain or a lower price. If you need more treatments because the person who is treating you does not understand laser physics, the “cheaper” treatment may actually work out to me more expensive than seeing a laser expert who can optimize the laser settings for you and improve the appearance of your sunspots faster.
In addition, the technology to perform sunspot removal is expensive, and we recommend seeing a board certified dermatologist with expertise in laser surgery because they often employ the best technology for laser sunspot removal compared to medical spas where the focus is on the bottom line.
