How To Fade Sun Spots
We all love a little sunshine - it lifts our mood, warms the skin, and brings us outdoors. But as much as we cherish the glow, there’s a less welcome side effect: sun spots. Also called age spots or “solar lentigines,” these flat brown marks often show up on the face, hands, chest, and shoulders after years of sun exposure. The good news? We offer several effective ways to target and reverse sun damage! From VI chemical peels to lasers and microneedling, you’ve got more choices than ever to help turn back the clock on discoloration. So, let’s dive into what sun spots are, why they appear, and our favorite ways to fade them!
Why Do Sun Spots Happen?
Sun spots form when the skin produces excess melanin - the pigment that gives skin its color - in response to ultraviolet (UV) light. Over time, repeated sun exposure creates clusters of pigment that settle deeper in the skin.
A few things make sun spots more likely:
-Cumulative sun exposure: Years of outdoor activities, even just walking to the car without SPF. (A reminder why wearing SPF every single day is key!)
-Tanning beds: A fast track to pigmentation changes.
-Skin type: Fairer complexions often notice spots sooner.
-Age: As the skin matures, its ability to repair UV damage slows down.
Unlike freckles, which may fade in winter, sun spots tend to stick around. That’s where professional treatments come in!
Everyday Prevention Is Key:
Before we talk about fading sun spots, we need to talk about how to prevent them. Because without daily protection, new spots will keep forming and treatments won’t last as long.
-SPF every single day: Broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30+ is non-negotiable. This one is our office-go to and it doubles as a BB cream for a little bit of coverage!
-Sun-smart habits: Hats, sunglasses, and seeking shade during peak hours.
-Consistent skincare: Ingredients like vitamin C, retinoids, and niacinamide support an even tone.
Think of prevention as your insurance policy - it protects the results you’ll get from in-office treatments!
Professional Treatments That Fade Sun Spots:
Once sun spots are established, your at-home skincare can only do so much. To really break up pigment and stimulate fresh, even skin, we look to in-office treatments. Here are some of the most effective options that our patients swear by:
1. VI Chemical Peel:
The VI Peel Precision Plus is one of the most popular treatments for pigmentation. This medium-depth chemical peel uses a blend of acids and skin-brightening agents to exfoliate the outer layer of skin and target discoloration at its source.
How it works:
-The peel is applied in-office by our expert aestheticians and left on for a set time.
-Over the next 5–7 days, the skin will peel and shed - think of it as hitting the “reset” button.
The active ingredients (like TCA, salicylic acid, and hydroquinone boosters) work to lift pigment, smooth texture, and stimulate cell turnover.
Why it’s effective:
The VI Peel doesn’t just exfoliate - it penetrates deeper to disrupt the pigment pathway, making it especially effective for stubborn sun spots. And because it’s a controlled process, downtime is manageable compared to older, harsher peels.
2. Moxi Laser:
Think of Moxi as a “prejuvenation” laser- it’s gentle enough for all skin types but powerful when it comes to brightening tone and softening pigmentation.
How it works:
-Moxi is a fractional, non-ablative laser, meaning it creates controlled micro-injuries in the skin without removing the top layer.
-These micro-injuries stimulate collagen and encourage new, fresh skin cells to replace damaged ones.
-Pigment is pushed to the surface, where it naturally flakes off over the next week.
Why it’s Effective:
Moxi is great for patients looking for visible results with minimal downtime. It’s especially helpful for early signs of sun damage, and it can be repeated a few times a year to maintain results.
3. BBL Laser:
If Moxi is the gentle option, BBL is the powerhouse for sun spots. BBL uses intense pulsed light (IPL) to target pigment directly.
How it works:
-Pulses of light are absorbed by melanin (the brown pigment in sun spots).
-The heat breaks down the pigment, which then rises to the surface and looks like coffee grounds before sloughing off naturally.
-At the same time, BBL stimulates collagen, improving skin tone and texture.
Why it’s Effective:
BBL is highly customizable, allowing our providers to fine-tune the wavelength for your skin type and pigmentation level. Patients often see significant fading of sun spots in just 1–3 treatments, with results steadily improving over time.
4. Microneedling with PRP:
While microneedling isn’t a pigment-targeting treatment in the same way as peels or lasers, it plays a powerful supporting role. When combined with PRP (platelet-rich plasma) - your body’s own growth factors - the benefits multiply!
How it works:
-A microneedling device creates tiny channels in the skin.
-PRP, spun down from your own blood, is applied to penetrate those channels.
-This boosts healing, stimulates collagen, and accelerates skin renewal.
Why it’s Effective:
By improving overall skin health, microneedling with PRP helps even out texture, tone, and resilience. It doesn’t erase sun spots on its own, but when used in combination with treatments like BBL or Moxi, it helps skin recover faster and hold onto results longer.
Choosing the Right Treatment For Your Skin:
The “best” treatment depends on your skin type, the severity of your sun spots, your lifestyle, and how much downtime you can handle. Here’s a simple way to think about it:
-Looking for a reset button after summer? VI Peel is a great seasonal refresh.
-Want a gentle but effective option with little downtime? Moxi is your friend.
-Need a targeted powerhouse for stubborn pigmentation? BBL delivers dramatic fading.
-Want to boost skin health overall and pair with other treatments? Microneedling with PRP is the perfect complement.
Often, the best results come from combining treatments. For example, a series of BBL sessions followed by microneedling with PRP can dramatically improve both tone and texture!
Sun spots are a natural sign of time spent under the sun, but they don’t have to define your skin. With the right combination of prevention, professional treatments like VI Peel, Moxi, BBL, and microneedling with PRP, and consistent medical-grade skincare at home, you can fade existing spots and protect against new ones.
Whether you're interested in filler, Botox/Dysport, collagen-boosting skin treatments, or want to learn more about our Defy Annual Membership (a perfect choice for those who want to transform their skin without the price tag over the course of a year!), we’d love to see you in our Bethesda medical spa soon.