3 Things You Need To Know About Laser Treatment For Freckles
Facial freckles are very visible on people with light skin, especially if the freckles are dark or numerous. If you feel self conscious about your facial freckles, you don't need to learn to live with them. Laser treatment can be used to remove your freckles and give you the clear complexion you desire. Here are three things you need to know about laser treatment for freckles.
How do lasers remove freckles?
Your freckles are made of clusters cells that have been darkened by melanin, the pigment responsible for giving skin, hair and irises their color. Freckles become darker than the surrounding skin because their melanocytes, the cells that make melanin, produce too much melanin.
Lasers work by destroying the melanocytes. Once these cells are destroyed, they can't overproduce melanin, and your freckles will lose their excessively-dark color.
How is this procedure performed?
Laser treatment for freckle removal is performed by dermatologists. The procedure is an outpatient procedure, meaning that you'll be able to go home as soon as the treatment is over. Your dermatologist will use a cosmetic laser to target each freckle individually. They will be careful not to treat the skin around the freckles so that only the melanocytes within the freckles will be destroyed.
Removing your freckles may take one to two treatment sessions. The length of these treatment sessions will vary based on how many freckles you have. Your dermatologist will be able to estimate your required treatment time based on the extent of your freckles. After your procedure, the treated areas may be red and sore for one or two days.
How effective is laser treatment for freckle removal?
Laser treatment is a very effective treatment for unwanted freckles. One study of 36 patients found that 91.7% of the patients were either extremely satisfied or very satisfied with the results of their laser treatment. Treatment is most effective when there's a significant contrast between the freckles and your skin, so if your freckles are very dark, you can expect better results.
Freckles that have been treated with lasers can reappear following sun exposure, so you'll need to protect your skin after your treatment. When you go outdoors, remember to wear sunscreen. It's also a good idea to wear a wide-brimmed hat for additional protection. If any of your freckles reappear, you can have the laser treatment repeated.
If you don't like the appearance of your facial freckles, ask your doctor about having them removed with laser treatment by a company like Sunflower Dermatology & Medical Day Spa.