Lentigo solaris
Pigment spot, liver spot, age spot: they are all different names of solar lentigo. Almost everyone has a pigment spot somewhere on their body, or will get one in the future. Pigment spots can appear anywhere on the body, but are particularly annoying on the face, décolleté, neck or hands. The spots look restless and can make you look older than you are.
Okay… But how do they come about?
Pigment is created in the skin by sun damage (UV light). This damage can occur early in our youth and only become visible later in life as pigment spots. Pigment spots can also be genetically determined or caused by medication. Acne, wounds or abrasions can also leave pigment in the skin, often in the form of scars. When pigment has a hormonal cause such as pregnancy or contraception (the pill), it is called melasma.
And what can I do about it?
The good news is that we can usually fade pigment spots completely with our wide range of laser and IPL machines. In the process, we also significantly rejuvenate and improve the skin, as our treatments stimulate the production of collagen. The skin refreshes and looks healthier and calmer.
Please note that pigment spots can never be removed permanently. This is because we can only properly remove the discolouration from the skin, but we cannot remove the pigment cells themselves. When these pigment cells are exposed to the sun, they are reactivated and can darken again.
The consolation is that it generally takes quite a long time, often years, before the pigment is as dark as it was before the treatment. The treatment therefore has a long-lasting effect in most cases. Our experience shows that 1 to 2 maintenance treatments per year suppress the pigment spots well and keep the skin fresh and even. In that respect it can be compared to the annual check-up at the dentist or dental hygienist!