The skin is always in flux. Not only does the body constantly shed skin cells, external factors like dry air, wind and other environmental exposures change complexions and skin quality on a very regular basis. Add in soap, sunscreen, and makeup and see more changes. Even a bad diet can impact your skin. However, the greatest external force on the skin is sun exposure, causing widespread damage from sunburn to skin cancer, and everything in between. One particular type of sun damage is known as solar lentigines, or sunspots.
Sunspots are flat, brown spots that show up on the face and body after routine prolonged incidents of sun exposure. Sunspots occur because the skin cells that produce melanin, called melanocytes, see the sun as a threat and amp up melanin production in response to defend the skin against the sun’s harmful rays. When melanin production increases, most people experience a suntan. Individuals that develop sunspots have an overproduction of melanin in certain areas.
Additional exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays will darken existing sunspots, because melanocytes will still flood the area in the body’s defense. This means any kind of sun exposure and sun exposure during the winter when many people erroneously believe the sun’s rays to be less potent, can still be damaging. Using a tanning bed also leads to the development of sunspots, often at a much higher rate than ones created by the natural sun rays.
Anyone is at risk or developing sunspots, and they can develop at any age – even as early as 20. Sunspots develop first on both sides of the face, then on the neck and chest. They can also develop on the hands, arms and scalp, but anywhere that is regularly exposed to the sun is at risk.
Sunspots are harmless, however, they can be a source of discomfort for many individuals. Not because they are painful, but some view them as a sign of aging, and look for treatment to reduce their appearance or remove them completely. There are topical treatments available over the counter that make claims to reduce sun spots and other signs of sun damage, but require frequent application and use over a long period. Manufacturers of these treatments typically do not guarantee their results, and for some patients, these treatments simply do not work at all.
One treatment that does work with proven results is intense pulse light therapy, also known as IPL or photofacial. When sunspots are treated with IPL therapy, a handheld laser is passed over the area to be treated, directing high intensity light onto the spot. This light breaks down the irregular patch of melanin. The spot will then come to the surface of the skin and flake off. Intense pulse light therapy also is helpful for the treatment of acne scars, injury scars and freckles.
“IPL therapy is a great way to treat patients with skin flaws like sunspots,” says Dr. Mayli Davis, M.D. Davis has treated patients with IPL for sunspots and other skin conditions at her Colleyville, Texas, clinic. “IPL is a great option because results can be seen quickly – in comparison over the counter creams and other self care treatments.”
While sunspots are completely harmless, skin cancer can often look like a sun spot. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, and affects over 3 million Americans each year according to the American Cancer Society. All types of skin cancer can start as a brown flat patch, and are often shaped irregularly – just like sunspots. As a result, Davis urges patients with sunspots or any irregularly shaped spot get checked routinely by their physician. “It is important to have any area of concern checked out by a physician – to both rule out the risk of cancer, and to determine the best method of treatment,” says Davis. 
