SKIN CONCERN:
Age Spots Treatment in Wollongong
SKIN CONCERN:
Age Spots Treatment in Wollongong
Age spots are the flat brown discolouration marks that build up over years of sun exposure, most often on the areas we expose the most: the face, hands and décolletage. If they are making your skin look older or more uneven than you feel, age spots treatment can help fade them and even out your skin tone. Australia has one of the highest rates of UV exposure in the world, so sun-related pigmentation like this is very common. At Advantage Skin Clinic in Corrimal after a proper assessment, we treat age spots with IPL, laser and other clinically established options. Because pigmentation looks like an age spot can occasionally be something more serious, every treatment plan starts by checking the skin first.
Treatments Used
We treat age spots with a range of light, laser and resurfacing options, matched to your skin. IPL (intense pulsed light) is our go-to for superficial facial sun spots and freckles, while our ND:YAG Long Pulse and Er:YAG iPixel lasers target pigment that lays a little deeper in the skin. For broader sun damage across an area, CO2 laser resurfacing can help refresh the overall surface, and chemical peels are often used alongside these to lift superficial pigment and even out skin tone. Not every treatment suits every skin, so the right combination is decided at your assessment rather than chosen off a list.
Downtime
Downtime is usually minimal for IPL and chemical peels. Treated spots often darken over the first few days and then flake away over one to two weeks, and you may have some short-lived redness. Resurfacing lasers work more deeply, so they involve a longer recovery that your clinician will explain in full before you book. Whatever the treatment, diligent sun protection afterwards is essential while the skin settles.
Sessions
Many age spots respond within one to four sessions, though this really depends on how many spots you have, how deep the pigment sits and the treatment we use. Superficial facial spots often clear more quickly, while older or deeper pigment can take a little longer and may need a spaced-out series. You will get a clearer idea of the likely number at your assessment, once we can see exactly what we are treating. Results vary from person to person and are never guaranteed.
First Step
Every plan starts with a skin assessment. This lets us confirm the pigmentation are genuine age spots and safe to treat, check your skin type, and match the most suitable treatment to your skin and the pigment we can see. Because pigmentation that looks like an age spot can occasionally be something that needs medical review, this first step is also a safety check, and our doctors can arrange a skin check or DermEngine total body photography if anything warrants a closer look. From there, we will talk you through your options, the likely number of sessions and what to expect.
What Are Age Spots?
Age spots, also called sun spots, liver spots or solar lentigines, are small, flat patches of darker skin. They range from light brown to almost black and usually sit on the skin that has had the most sun over the years: the face, the backs of the hands, the shoulders and the décolletage. Age spots on the face are especially common because it is the area most exposed day to day. Despite the name, they are not caused by ageing alone. They are a sign of accumulated sun damage, which is why they can appear well before old age.
Age spots are one form of pigmentation, alongside freckles, melasma and post-inflammatory marks.
What Causes Age Spots?
Age spots form when ultraviolet light triggers the skin to produce extra melanin, the pigment that gives skin its colour. Over time that pigment clumps into concentrated spots rather than spreading evenly. Years of everyday sun, not just sunburns, drive the process, so facial age spots and marks on the hands are common. In a coastal region like Wollongong and the wider Illawarra, that cumulative exposure adds up quickly. Tanning, some medications and hormonal changes can make pigmentation more likely to show.
Have Your Spots Checked First
This is the step most treatment pages skip. A flat brown mark that looks like an age spot can occasionally be an early skin cancer, including a melanoma, which can be pigmented and change slowly. That is why a spot should be assessed before it is treated, not simply lasered away. At Advantage Skin Clinic our doctors are trained in skin cancer detection, and we can arrange a doctor skin check or DermEngine total body photography if anything needs a closer look. If a mark has features that need review, we check it properly first. Treating a suspicious lesion as cosmetic pigmentation can hide a problem, so this assessment is built into every age spots treatment plan.
How We Treat Age Spots at Advantage Skin Clinic
Once we have confirmed the pigmentation is safe to treat, we match the treatment to your skin, the depth of the pigment and the area involved. A VISIA skin analysis can map pigment sitting below the surface to guide that choice. Most age spots respond well to light and laser based treatments.
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)
IPL is one of the most popular treatments for superficial facial age spots, sun spots and freckles. It delivers broad-spectrum light that is absorbed by the excess pigment and breaks it up so the body can reverse it. Treated spots often darken briefly and then flake away over the following days. IPL laser treatment suits lighter skin types with clearly defined brown spots.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels lift the outer layer of skin to help fade superficial pigment and refresh overall tone. They are often used alongside IPL or laser as part of a plan for facial age spots removal rather than as a stand-alone fix for stubborn or deeper spots.
Laser Treatment for Age Spots
For pigment that sits deeper, or spots that need more targeted energy, laser treatment can be a better fit. Our ND:YAG Long Pulse and Er:YAG iPixel lasers target pigment and resurface sun-damaged skin, and CO2 laser resurfacing can address broader sun damage across an area. The right laser therapy for age spots is chosen based on your skin type and the pigmentation being treated.
A Combined Approach
Many people get the most even result from a combination: a light or laser treatment to target the spots, plus good skincare and daily sun protection to stop new ones forming. Not sure whether IPL or laser is right for you? Our guide on the difference between IPL vs laser for pigmentation might help..
What to Expect
Before Your Treatment
Your plan starts with an assessment to confirm the discolouration, check your skin type and rule out anything that needs medical review. Avoid tanning and direct sun for a couple of weeks beforehand, as recently tanned skin is more sensitive. Let your clinician know your medical history and any medications you take.
During Your Treatment
Most light and laser treatments for age spots take around 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the area. You may feel a warm, snapping sensation as the device passes over the skin. Protective eyewear is worn, and comfort measures are used where needed.
After Your Treatment
Treated age spots typically look darker at first, then lift and flake off over the following one to two weeks. Downtime is usually minimal for IPL and peels, with some redness for a day or two. Resurfacing lasers involve a longer recovery, which your clinician will explain in full. Sun protection afterwards is essential to protect the result.
Who Is Age Spot Treatment Suitable For?
Age spot treatment suits people who have flat, harmless brown spots from past sun exposure and want a more even skin tone. It is most suited to clearly defined spots on lighter to medium skin. Deeper skin tones can be treated, but the approach is chosen carefully to reduce the risk of pigment changes. Treatment may be delayed if you are pregnant, have very recently tanned, or have a mark that needs medical assessment first. The only way to know what suits you is a consultation.
Results and Keeping Age Spots Away
Many people see their spots fade noticeably after one to four sessions, though results vary with the type and depth of the pigment and are never guaranteed. Age spots can return, and new ones can form, if the skin is not protected, because the underlying cause is sun exposure. Daily broad-spectrum SPF, hats and shade are the most reliable way to protect your results. Good ongoing skincare helps maintain an even tone between treatments.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get rid of age spots on your face?
In-clinic treatments such as IPL, laser and chemical peels are the most direct way to fade age spots on the face. They work by breaking down or resurfacing the excess pigment so the body can clear it. Creams can lighten very superficial blemish’s over time, but they work slowly. The right option depends on your skin and the spots, which is why we assess first.
Can age spots be removed permanently?
Treatment can fade age spots significantly, and a spot that has cleared often does not come back in the same place. Because age spots are caused by sun exposure, though, new ones can form and old ones can return if the skin is not protected. We approach it as fading and controlling age spots, paired with ongoing sun protection, rather than promising permanent removal.
Does laser treatment for age spots hurt?
Most people describe IPL and laser treatment for age spots as a warm, snapping sensation, a little like a light flick against the skin. It is generally well tolerated and the treatments are short. Comfort measures are available, and your clinician will talk you through what to expect.
How many treatments will I need?
Many age spots improve within one to three sessions, but this varies with the number, depth and type of the discolouration. You will get a clearer estimate at your assessment, once we can see what we are treating.
Is there any downtime?
IPL and peels usually involve minimal downtime, with treated spots darkening and flaking over one to two weeks and some short-lived redness. Resurfacing lasers involve a longer recovery. Your clinician will explain the downtime for your specific plan.
Are age spots and sun spots the same thing?
Yes. Age spots, sun spots, liver spots and solar lentigines are all names for the same flat brown marks caused by sun exposure. Despite the name, they have nothing to do with the liver.
How do I know a mark is an age spot and not something serious?
You cannot always tell just by looking, which is why assessment matters. Age spots are usually flat, even in colour and stable over time. Pigmentation that is changing, growing, has an irregular border or uneven colour, or that itches or bleeds, should be checked. Our doctors assess spots and can arrange a skin check if needed.
Book an Age Spot Assessment in Wollongong
Located at Level 1, 432 Princes Highway, Corrimal, Advantage Skin Clinic treats age spots and sun-related pigmentation for people across Wollongong, Thirroul, Bulli, Figtree and the wider Illawarra. Every plan starts with an assessment, so we treat the right marks in the right way, with IPL, laser and peel options under one roof and doctors on site if a spot needs checking. Book an appointment online or by phone to get started.
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