Anyone who has the appearance of light brown to black spots appearing on the face, hands, arms, back and other areas of the body which have been exposed to the sun or other ultra-violet rays can be a candidate for one of our hyperpigmentation or age spot therapies.

Although hyperpigmentation is most prominent in individuals over 40, it can be present in people of all ages.

Additionally, it is advisable to have any suspect skin issue assessed by a member of our highly trained specialists who will in turn involve Dr. Alanen if required.

Hyperpigmentation is a skin condition which is recognized by uneven or blotchy patches on the skin. It is caused by an excessive amount of overstimulation of melanin, or skin pigment, being produced which frequently appear on the face, back of the hands, shoulders, and other parts of the body that are subject to sun exposure. Hyperpigmentation can also be caused by hormonal fluctuations, the natural aging process, traumatic skin injuries, or inflammation.

Age spots, which are also referred to as sun spots, liver spots (melasma), are a form of hyperpigmentation which are light brown to black in color, and generally affect individuals over 40 years of age.

Additionally, melasma, also referred to as chloasma is another form of hyperpigmentation, which can appear in men, but generally affects women. It is most common in women during and after pregnancy and is related to changing hormone levels.

Additionally, repetitive facial expressions such as squinting, frowning, and even smiling can leave lines on the face which again can worsen with age.

Some of the common factors which contribute to the formation of wrinkles include:

• Exposure to the sun
• Genetics
• Years of smoking
• Dehydration
• Specific medications
• Extreme environmental conditions
• Certain medications

The team at Derm.ca is able to assess your specific skin type, severity, and location of wrinkles, and recommend the best solution for you.

Depending on the type of location, type, severity, and age of the fine lines and wrinkles, Derm.ca has a solution for you that will deliver the healthy youthful appearance you deserve.

Our treatments range from a variety of cutting edge laser treatments to injections and derma fillers.

There are a number of ways to treat hyperpigmentation and age spots including topical creams, chemical peels, light or laser therapy, or a combination of these methods.

Melasma is a skin condition that is much more prevalent in women than men. Although some individuals who have lighter skin can have the presence of melasma, it is much more prominent in those with darker skin. Additionally, people who have close relatives who suffer from melasma, have a higher probability of getting melasma themselves.

Melasma is initially identified by the appearance of gray or brown patches, typically on areas of the body which are exposed to the sun. Because melasma can resemble other skin conditions, a Dermatologist may have to perform a small skin biopsy in order to rule out other skin conditions.

Although the exact cause in not entirely known, it is apparent that the cells which provide colour to the skin called melanoytes, produce more than is required.

However, we do know that there are certain triggers which contribute to the appearance of melasma which includes:

• Exposure to the sun
• Hormonal changes as with pregnant women
• Low-quality skincare products

Whatever the cause, the team at Derm.ca has a high level of success in helping women and men fade or eliminate melasma.

There are a number of ways to treat melasma including topical creams, chemical peels, light or laser therapy, or a combination of these methods.

LimeLight Laser is a painless, non-surgical, and non-invasive treatment which uses Intense Laser Light (IPL) technology, to drastically reduce brown spots, redness, and improve skin tone and surface imperfections associated with aging and photodamage.

During the procedure, a vial of blood is removed and this is centrifuged to separate the cells from the platelets and serum. Then, the important peptides are released from platelets with refined sterile techniques in our certified laboratory. Afterwards, the platelet peptides and growth factors are delicately placed into melasma patches.

No. It depends on your pain tolerance. If you have a low tolerance to pain, you may apply a numbing cream at home 30 – 45 minutes before your appointment.

*Most patients do not require any numbing cream.

For best results PRP can be combined with other laser treatments. Most clinical studies show 3 treatments are necessary for best results, each appointment is one month apart.

This is a common question in our clinic. Melasma can be managed but not “cured” in the strict sense of that term. Thus it is essential that sun exposure be mitigated through use of zinc oxide sunscreens. We now know that visible spectrum light (i.e. not just ultraviolet light) – can exacerbate melasma. We recommend Venuceane containing zinc oxide sunscreens as this ingredient helps reverse damage to skin cells that is caused by visible spectrum light. Retinol is also recommended as this helps exfoliate out subtle pigmentation by acceleration of epidermal turnover. Finally, antioxidant peptides serum with a unique trans-epidermal carrier molecule is usually recommended. This 1-2-3 home therapy is ideal to prevent relapse and the need for more laser.

If you are interested in melasma therapies, please contact us. We would love to see you soon.