Waterloo experiences roughly 200 sunny days per year. Which means you’re exposing your skin to intense UV light for almost 66% of the year. Age spots, or sunspots, are a very common concern among our patients, especially on the face, hands, chest, and shoulders.
While they’re technically harmless, they can become more visible over time and contribute to an uneven skin tone. If you’re searching “how to get rid of age spots”, Waterloo’s SPRY Skin & Wellness has a team of expert providers that can guide you toward effective treatment.
We recommend Lumecca IPL, an advanced light-based service that can address sunspots on your skin.
Why Age Spots Develop
Age spots, sometimes called sun spots or liver spots, develop when your skin produces excess melanin in response to repeated sun exposure. They typically won’t appear after a single sunburn, but they are virtually unavoidable after years of prolonged sun exposure without proper protection from UV rays. Using sunscreen is especially relevant in the vibrant summer months of Waterloo. It’s also important to remember in colder weather, as UV damage can still accumulate through overcast skies.
Many patients in Waterloo notice age spots in their 30s, 40s, and beyond. This is typically when your skin’s natural ability to repair itself through collagen stimulation and generating healthy new cells slows down.
Other contributing factors can include:
- Long-term UV exposure without consistent SPF protection
- Natural aging processes that slow cell turnover
- A genetic predisposition to pigmentation changes
What Age Spots Look and Feel Like
Age spots typically appear as flat, brown, tan, or gray patches on the skin. They vary in size and often develop in clusters in areas that are commonly exposed to the sun. We often see them on:
- Faces (cheeks, foreheads, and temples)
- Hands and forearms
- Chests, shoulders, and backs
Age spots are normally painless and don’t disrupt the texture of your skin, so they may go unnoticed for some time. You may recognize them once they appear in a large cluster, or near your eyes.
It is also important to distinguish age spots from other forms of pigmentation, like melasma or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. These conditions may require a different treatment approach.
Why At-Home Treatments Don’t Fully Work
Many people wondering how to get rid of age spots in Waterloo spend a fortune on over-the-counter creams and brightening serums. These products can support your skin health, but are often limited when it comes to assessing concerns beneath the skin, where excess pigmentation forms.
Topical products typically work on the surface layers and can:
- Lightly fade discoloration over time
- Improve overall brightness
- Require consistent long-term use
Age spots are often deeper within the skin structure. That’s why surface-level treatment alone rarely produces significant or lasting results. SPRY patients regularly tell us they’ve tried the convenient cures and are frustrated with ineffective products. They come to us when they’re ready to explore professional options that target pigment more directly.
Professional Options to Get Rid of Age Spots
If your age spots have gotten more noticeable, professional treatment can offer a targeted approach. In the early stages, our patients consult with us when looking into how to get rid of age spots. Waterloo trusts SPRY providers to evaluate whether light-based treatments, like Lumecca IPL, are appropriate for their skin type and pigmentation pattern.
A clinical assessment with our expert team helps us to determine your:
- Type and depth of pigmentation
- Skin sensitivity and overall health
- Suitability for light-based treatment
This step is especially important because not all skin tones respond the same way to IPL treatment. A SPRY provider can give you a unique, personalized care plan to remedy your age spots.
Intense Pulsed Light Treatment
Lumecca Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is a noninvasive skin treatment that uses controlled light energy to target areas of pigmentation beneath the skin’s surface. Unlike topical products, IPL works by delivering specific wavelengths of light that are absorbed by melanin. Sun exposure or damage can increase the production of melanin, or pigment, which is what causes age spots on your skin.
Once your skin absorbs the IPL, the pigment breaks down into smaller particles, which are then naturally processed and cleared by the skin cell turnover process. Lumecca IPL treatment can address:
- Age spots
- Generally uneven skin tone
- Sun damage
- Unwanted freckles
SPRY providers prefer Lumecca IPL because it delivers high-intensity light in fewer sessions compared to traditional IPL devices. Lumecca treatment plans typically last for 3 sessions for optimal results, while traditional IPL devices require 6 to 8 sessions. Our patients love Lumecca because it quickly and thoroughly addresses pigmentation concerns.
Lumecca IPL Helps Reduce Age Spots
Lumecca IPL helps our providers target areas with large clusters of pigmentation with light energy. The pigmentation absorbs this energy and slowly breaks down beneath the surface of the skin. Because Lumecca only targets darkened pigment, skin in the surrounding area is unaffected by the treatment.
After your appointment, the treated pigment will continue to break down. As your body generates new cells and you exfoliate the top layer of dead or damaged skin, these treated areas move outward. Once they reach the surface, they’ll begin to fleck and peel. Dark spots may darken even further at this time as your body works to release unhealthy skin cells.
During this process, many patients notice:
- Gradual fading of age spots, or sunspots
- Improved skin clarity
- More uniform tone across treated areas
Results vary depending on your skin type, your history of sun exposure, and the number of treatments recommended during your consultation.
Lumecca Treatment With SPRY
At SPRY Skin & Wellness, IPL treatments begin with a consultation to assess skin concerns and health. We’ll help you determine if Lumecca is the best approach to get rid of your age spots in Waterloo.
During a consultation, you can expect:
- A review of your skin’s history, health, and pigmentation concerns
- A customized treatment plan based on your skin assessment
- A quick, in-office procedure with minimal downtime
We typically recommend Lumecca for patients with low pain tolerance or sensitive skin. It is a gentle treatment that patients tell us feels like a rubber band snapping against their skin. Sometimes a warming or tingling sensation accompanies this feeling.
Because your skin type and pigmentation concerns are unique, our providers customize treatment settings to your needs. We adjust the settings of the Lumecca device for our providers to treat your age spots with your comfort and safety in mind.
Recovery After Treatment
After a Lumecca IPL appointment where our providers show you how to get rid of dark spots, Waterloo patients may notice complexion changes. We often see the age spots on our patients’ skin darken slightly before they begin to fade. This is a normal part of the process, so don’t be concerned if you recognize that happening.
Over the following days and weeks, you may notice:
- Age spots darken, then gradually fade
- Mild redness in the treated area that quickly resolves
- Your skin tone evening out once dark spots have faded
It’s critical that you use proper sun protection after a Lumecca treatment. UV exposure can contribute to the development of new age spots or sunspots. It’s important to know that your skin may be more sensitive to sun damage immediately after treatment.
Sun Protection After Treatment
Because of this added sensitivity, Lumecca IPL is a treatment that SPRY providers recommend trying in the Fall or Winter. We can do this treatment in the Spring or Summer, but due to a high UV index, you’re at a much higher risk of redeveloping new age spots.
To prevent new pigment from accumulating, follow these sun protection methods:
- As much as possible, avoid direct and continued sun exposure.
- Wear a minimum of SPF 50 every day, even when the sky is overcast or rainy.
- Use a ball cap or sun hat for particularly bright points in the afternoon or evening.
These guidelines are helpful in preparing for and recovering from a SPRY Lumecca IPL treatment. You can also follow these guidelines as preventative care once your treatment plan is in the maintenance phase. During that time, treatments are much less frequent and we schedule them as you notice large pigment clusters. These steps can help you prevent new age spots from forming.
Choose SPRY for IPL
Selecting a provider can feel overwhelming. There are plenty of choices, with lots of flashy language to claim they offer quick fixes and miracle cures. SPRY does not do that.
We understand that expert, quality care takes time. Instead of a simple and impersonal treatment model that is quick to apply, we take the time to tailor Lumecca IPL to your needs. Our medical aestheticians are diligent and highly trained, and they work with close attention to detail and the utmost respect for your safety and wellbeing.
We begin care with a provider-led skin assessment, and only move forward once you feel completely ready. Our conversations are about recommending the ideal treatment for you, not pushing costly services that only benefit us.
SPRY providers teach our patients about prevention and do what’s best to move them toward a lower-frequency care plan. We help you achieve meaningful, lasting results on your skincare journey.
For individuals wondering how to get rid of age spots, Waterloo’s SPRY Skin & Wellness is the best local provider. To begin treating your sunspots, contact our office. We’re here to help you reset your complexion.
