Say Goodbye to Stubborn Sun Spots with These Pro Tips

They don't have to be a forever thing.

Nothing embodies summer quite like a day spent under the sun — whether that day is spent on the beach, at a park, or walking around your hometown. However, while the warmth and vitamin D-induced bliss is unmatched, it's easy to turn spending time under the sun into a habit. And we all know the potential side effects sunlight can have under our skin.

Of course, the most important concern to keep in mind is the risk of skin cancer. But spending time under the sun can also produce aesthetic concerns, such as dark spots. These are the pesky, unwanted brown spots that pop up all over your skin after spending too much time under the sun. Sometimes, they only stay for a few days or weeks, but other times, they can stick around for months or years.

Thankfully, there are many ways to get rid of sun spots — from over-the-counter skincare products to in-office treatments done by professions. So, here we break down exactly what sun spot is (and isn't), how to prevent them from forming in the first place, and how to get rid of them once they appear.

What are sun spots?

As the name suggests, these are spots that appear on the skin as a results from being in the sun. "Excess sun exposure can result in temporary damage, for example, a sunburn, accompanied by redness and mild swelling or more permanent damage such as localized changes in skin color to a brown appearance — which is a sun spot," says Mila Davis, an aesthetician at Skin to Smile in New Jersey.

Lauren Abramowitz, founder of New York City's Park Avenue Skin Solutions and Clinical Educator for Allergan, further explains that brown spots are the result of increased melanocyte cells — the cells responsible for producing pigment. They often appear flat and darker than your natural skin tone, and they're likely found on the areas that have been over-exposed to the sun.

Unlike skin cancer spots, sun spots don't typically have disparities in color. "True sun spots are harmless and don’t require any intervention or treatment unless they bother you cosmetically. However, if you have any spot that grows quickly, changes in appearance or seems unusual, you should be evaluated by a doctor," says Dr. Adrienne O’Connell, Medical Director and President of Laguna Beach Aesthetics in California. If you notice a brown spot has uneven pigment and the borders are uneven, it could be a sign of something more serious and should be addressed with a doctor immediately.

While some mild sunspots may eventually disappear after a few months with proper treatment, more severe sunspots or sun damage may never be removed completely," says Dr. Chris Zoumalan, an Oculoplastic Surgeon in Beverly Hills. But more on that later.

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What's the best way to prevent sun spots?

While you've likely heard it once, we're going to say it again: The best way to prevent sun spots is to use sunscreen every day and reduce exposure to the sun.

But we know staying out of the sun isn't always easy — or even desirable — so make sure to lather yourself in a SPF 30 (at minimum) and reapply every two hours for the best chance at preventing sun spots.

How to get rid of sun spots:

There are several ways to tackle sun spots, whether you decide to use brightening skincare products at home or try in-office treatments with a professional. The first will likely reduce the appearance of sun spots over a period of time, while the other delivers quicker and more dramatic results. However, doing the latter can be much pricier than purchasing the correct skincare products, so it's best to consult your dermatologist to discuss what the best treatment plan for you is.

"When you look at the pigment pathway, it's made from a skin cell known as a melanocyte. Within the melanocyte, melanin is produced and packaged into little parcels that are then sprouted out and spread throughout your skin cells. You can target the melanocyte, you can target how the melanin is made, and then you can target how the melanin is distributed," Shereene Idriss, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of PillowtalkDerm previously explained to InStyle.

As such, at-home treatment should involve several products with different active ingredients to target each phase. Exfoliating acids will help slough away dead skin cells to reveal brighter, more radiant skin — they're popularly found in face masks and serums. A vitamin C serum is another hero product to keep on rotation as the antioxidant counters the enzymes used in melanin production. Alpha arbutin and niacinamide are other popular brightening ingredients that can be found in many types of products, from moisturizers and serums to masks.

"In-office treatments that can combat brown spots are chemical peels and lasers, but the gold standard are IPL treatments," Abramowitz tells InStyle. "My go-to IPL treatment is the Lumecca, which has over-exceeded my expectations, as well as those of my patients!"

The idea of an IPL can be a daunting one if you aren't experienced with the process, but she assures there is minimal to no pain associated with the Lumecca, the method works on all skin tones, and there's no real downtime. The pigmented lesions will darken for a day or so after the treatment, but it's nothing a little concealer can't cover, and after a week they fall off to reveal a completely even tone.

"Resurfacing methods such as laser, chemical peels and microneedling will treat brown spots as well," says Davis. "Lasers also use intense light and heat, but they are comprised of a single wavelength of light instead of a broad spectrum. Chemical peels peel off the top layer of skin, thereby lightening sun spots. Microneedling repairs and restores the skin, thereby lightening sun spots. Microneedling causes controlled trauma to the skin that allows the skin’s repair mechanism to ramp up. These treatment modalities usually require more than one treatment and can have lengthy recovery times."

If you do get an in-office treatment, Dr. Zoumalan says to factor in the fact that your skin may require time post-treatment for it to recover. Plus, he says it's also important to avoid sun exposure afterwards.

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