First of all, sunscreen can only prevent further progression of your age spots but will not lighten your age spots. I would still urge you to use a high spf sunscreen of at least 50. Secondly, you need to know that laser is not a magic wand which can erase all spots. Combination of treatment is the usual way to deal with age spots. I will combine
1. topical treatment such as hydroquinone based treatment or the triple (hydroquinone, vitamin A, and mild steroid) combination cream, followed by a peptide based topical, together with;
2. an oral treatment such as oral glutathione, or oral polypodium leucotomos, or oral transxenamic acid (if no contraindication), and;
3. pigment laser such as picolaser and also perhaps a vascular laser if there is an underlying redness to your spots. Depending on the types and the extend of your sun spots, there may be a need to have several sessions of laser treatments before you can see a signicant improvement.
All these treatment modalities in terms of costs, potential side effects, number of sessions and the expectations will be discussed with you after a close up assessment in the clinic. However, you may not need to choose all these treatment options after discussion with your dermatologist. Hope you find this information helpful.
Best wishes,
Dr. Liew Hui Min
Consultant Dermatologist
