For my arms/hands, which laser would be most helpful for brown spots and sun damage?

Dr. Irwin
November 7, 2013
Hi Dr. Irwin, I read the information on your site regularly and I find it extremely helpful. Thank you for doing it! I recently consulted a good dermatologist in my area regarding brown spots and sun damaged skin on my forearms and hands. She recommended a Candela Q-Switched laser for it that they have in the office. The cost of the treatment seems to be relatively inexpensive ($400) and I am wondering if this laser works well. I could not find much information about it on the internet. Would you be able to provide any information about it? I would really appreciate it. Thank you!

Thank you for the compliment!! It’s difficult to know without more info but it is probably a Q-switched YAG which is good for brown spots. Here’s the issue to think about.

 

If you are younger, don’t have much sun damage and have just a few brown spots, then the Q-switched YAG would be a good choice.

 

If though, you have a lot of sun damage, lots of brown spots and fine wrinkling on your arms, then a short series (2-3) treatments with the Fraxel Dual you will get much more long term benefit in the sun damage and the brown spots, in my opinion.  With the Fraxel Dual you get two different wavelengths in one treatment.  One wavelength targets the brown quite nicely and the other works on the sun damage and fine wrinkling.

 

Dr. I

 

See Dr. Irwin’s best skin care products for sun protection.

 

Learn more about the Fraxel Dual and Fraxel Lasers.

Dr. Brandith Irwin, MD

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Hi, I’m Dr. Irwin. I believe that consumers deserve a medically trained and unbiased skin care advocate.

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