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Some sunspots are tough to remove and don't respond well to OTC creams and other products. If you'd like to remove or lighten the sunspots for cosmetic reasons, visit a local dermatologist and ask them to inspect your sunspots. Describe to them how long you've had the sunspots and mention what other treatments you've tried. In some cases, you may need to visit your general practitioner first and get a referral to a dermatologist. Laser resurfacing can be done at a doctor's office or hospital. The procedure entails removing upper layers of your skin (which include the unwanted sunspots) with beams of light. Laser resurfacing is expensivesince it's typically not covered by insurancebut effective in removing sunspots by taking off thin layers of skin. Recovery time can take up to 3 weeks. You'll be mildly sedated during the procedure itself. It's an outpatient procedure, though, so you'll be dismissed from the doctor's office or the hospital after it's done. Before going ahead with the procedure, the doctor will ask you about your medical history and any prescription medications you're taking. This will help the doctor confirm that the patches are, in fact, sunspots and aren't caused by another skin condition. If your doctor agrees that a chemical peel will help remove your sunspots, they'll apply a mild acid to your face. This treated layer of skinwhich typically contains the unwanted sunspotswill peel off, allowing fresh new skin to grow in its place. Peels can be performed at some dermatologist offices or at hospitals. The procedure can leave the affected area red for several days. The procedure can cause some lingering pain, so your doctor may suggest you take OTC pain medication or use a cold compress for a week. If you'd rather not treat your entire face but would prefer to focus only on removing sunspots, cryotherapy may be the way to go. When performing this procedure, doctors typically use nitrous oxide to freeze the sunspots. The spots will then scab and fall off in approximately 1 week, leaving un-darkened skin behind. Microdermabrasion is a fairly aggressive way to treat sunspots, so make sure to check with your doctor before having the treatment performed. In the procedure, a doctor will use a special applicator to remove the outermost layer of your skin. This will remove sunspots and leave fresh skin behind. Some doctors will perform the procedure at their office, while others will refer you to a local hospital. Fortunately, the procedure isn't painful and can be done in 60 minutes. Your skin may feel tight or slightly stretched after the microdermabrasion. If this bothers you, take a dose of OTC pain medication.
Visit a dermatologist if your sunspots don't respond to OTC treatment. Ask your doctor to treat your sunspots with laser resurfacing. Get a chemical peel to remove layers of sun-spotted skin. Freeze your sunspots with cryotherapy for a spot-focused treatment. Try microdermabrasion if other medical treatments haven't worked.