4 Noninvasive Treatments for Discolored Skin

Patches of noticeably discolored skin, especially on your arms and face, may negatively affect how you feel about your appearance.

At Balcones Dermatology & Aesthetics, board-certified dermatologist David A. Bushore, MD, has extensive experience treating mild to severe skin discolorations. Dr. Bushore offers a variety of non-invasive, nonsurgical solutions to address sunspots, age spots, and melasma without surgery.

The underlying causes of discolored skin

There are a number of underlying causes that contribute to skin discoloration, including your environment, medical issues, and genetics.

Many types of skin discolorations, including sunspots and age spots, are the result of a dysfunction in the melanocytes, the cells of your body that create melanin, or skin color. When these cells produce too much melanin, it causes discoloration in your skin. This discoloration can remain small or spread to a larger area.

This excess production of melanin can occur due to a number of reasons, such as aging and sun exposure. In women, hormones may also play a role in the darkening of the skin. Hormone changes, such as those that occur during pregnancy, can lead to melasma and other conditions that cause skin to darken abnormally.

Other medical conditions that cause discoloration include:

Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a skin condition that causes the loss of pigment in the skin, leading to white discoloration in patches of skin.

Tinea versicolor

Tinea versicolor is a fungal infection of the skin that interferes with pigmentation and causes small, discolored patches that are lighter or darker than your usual skin tone.

Melanoma

Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer that can spread beyond the skin and into your major organs.

Seborrheic dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis is a skin condition that causes scaly, white or red patches of skin to develop on the oily surfaces of your skin, especially your scalp, face, and chest.

Treating discolored skin without surgery

As a board-certified dermatologist, David A. Bushore, MD, specializes in treating skin discolorations with a customized treatment plan. Dr. Bushore can address discolored skin for both medical and cosmetic reasons, and he offers a number of nonsurgical treatments, such as the following:

Microneedling

Microneedling with the SkinPen® involves creating micro-wounds in the surface of your skin to induce the production of collagen, an essential protein that’s needed for healthy skin. As your skin heals, excess pigment breaks down to improve your skin’s tone and texture.

Chemical peels

Chemical peels use a special chemical solution to exfoliate the surface layers of your skin and reveal the fresh, healthy skin underneath. As dead skin cells are removed, you should see a noticeable fading of sunspots and age spots.

Laser treatments

Laser treatments use controlled laser energy to break down excess pigment in the skin. Your body responds by increasing its production of collagen and naturally eliminating the excess pigment. Balcones Dermatology & Aesthetics offers the Fraxel® Dual laser as well as both the Cutera Excel V™  and the Cutera Laser Genesis® to address hyperpigmentation and other types of skin discoloration.

SilkPeel DiamondGlow Dermalinfusion

SilkPeel® DiamondGlow Dermalinfusion exfoliates the surface layers of your skin with a diamond abrasive tip. After removing dead skin cells and debris, board-certified dermatologist David A. Bushore, MD, deep-cleans your skin and infuses it with condition-specific serums.

In addition to reducing the visibility of skin discolorations, these noninvasive treatments also help improve the overall health of your skin.

To find out which treatment is right for your discolored skin, book an appointment online or over the phone with Balcones Dermatology & Aesthetics today.