Best Laser Treatments for Sun Damage

What are the best lasers to treat sun damage?

It’s summer and for many, the question about how to eliminate the brown spots they see on their skin is top of mind. While treating sun damage in summer months is tricky, there are options. Additionally, we can always plan ahead for when the temps change and the days are shorter. People often refer to the cooler months (fall, winter, spring) as laser season, but the truth is much more nuanced and personal depending on skin tone, lifestyle and sun exposure. So, let’s dive into treatment options and considerations.

Can you treat sun damage in the summer?

The short answer is, it depends. It depends on what treatment options we’re evaluating and the person we’re treating. Some options such as microneedling and Sciton Moxi are safe summer options to treat sun damage, while it is best to avoid Broadband Light (BBL) during hot months when the sun is out longer and the UV is higher. There is not one best laser treatment for sun damage for all times of the year.

The difference in these options and the reason some can be utilized during summer months is based on how they work. Microneedling is mechanical. It utilizes small, medical-grade needles to puncture the skin. The method of action is physically controlled micro-injuries. These micro-injuries stimulate a wound healing cascade in the skin.

Microneedling is FDA cleared to improve wrinkles and acne scarring because of this wound healing response and its effect on collagen stimulation. Thus, microneedling is great for these indications, but we can combine topical treatments that also make it effective for pigment. For example, we can apply a topical retinol or vitamin C post-microneedling to help address pigmentary concerns.

Sciton Moxi is another summer safe laser treatment to address pigment in a different way. Moxi is a gentle laser treatment that targets water, and has a low absorption of melanin. This makes it safe to do in the summer. Even though water absorbs the laser, it passes through the pigment in the skin. This in turn allows for the gentle treatment of pigment. Multiple treatments will be necessary.

Why can’t you use BBL to treat pigment in the summer?

The biggest reason providers limit BroadBand Light (BBL) treatments during the summer is that sun exposure before and after treatment can affect your results and increase the risk of complications. Freshly tanned skin absorbs more laser and light energy, making treatment less predictable and increasing the risk of burns and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

BBL specifically targets pigment, making it one of the most effective treatments for brown spots, age spots, and sun damage. In fact, when you have not tanned your skin, BBL one of the best laser treatments for sun damage. However, tanning creates excess pigment throughout the skin, giving the light energy too many targets. Instead of focusing only on unwanted brown spots, the treatment also targets your tan, increasing the risk of overheating the skin.

Think of it like a parking lot on a sunny day. A white car reflects much of the sunlight, while a black car absorbs significantly more heat. Your skin behaves the same way. The more pigment your skin contains from a recent tan, the more laser or light energy it absorbs. Too much absorbed energy can lead to burns, blistering, or unwanted hyperpigmentation.

Even if your skin isn’t tanned when you receive treatment, sun exposure afterward can still compromise your results. Laser and light treatments stimulate melanocytes, the cells responsible for producing pigment. After treatment, these cells become more active as your skin heals. If you expose your skin to ultraviolet (UV) rays during this healing period, those activated melanocytes can produce excess pigment, causing new dark spots or worsening existing discoloration.

If I have treatments in the summer, what can I do to make sure I protect my skin?

Even though sun exposure creates some concerns with summertime treatments, it doesn’t mean that we can’t treat at all. Personal evaluation and how you care for the skin pre and post treatment are essential. First and foremost, SPF is your BFF and your insurance plan. SPF leading up to treatment and especially post treatment is essential. Proper SPF application will protect your skin prior to treatment allowing for better treatment outcomes. It also protects your skin afterwards, ensuring that the investment in your skin will be maintained as long as possible. Lastly, avoiding peak sun times, and wearing hats along with UV clothing are helpful and important considerations.

Final thoughts…

When someone decides they want to see change in their skin, we’re having a whole conversation about lifestyle change. This is why personal evaluation is essential. Typically, when someone has sun damage that they’d like to reverse, we’re discussing treatment options, but we’re also discussing lifestyle changes. We want to make sure the changes made through treatment last as long as possible, which means changing skin habits and lifestyle so that the damage doesn’t immediately return. Long story short, there are options to treat sun damage during summer months, but lifestyle is just as important to lasting change as the treatments themselves.