Freckles and Laser Cosmetic Surgery

Freckles are small spots found on the skin that are generally tan in color. They are most commonly found on people with fair complexions and are located mostly on the face, though they can be found on any skin that is exposed to the sun.

The Cause of Freckles

The tendency to develop freckles is inherited and is believed to be caused by a gene variant. For those with the tendency to get freckles, the actual freckling itself is caused by the same process as sun tanning but the melanin distribution of the skin is uneven. Freckles are most common in children from the ages of five to fifteen. Although freckles themselves are not a skin disorder, research has indicated that people with a predisposition to freckles are more likely to get sunburned or to develop skin cancer. Therefore, it is particularly important for those with freckles to take care of their skin and to protect it from the sun using a sun block of SPF 15 or higher.

Treating Freckles with Laser Cosmetic Surgery

As a person with freckles ages, the freckles will fade on their own. For a person who is particularly bothered by his or her freckles, it is possible to remove them with laser cosmetic surgery. The same procedure is used with freckles as with birthmarks that cause discoloration of the skin, which involves using a pulse-dye laser.

The pulse-dye laser can remove the discoloration caused by the freckles without harming the surrounding skin. It may, however, take several treatments for the freckles to be completely removed. Fortunately, it is possible to resume normal activity after undergoing laser freckle removal surgery because the procedure is non-invasive. Unfortunately, subsequent exposure to the sun can cause the freckles to reappear.

Laser resurfacing can also be used to remove freckles, but it is a far harsher procedure with a much longer recovery period. Therefore, it is generally not recommended to undergo laser resurfacing for freckles unless there is also severe sun damage or a need to remove wrinkles as well.

Deciding if Laser Freckle Removal is Right For You

To decide if laser freckle removal is the right decision for you, it is best to discuss your individual circumstances with your doctor. Your doctor should be able to help you determine whether or not the freckles will simply return after they are removed from exposure to the sun. If this is the case, the procedure may not be worthwhile to you.

On the other hand, lazer freckle removal may be the perfect choice for you if you have freckles that you find to be unattractive and wish to have removed. Although freckles tend to fade away on their own over time, there is no certainty as to how long it will take for this to happen. In addition, the procedure is safe and relatively pain free. But, it is considered a cosmetic surgery and, therefore, will not be covered by most insurance companies. Therefore, you must be prepared to pay for the procedure out of your own pocket.