BBL and HALO therapies in Burlington

Changes In Our Skin Pigment As We Age

It doesn’t matter if you are in your 30s, 40s, 50s or 60s, chances are you’ve started noticing changes in your skin that weren’t there before. 

Maybe it’s a couple of sun spots across your cheeks. Perhaps there are darker patches appearing on your forehead, around your temples or on the backs of your hands. Or maybe you’ve noticed that your overall complexion just doesn’t look as even and bright as it used to.

The good news? You don’t necessarily have to accept pigmentation as simply “part of getting older.”

Brown spots are often the visible result of cumulative sun exposure and other factors that stimulate pigment production. And while they can be stubborn, a combination of medical-grade treatments and a professionally prescribed skincare routine can make a significant difference to the appearance of uneven tone.

Identifying Your Concerns

So, what actually works for brown spots?

When pigmentation is your concern, the most effective approach is rarely just one product or one treatment.

At Cosmedica Aesthetics, we look at the bigger picture: what type of pigmentation you have, how deep or widespread it is, your skin type, your lifestyle and how much downtime you’re comfortable with.

For many patients, BBL is an excellent place to start.

BBL, or Broad Band Light, uses targeted light energy to address visible pigmentation and other signs of photodamage. It can be particularly useful for the brown spots that develop as a result of years of sun exposure.

One of the things patients love about BBL is it’s ability to be customized. From spot treating to full treatment areas such as the face, neck, chest and backs of hands the BBL is able to even out tone, diminish dullness and adds collagen to the treated areas. 

After treatment, the pigmented areas may temporarily appear darker before gradually fading as the skin naturally clears the treated pigment. Some patients also experience mild redness or a warm, sunburn-like sensation for a short period. With daily skincare to support results and SPF to maintain, BBL is an easy treatment to seamlessly add into an existing cosmetic regimen that does what you want it to and more without needed excessive amounts of time off social events or work for downtime. 

Want a more aggressive approach? Consider HALO

Seeing more than just pigmentation? Texture? Pores? 

This is where HALO may be considered.

HALO is a hybrid laser treatment that combines non-ablative and ablative wavelengths. It can target pigmentation and sun damage while also resurfacing the skin and improving the appearance of texture.

It’s important to understand that “more aggressive” also means more recovery. Depending on the settings used, patients can experience redness, swelling and a bronzed or sandpaper-like texture as the skin heals. Your provider will determine the appropriate treatment intensity based on your skin and goals.

For some patients, a combination or staggered approach using BBL and HALO may be appropriate.

The treatment is only half the equation though. If you want to enhance your results, a medical-grade skincare program that includes exfoliators, retinols and a daily SPF can really elevate the final look.

The bottom line… brown spots don’t have to be something you simply put up with as you get older.

For some people, a series of BBL treatments combined with a consistent ZO Skin Health protocol may be the ideal approach. For others, particularly those concerned with pigmentation and texture, fine lines and overall skin quality, a more intensive treatment such as HALO with a regimented skin prep protocol may be worth considering.

The most important thing is having your skin properly assessed before treatment. Not every brown patch is simply a sun spot, and different types of pigmentation can respond differently to light and laser treatments. In particular, conditions such as melasma require a more cautious, individualized approach because overly aggressive light treatment can sometimes worsen pigmentation.

At Cosmedica Aesthetics, our staff are highly trained with decades of experience and knowledge to set you up with the right treatment options Let us help you achieve your goals.