Pigmentation and Sun Damage Treatment in St Ives

Sun spots and age spots are small, well-defined areas where years of ultraviolet exposure have caused the skin to produce extra pigment. Melasma is a patchier, often hormonal type of pigmentation that is common in pregnancy and with some contraceptives, and it can be made worse by heat and the wrong treatment. Post-inflammatory pigmentation is the dark marking left behind after spots or irritation.

Lumecca Peak is an intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment that targets pigment and the redness of sun damage. The light is absorbed by the pigment, which darkens slightly and then flakes away over the following days, leaving a clearer, more even tone. It is usually given as a short course.

Chemical peels remove the outer layers of skin in a controlled way, helping to lift pigment and even out tone over a course of treatments. SkinPen microneedling and exosomes support skin renewal and can improve tone and texture together, which is helpful where sun damage has also caused roughness and fine lines.

Individual, well-defined age spots can sometimes be treated with cryotherapy, which freezes the lesion so it lifts away as the skin heals. Any spot we treat must be clearly benign, and if there is any doubt we will recommend a check first.

Medical-grade skincare and daily sun protection are the foundation of any pigmentation plan. Without them, pigment tends to return whatever treatment you have in clinic. A facial skin analysis can show pigment below the surface that is not yet visible, which helps us plan and track your progress.

Pigmentation usually improves gradually over several months, and some types, particularly melasma, can be managed but tend to come back. We will be clear about that from the start.