Brown spots and peeling of the skin are signs of sun damage from overexposure to UV rays. Brown spots normally worsen with age and become more noticeable, whereas peeling is the skin's natural healing response to damage. The skin sheds the damaged layers to expose the underlying healthy skin layers. Treatment for brown spots and peeling can prove most effective in reversing the effects of sun damage.
Step 1
Apply sunscreen when going outdoors. Adequate sun protection will allow the skin to heal while preventing further damage from the sun's harmful UV rays. According to DermNetNZ, broad spectrum sunscreen applied nine months out of the year may help fade brown spots on the skin.
Step 2
Opt for a chemical peel at your dermatologist's office. Chemical peels work by removing the outer layer of dead skin cells, exposing fresh skin. With repeated treatments, dark spots are gradually faded and peeling areas smoothed as the damaged skin in sloughed off.
Step 3
Apply alpha hydroxy acid-based moisturizer to your skin after cleansing daily. Alpha hydroxy acids are natural fruit acids that gently exfoliate the skin and help reverse skin aging. Moisturizers containing vitamin C are also ideal as they help skin form collagen and fade dark spots.
Step 4
Moisturize skin with a prescription retinoid cream from your dermatologist. Retinoid creams provide skin renewal, fade discoloration and keep peeling skin moisturized at a deeper cellular level. These creams are not available over the counter.
Step 5
Relax with intense pulsated light therapy (IPL). This treatment option uses a low intensity light to treat aging skin by spreading melanin production out through the skin and stopping it from pooling in one area. IPL is an in-office procedure available through your dermatologist.
Things You'll Need
- Sunscreen
- Alpha hydroxy acid moisturizer
- Vitamin C
- Prescription retinoid cream
