Sun Spot Removal Laser for Arms, Chest and Back

Yes, a laser can fade sun spots on the body, not only on the face. At Skin Anthology, laser pigmentation correction treats the arms, the neck and chest together, the back and the legs, at $249 to $299 a session on the current price list, and most patients plan for 3 to 6 sessions spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart. This guide covers why spots gather on the body, what to check first, what a session is like and how to keep new spots away.

Why sun spots gather on the body

Flat brown spots on the shoulders, chest and forearms are usually age spots. The Mayo Clinic describes them as small, flat dark areas on skin exposed to the sun, and notes they are also called sunspots, liver spots and solar lentigines.

They form where the skin has had the most sun over the years. Mayo lists the backs of the hands, the tops of the feet, the face, the shoulders and the upper back. Ultraviolet light speeds up the production of melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color, and on skin with years of sun exposure that melanin clumps or builds up in high concentrations.

Mayo says they are more likely if:

• Your skin burns easily and you spend a lot of time in the sun.
• You have a history of frequent or intense sun or sunburn.
• You have used tanning lamps or beds.
• You are over 50, though younger people who spend time in the sun get them too.

Which body areas are treated, and what they cost

The Skin Anthology treatment uses a pulsed laser with built in cooling. The light breaks pigment into smaller particles, leaves the surrounding skin alone, and the body clears what is treated. Body areas are priced on their own lines of the current price list:

Package prices are the three session total at 15% off. Neck and chest is listed as neck and décolleté. Face, neck and décolleté together are $449 a session.

If your spots are on your hands or the tops of your feet, ask about them at the consultation. They are not listed as separate areas on the current price list.

Check the spot before the laser

True age spots are harmless. The trouble, as the Mayo Clinic notes, is that age spots can look like cancerous growths, and a cosmetic laser is not the place to find out which one you have. Mayo advises having any new skin change looked at by a doctor, especially a spot that:

• Is black.
• Is increasing in size.
• Has an irregular border.
• Has an unusual combination of colors.
• Is bleeding.

Body spots are harder to watch than facial ones, because you rarely see your own back. The American Academy of Dermatology’s skin self exam helps: check your body front and back in a full length mirror, look at each side with your arms raised, and use a hand mirror for the back of your neck and your back.

If a spot is different from the others, or changes, itches or bleeds, the AAD advises seeing a board certified dermatologist before anything else. Laser pigmentation correction is also not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

What a body session is like

Before. Avoid tanning, spray tans and prolonged sun on the area for at least 1 to 2 weeks. Hold retinoids, exfoliating acids and other strong actives there for 3 to 5 days unless your provider says otherwise, and arrive without lotion or sunscreen on the area. Share your medications and any history of melasma, and never stop a prescribed medicine unless its prescriber advises it.

During. Most sessions take 15 to 45 minutes, depending on the size and number of areas, so a back or both legs sit at the longer end. Settings are chosen for your skin type and pigment depth. Most people feel brief warmth or a light snapping, which is generally well tolerated without numbing.

After. Mild redness, warmth or darkening of treated spots usually settles within several days. For 24 to 48 hours, skip hot baths, saunas, intense exercise and direct sun, and use gentle skin care only until the skin has settled.

Plan the series around the sun

Because sessions are spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart, a series takes time. Three sessions run about 8 to 12 weeks from the first visit to the last, and six run about 20 to 30 weeks. Results build across the series as treated spots darken, flake and fade.

The sun rules apply before every session, not only the first. Arms and legs that see sun most days are hard to keep untanned, so plan the series for a stretch without beach trips or sunny holidays. The same timing logic applies to other lasers, as the guide to laser hair removal on tanned skin explains.

Keep new spots off your arms, chest and back

A laser clears existing pigment, not future sun damage, and Skin Anthology calls daily broad spectrum sunscreen essential. The AAD’s advice on how to apply sunscreen is especially useful for the body:

• Use enough. Most adults need about 1 ounce, roughly a shot glass, to cover the skin clothing does not.
• Do not skip the edges. Remember the neck, ears, tops of the feet and legs.
• Get help with your back. Ask someone to apply it, or use a spray.
• Apply early, reapply often. Put it on about 15 minutes before going out, then every two hours and straight after swimming or sweating.

The Mayo Clinic adds tightly woven clothing over the arms and legs, clothes labeled UPF 40 to 50, a broad brimmed hat, and avoiding the sun from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For the face, see laser for dark spots. Marks left by acne or irritation are covered in the post inflammatory hyperpigmentation guide, and red spots are not pigment at all: see vascular lesion laser treatment.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: Mayo Clinic, Age spots (liver spots); American Academy of Dermatology, How to apply sunscreen; American Academy of Dermatology, How to perform a skin self exam; Skin Anthology laser pigmentation and consultation pages and price list. This article is general information, not medical advice.