Freckles or ephelids or lentigines orbrown spots that appear on skin areas that have been exposed to the sun (example: face, hands, chest). Freckles are common in lighter skin who sunburn easily.

Freckles and brown spots are among the many signs of photoaging. Photoaging occurs when chronic and excessive sun exposure accelerate the skin’s natural aging process. In addition to freckles and brown spots, photoaged skin may also show signs of mottled pigmentation, surface roughness, fine lines and wrinkles and dilated blood vessels.

Treatments for freckles and brown spots include cosmetic foundations, sunscreens, bleaching creams including alpha hydroxy acids, retinoids, hidroquinone and more. Usually we include freezing them with liquid nitrogen, and/or procede a chemical peels, and/or laserand IPL (intense pulsed light) treatments. Results from a full series of treatments usually last for a year or more with good sun protection.

If you have freckles and/or brown spots and light skin type it is better schedule an appointment with your dermatologist to check them every year cause you must prevent problems with skin cancer in the future.

Best wishes from Brazil!

Dr. Érica Monteiro - Cosmetic Dermatologist

www.dermatologia.com.br

Although there is no cure for eye´s dark circles, it is possible improve their appearance:

- Make-up can be used to disguise the dark color.

- Sunscreen and sunglasses: the more you are exposed to sunlight, the more natural pigmentation that is affected. This contributes to the appearance of dark circles.

- Do not scratch the under eye skin.

- Sleep well. Sleep for sufficiently long hours.

- While you are sleeping, you can use an overnight facial masque or eye cream that help reduce the appearance of puffiness and discoloration. These products can be vitamin A, retinol, vitamin C, vitamin E.

- Eat healthy foods full of vitamins and anti oxidants that protect our skin from free radicals.

- Laser treatment to treat the vessels and the dark pigment (ask your dermatologist).

Best wishes from Brazil!

Dr. Érica Monteiro - Cosmetic Dermatologist

www.dermatologia.com.br

Laser Hair removal works best with light skin and dark thick hair. Hair can
be removed on dark skin with dark hair but it may need special device and previous ski
treatments to minimize side effects. The reason for this is that the laser absorbs the
pigment or color in the hair follicle and converts the light to heat.
This causes the hair follicle to be heated and destroyed.

This is great for removing large amounts of hair fast. Legs, bikini
areas, backs, ect. The skin is cooled with ice or cryogen spray, slightly
before the time of the laser pulse. The laser then pulses for a
fraction of a second with some feeling of pressure to the skin, much
like a “thump”.

The number of treatments vary from person to person. Factors that
determine how long it takes are: Hair color, Hair diameter, growth cycle of the hair. Laser Hair removal will not work on blond, gray, or red hair.

Prior to laser hair removal

- Do not have plucked, tweezed or waxed your unwanted hair for at least 4-6 weeks. The hair should be shaved and visibly present.
- Stop depilatory cream one week prior to treatment the hair must be at skin surface to remove.
- No sun exposure 36-48 hours prior to treatment The laser targets the pigment in the hair, so the less pigment in the skin helps the laser focus its energy on the hair.
- Do not use self tanning products 2 weeks prior to laser treatment.
- Makeup, deodorant and lotions need to be removed before treatment.
- Do not use retinoids A or acids products 2 weeks prior to treatment

Best wishes from Brazil!

Dr. Érica Monteiro - Cosmetic Dermatologist
www.dermatologia.com.br