Sun Spots, Age Spots, and Dark Spots: How to Treat Each Type of Skin Pigmentation

Not all dark spots are created equal. Sun spots, age spots, melasma, and post-acne marks can all show up as discoloration on the skin, but they don’t all respond to the same treatment. Understanding what type of pigmentation you’re actually dealing with is the first step toward treating it effectively, rather than guessing your way through skincare products and treatments that may not be built for your specific concern. Here’s a breakdown of the most common types of skin pigmentation, what causes them, and which treatments actually help.

Sun Spots (Solar Lentigines)

Sun spots, sometimes called solar lentigines, are flat, brown patches that develop from years of cumulative sun exposure. They typically show up on areas that get the most sun, like the face, hands, shoulders, and chest, and tend to become more noticeable with age.

What causes them: UV exposure triggers an overproduction of melanin in localized areas, leading to those characteristic brown patches.
How to treat them: Laser treatments are one of the most effective ways to target sun spots directly. At BLAA, our laser treatments using LaseMD Ultra work by creating micro-channels in the skin, which helps break up excess pigment while stimulating collagen production for smoother, more even-toned skin over time.

Age Spots

Age spots are closely related to sun spots and are often used interchangeably, but they specifically refer to pigmentation that develops as skin matures and its natural repair processes slow down. Like sun spots, they tend to appear on sun-exposed areas and become more common after age 40.

What causes them: A combination of cumulative UV damage and the skin’s decreasing ability to repair and regulate pigment production as it ages.
How to treat them: The same laser technology used for sun spots is effective here too. Skin rejuvenation with laser treatments helps fade existing discoloration while also improving overall skin texture and tone, making it a strong option for anyone dealing with multiple signs of sun and age-related damage at once.

Dark Spots from Melasma

Melasma is a bit different from sun spots and age spots. Instead of small, defined patches, melasma typically shows up as larger, symmetrical areas of discoloration, often across the cheeks, forehead, or upper lip. It’s frequently triggered or worsened by hormonal changes, making it more common during pregnancy or with certain medications.

What causes them: A mix of hormonal fluctuations, sun exposure, and genetic predisposition, melasma is often more stubborn and can be trickier to treat than other forms of pigmentation.
How to treat them: Melasma requires a careful, targeted approach, since aggressive treatments can sometimes worsen this particular type of pigmentation. Our laser treatments are designed to treat melasma safely and effectively as part of a personalized plan.

Post-Inflammatory Dark Spots

If you’ve ever had a breakout leave behind a dark mark long after the pimple itself is gone, that’s post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. These marks form as part of the skin’s healing response to inflammation, whether from acne, an injury, or even aggressive skincare products.

What causes them: Inflammation triggers excess melanin production as the skin heals, leaving behind a flat, discolored mark that can take months to fade on its own.
How to treat them: Because these marks often come with textural changes too, like uneven skin or lingering scarring, RF microneedling with Potenza can be an excellent option. It works by stimulating collagen and elastin production, helping to improve both tone and texture at the same time, so you’re addressing the discoloration and the skin’s overall resilience together.

RF Microneedling vs Laser Treatments for Treating Skin Pigmentation

The biggest difference comes down to what each treatment actually targets. RF microneedling works below the surface, using ultrafine needles paired with radiofrequency energy to reach deeper layers of skin, making it especially effective for structural concerns like acne scarring, enlarged pores, and skin laxity. Laser treatments, on the other hand, use focused light energy that interacts directly with pigment, blood vessels, or hair follicles, which is why they’re the better choice for sun spots, melasma, redness, and hair removal.

Downtime is fairly similar between the two, mild redness and warmth for a day or two with RF microneedling, and mild redness lasting anywhere from a few hours to a few days with laser treatments, depending on the specific type used. Most patients see the best results from RF microneedling after a series of 3 to 5 sessions, while laser treatments vary more depending on the concern, with hair removal typically requiring ongoing maintenance sessions over time.

	RF Microneedling	Laser Treatments
How it works	Ultrafine needles + radiofrequency energy	Focused light energy
Best for	Acne scars, enlarged pores, skin laxity, stretch marks	Sun spots, melasma, redness, hair removal
Targets	Deeper skin structure and collagen	Surface pigment, blood vessels, hair follicles
Downtime	Mild redness, warmth for 1–2 days	Mild redness for a few hours to a few days
Sessions typically needed	3–5 sessions	Varies by concern, 6-8 treatments for laser hair removal

Treat Skin Pigmentation at Bonaventure Laser & Aesthetics in Calgary

Since pigmentation can look similar on the surface but stem from different causes, treating them effectively starts with an accurate diagnosis. A treatment plan that works well for sun spots may not be the best approach for melasma, and vice versa.

At Bonaventure Laser & Aesthetics, every treatment plan starts with understanding your skin, its history, its triggers, and what it actually needs. Whether you’re dealing with sun damage, hormonal pigmentation, or marks left behind from past breakouts, our team can help you figure out which approach will get you the best results. Book a free consultation to find out which treatment is right for your skin.