Brown spots can vary from unwanted to freckles to giant patches; and let's face it, the older you get, the less cute they are. The first defense is a good defense: sunblock. All the time. Every day. We recommend Obagi Healthy Skin Protection or Sunguard and Leaf & Rusher’s Solar Screen, because of their amazing ability to block UVA and UVB rays. Now if you are beyond that, and most of us are, add on some serious treatment, like Tri-Luma, which is the most powerful anti-brown spot/anti-wrinkle mix out there. Others that are more committed swear by Obagi, which has a six step system. It is extremely effective.

And now for the offense. Our favorite is the Fraxel^® laser, as it cleans up the brown spots, cleans up the fine lines while you are at it, AND is safe for both light and dark skin. IPL (intense pulsed light) is an old standard, and really what it does best is… brown spots and freckles. For the anti-laser club, there is also the wonderful Cosmelan™ peel. This peel works by inhibiting melanin production using a tyrosinase inhibitor. In other words, this is a very targeted treatment for resistant spotters, but doens't work on really anything else. Finally, don't overlook the old-fashioned TCA (tricyclic acid) and Blue Peels (fancy tricyclic acid). You may peel for a week, but it is effective on moderate brown spots, and the skin looks refreshed for months.