Photoaging

Sun Damage & Sun Spot Treatment in Burnaby

Improve the visible signs of years of UV exposure.

Sun damage is the cumulative effect of UV exposure: brown spots, redness, rough texture and collagen loss. It cannot be fully undone, but at Skin Art MD in Burnaby, BC, DPL and PicoSure may improve spots and tone, and daily sunscreen limits new damage. New or changing spots should be checked by a doctor first.

3–6
Typical DPL sessions for sun spots, about 4 weeks apart; varies
7–10 Days
Treated spots often darken, then flake off after DPL
Daily SPF
Limits new spots and helps results last
Self-Check

What Do You See?

Sun damage manifests in many ways. Identifying your specific concerns helps us build the right treatment plan. Select all that apply:

Most people show several signs of photodamage. Our team plans around pigment, texture and vascular changes together.

The Science

Why Does Sun Damage Build Up?

UV exposure adds up over years and causes changes that are not fully reversible. Understanding how helps explain why treatment and daily protection both matter.

1

UVA: The Ageing Ray

UVA reaches deep into the dermis and damages collagen and elastin fibres. It is a main driver of sun-related wrinkling and sagging.

2

UVB: The Burning Ray

UVB damages the epidermis directly and can trigger pigment cells to overproduce, creating dark spots and uneven tone.

3

Melanin Overproduction

Repeated UV exposure makes pigment cells produce melanin unevenly, leaving stubborn brown spots that can darken each summer.

4

Vascular Damage

UV radiation weakens capillary walls, causing broken blood vessels and persistent redness, especially on the cheeks and nose.

5

Oxidative Stress

UV generates free radicals that damage cell membranes and DNA, speeding skin ageing and raising skin cancer risk. Any new or changing spot should be checked by a doctor.

Why Us

How We Approach Sun Damage

MD
Physician-led
3
Languages: EN · 中文 · 粤语
Metrotown
Burnaby clinic
1

Clinic-Based Devices

DPL and PicoSure are clinic systems operated under physician oversight, with settings chosen for your skin rather than a one-size-fits-all spa program.

2

Fitzpatrick-Aware Settings

Energy settings are adjusted to your skin type to balance effect with the risk of post-inflammatory pigmentation.

3

Combination Protocols

Sun damage has several layers, so light therapy, laser and peels are sequenced to suit your skin.

4

Prevention Guidance

Treatment is only half the story. We advise on daily sun protection to help limit new spots.

Sun Damage FAQ

Common Questions

Light therapy such as DPL suits many sun spots and redness, while picosecond laser is often used for deeper or stubborn spots. Peels can help tone and texture. A physician chooses after examining the spots and your skin type.
A common DPL course is 3-6 sessions spaced about 4 weeks apart, though this varies. Many people notice a brighter tone within about 1-3 weeks of a session, with spots fading gradually across the course. Deeper or stubborn spots may need extra PicoSure sessions. Results are not guaranteed.
Treated spots may stay lighter, but new sun exposure can create new ones and some pigment can return. Daily SPF 30 or higher, shade and hats are essential to keep results.
It can be, when parameters are chosen for your skin type by an experienced clinician, but all light and laser treatments carry some risk of pigment change. A test area may be suggested.
Yes, the hands, chest and neck often show photodamage and can be treated with DPL or PicoSure. Skin in these areas heals more slowly, so settings are adjusted.
After DPL, spots usually darken for several days and then flake off. PicoSure may cause mild redness for a day or two. Most people resume normal activities the same day and need strict sun protection afterwards.
You cannot tell by looking. A spot that is new, growing, uneven in colour, itchy or bleeding should be checked by a family doctor or dermatologist before any cosmetic treatment.
No. Treatments can improve spots, redness and texture, but cumulative UV damage cannot be fully undone. Prevention and regular sunscreen matter as much as treatment.
Yes. Clouds and window glass block only part of the sun's UVA rays, which age the skin and darken spots, so sun damage keeps building even on Metro Vancouver's grey days. Apply a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every morning to the face, neck and backs of the hands, and reapply when you are outdoors for long periods. This matters even more during and after treatment.
A session commonly takes 20–45 minutes, depending on the area. After cleansing, you wear eye protection, a cool gel is applied, and pulses of filtered light are delivered across the skin; most people feel a light snap and warmth. Treated spots then usually darken for several days before flaking off. Your course and spacing are planned at assessment.
Sun spots are usually separate, well-defined brown marks on sun-exposed skin such as the cheeks, hands and chest. Melasma tends to form symmetrical, blurry-edged patches on the cheeks, forehead or upper lip and is linked to hormones and heat. The difference matters, because the light and heat that suit sun spots can darken melasma. Many people have both, so the physician examines your skin first.

Ready to Improve Sun-Damaged Skin?

Book a consultation with our clinical team to assess your photodamage and plan treatment.

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