If you’re after the straight-up, no-nonsense answer to what permanently removes age spots? – Then you should know that, right now, your only guaranteed bet is to go for medical-grade laser treatments or specific prescription-strength treatments. Don’t expect creams to do it for you or peels to fix it on their own – lasers are the only treatments that can actually break down the pigment so your body can remove it for good.
That said, ‘permanent’ doesn’t mean ‘once and done’ – especially here in Brisbane, where you can bet your bottom dollar you’re going to be out in the sun again tomorrow. Let’s get real here, and talk about what actually works, what doesn’t, and how to keep those spots from coming back.
Imagine we’re sitting down for a chat – no fancy studio setup or anything – and you tell me you’re “done with these dark patches showing up”. That’s completely fair. Brisbane’s UV rays aren’t to be messed with, and before you know it, years of exposure have added up.
Age spots develop due to repeated sun exposure, oxidative stress, and melanin behaviour. They won’t go away on their own, but the proper treatment can eliminate them permanently.
Age spots start as a bit of a pigment overload due to melanocytes cranking out too much melanin in one place. Over time, the pigment builds up and appears as flat brown patches on your skin’s surface; the more UV light it receives, the darker they become.
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Many people are dealing with various types of facial pigmentation. Here are the most common ones:
A proper assessment is essential—especially because some spots that look harmless may need to be checked for skin cancer.
It all comes down to matching the treatment to your skin tone, lifestyle and how dark your age spots are – rather than trying to find the one that’s going to be the strongest.
Laser treatment is a pretty powerful tool when it comes to age spot removal – it targets the pigment directly, breaks it up and lets your body naturally clear it out. People love it because results are fast, reliable and long-lasting – as long as you remember to slap on that SPF 30 or higher every day after.
Laser treatment for age spots uses similar technology to laser tattoo removal, but it’s more refined for removing melanin rather than ink.
IPL is a bit of a magic bullet as it brightens your whole complexion and gets rid of a load of scattered dark spots. Many of our Brisbane clients love it because it addresses both pigmentation and skin texture in one go.
Chemical peels are a great way to brighten your skin by exfoliating away pigmented cells and encouraging new, healthy skin to emerge. We’ve had loads of clients who’ve dealt with Brisbane’s humidity, and it’s really helped them heal.
Peels remove surface cells that cause pigmentation and help even skin tone over time.
You’ll start to notice a difference in around 4 to 6 weeks.
Think of topicals as the maintenance crew that helps keep things running smoothly after the main work’s been done in the clinic.
These products may help reduce the appearance of dark spots, but they’re not a permanent solution.
| Treatment | Best For | Sessions Needed | Downtime | Longevity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laser Therapy | Individual Dark Spots | 1–3 | Mild Flaking | Permanent With SPF |
| IPL | Widespread UV Damage | 2–4 | Minimal | Long-Term Brightening |
| Chemical Peels | Diffuse Pigmentation | 3–6 | Light Peeling | Progressive Improvement |
| Liquid Nitrogen | Seborrhoeic Keratoses | 1 | Crusting 7–10 Days | Permanent Removal |
Because of Brisbane’s crazy high UV index, managing age spots can be a real challenge. Even if you’ve already had laser therapy or peels, if you’re not careful in the sun, you can develop new pigmentation.
Crucially, getting your skin prepared before treatment makes all the difference – it ensures that your skin can handle the treatment and heals quickly afterwards.
Make just a few minor tweaks in the run-up to your appointment, and you’ll see a real difference in the final result.
Once that pigment’s gone, it’s up to you to keep it that way. Sunscreen and skincare are key – put in the time and effort, and you’ll be enjoying your results for months (or even years) to come.
Not all dark spots are harmless; some require evaluation by a physician.
When in doubt, always get a second opinion — it’s better to delay treatment than risk overlooking a skin cancer warning sign.
In the studio, we often meet clients who come in for cosmetic tattooing consultations at Cosmetic Tattoo Studio Brisbane Face Figurati, only to discover that the “pigmentation” they’re worried about is actually a mix of solar lentigines, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or, in some cases, seborrhoeic keratoses. Before we tattoo (cosmetic or fine line), brighten, or correct anything, we always make sure the skin is healthy enough for cosmetic procedures — and this sometimes means recommending a medical check first.
If a lesion looks suspicious, you might need to get a skin biopsy – only a doctor can give you a proper diagnosis or rule out skin cancer.
Since 2016 of expertise in the professional tattooing industry, Uliana is a certified and licensed beauty cosmetic tattooing specialist. She has all the necessary licenses and qualifications for permanent makeup in Europe and Australia.
Most of the time, no – but some dark spots can be a warning sign. It’s always best to get a medical doctor to check anything that doesn’t feel right.
They’ll definitely make a big difference, but usually, it’s not enough for a permanent removal. You might need to go with laser therapy or liquid nitrogen.
Yes, both laser resurfacing and targeted pigment lasers are effective for evening out your skin tone.
Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 daily.
No, hydrogen peroxide can irritate your skin and worsen the condition. Stick with what works – evidence-based skincare products.
