What we treat

Sun damage and dark spots

Sun spots, freckling that has spread, patchy tone, and melasma all look similar from a distance and behave very differently under a laser. Getting the diagnosis right matters more here than anywhere else, because the wrong device can make melasma worse.

Why it happens

Ultraviolet light tells pigment cells to make more melanin, and over years that becomes clustered spots and blotchy tone. Melasma is different: hormones and heat drive it, it sits deeper, and it comes back if you treat it aggressively. Dr. Donlan examines your skin under magnification before recommending anything.

What we recommend

PicoSure for spots and overall tone

Picosecond pulses shatter pigment with very little heat, which is why it is safe across most skin tones and our first choice for sun damage. Two to four sessions, minimal downtime.

IPL for lighter skin with red and brown together

If you have both sun spots and broken vessels, IPL handles both in one session. Best on fairer skin; we will not use it on darker tones or on melasma.

VI Peel for a reset

A medium peel that lifts surface pigment and improves texture at the same time. About five days of peeling. Often the right starting point, and a good maintenance treatment between lasers.

Microneedling for stubborn melasma

Counterintuitively, gentle treatments beat strong ones for melasma. Microneedling with topical tranexamic acid, combined with daily sunscreen, is the approach we trust.

What we would tell you honestly

Nothing we do will hold if you skip sunscreen. We will also tell you plainly if what you have is melasma, because it is a long game and no single treatment clears it for good. If someone promises you that, be skeptical.

Want to know whether it is sun damage or melasma?

Book a consultation. Dr. Donlan will examine your skin, listen to what is bothering you, and recommend a plan. Sometimes that plan is one treatment. Sometimes it is no treatment yet.

Schedule a consultation

Results vary from person to person. A consultation is where we figure out what makes sense for you.