IPL for hands
Age spots on the backs of the hands are sun-related pigmentation, and they respond quickly to light treatment. At ALBA Skin & Beauty Clinic in Cirencester they are treated with the Zemits QuantumPeak at 530 to 750nm. Treated spots darken for several days then flake away. Most people need two to three sessions four weeks apart.
2 to 3
SESSIONS TYPICALLY NEEDED
XX
PRICE
4 weeks
SESSIONS INTERVAL
How it works
Melanin in the age spot absorbs the light and heats, fragmenting the pigment. Over the following week the damaged pigment migrates to the surface, darkens and sheds. Hands respond particularly well because the pigment sits superficially.
What it treats
Solar lentigines and age spots on the backs of the hands, and general mottled sun damage. It does not restore lost volume, which is a separate treatment.
RESULTS TIMELINE
Clearing visible 1 to 2 weeks after each session.
AVERAGE NR OF SESSIONS
2 to 3
TREATMENT TIME
20 minutes
SESSION INTERVAL
4 weeks
DOWNTIME
Spots darken for 5 to 10 days then flake.
After Treatment
Do
✔️ Apply SPF 50 to hands daily and reapply after washing
✔️ Let spots flake off naturally
✔️ Moisturise frequently
✔️ Keep hands out of direct sun for 4 weeks
Don’t
✖️ No picking or exfoliating the darkened spots
✖️ No sunbeds for 4 weeks
✖️ No gardening without gloves and SPF for a fortnight
✖️ No acids on the area for 5 days
Is it right for you?
Suits clearly defined brown age spots. Hands are exposed constantly, so results hold only with daily SPF, which most people apply to the face and forget on the hands.
NOT SUITABLE IF YOU ARE
Pregnant or breastfeeding|Recent sun exposure, sunbed use or fake tan in the last 4 weeks
Taking photosensitising medication, including isotretinoin within the last 6 months
Active infection, broken skin or an outbreak of cold sores in the area
Photosensitive epilepsy
History of keloid scarring
Tattoos or permanent makeup in the treatment area
Under 18
Any pigmented lesion that has changed in size, shape or colour, which needs GP assessment first
Questions people ask
How quickly do age spots on hands clear?
Most spots darken within 48 hours, then flake away over five to ten days. Visible clearing follows one to two weeks after each session, and most people are happy after two or three.
Will the age spots come back?
The spots treated are cleared, but hands get more incidental UV exposure than almost anywhere else, including through car windows. New spots form without daily SPF, and an annual maintenance session is common.
What if a spot on my hand has changed?
Any pigmented lesion that has changed in size, shape or colour, or that bleeds or itches, is not treated at ALBA until your GP has assessed it. This is checked before treatment as a matter of course.