Pigment Spots & Age Spots

First things first: the assessment

Age spots and sun spots develop through years of UV exposure on the backs of the hands, the face, the forearms and the décolleté, and are as a rule entirely harmless. Before the treatment we look at every spot with the dermatoscope – this takes only a few minutes and makes sure that nothing but harmless lesions are lasered.

The treatment

We work with the Q-switched TattooStar Effect (Asclepion). It releases its energy in pulses lasting only a few nanoseconds: the pigment particle absorbs the energy and breaks apart, while the surrounding skin stays cool and the surface remains intact. The body then removes the fragments itself.

Depending on the number of spots, the treatment takes five to twenty minutes. Each pulse feels like the flick of a rubber band – an anaesthetic is usually not needed. The spot then darkens and forms a fine crust, which comes away by itself within seven to fourteen days.

What to bear in mind afterwards

Do not scratch off the crusts – they are the natural wound dressing
Four weeks of consistent sun protection with SPF 50, otherwise the spot may darken again
No sunbed and no self-tanning products for four weeks before and after the treatment
Best time of year: autumn and winter

How many sessions?

Flat age spots and sun spots often disappear after a single session. Older or more deeply seated pigmentation needs two to three sessions about six weeks apart. We tell you what is realistic in your case before the first session.

For extensive, hormonally driven pigment changes (melasma) the laser is not the first choice – here we work with medical peels and adapted active-ingredient skincare. We also use the same laser for tattoo removal.

Fees

Treatment	Fee
Single spot	from €150
Backs of both hands	from €220
Facial area (e.g. cheeks)	from €220
Full face	from €390

The removal of harmless pigment spots is a self-pay service (IGeL); it is billed according to the GOÄ scale of fees. The dermatological assessment beforehand is covered by statutory health insurance. Where there is a medical indication the service is exempt from VAT; where the indication is aesthetic, the amounts are final prices including 19 % VAT.

Frequently asked questions

How much does removing age spots cost?

A single spot from €150, both backs of the hands from €220, the full face from €390. For patients with statutory health insurance, the dermatological assessment beforehand is covered by statutory health insurance.

Which laser do you use for pigment spots?

The Q-switched TattooStar Effect by Asclepion. Its pulses, lasting only a few nanoseconds, break up the pigment photoacoustically without removing the surface of the skin.

Is the treatment painful?

Each pulse feels like the flick of a rubber band. Most patients need no anaesthetic; if you prefer, we apply an anaesthetic cream beforehand.

How long is the treatment visible?

The treated spot first darkens and forms a fine crust, which comes away within seven to fourteen days. After that the new skin can still be covered well with make-up for a few weeks.

Do pigment spots come back?

The treated spot does not. As the cause – UV exposure – remains, new ones may appear without consistent sun protection.

Why is the spot examined beforehand?

Because after laser treatment the pigment can no longer be examined histologically. The brief dermoscopic assessment makes sure that only harmless lesions are treated.

When is the best time?

Autumn and winter, because the four weeks of avoiding the sun afterwards are easier to keep to then.

Source: S2k-Leitlinie "Lasertherapie der Haut" (German S2k guideline on laser therapy of the skin, DDG); § 5 Absatz 2 NiSV (Section 5(2) of the German Ordinance on Protection against Non-Ionising Radiation); manufacturer information for the Asclepion TattooStar Effect