How I Removed Years of Sun Damage on My Face

Sun damage, sun spots, hyper-pigmentation; it’s all the same. Regardless of how you slice it, you’re still left with dark blotches on your face. Hyper-pigmentation, in short, is a condition in which the skin develops dark patches; think X-games freckles. My skin is genetically predisposed to hyper-pigmentation, so getting it was inevitable. Like a dummy, I sped up the process by not wearing sunscreen. I started to notice freckles expanding on my face and thought, “oh, how cute!” I never considered it might be sun damage, slowly claiming real estate on my fair skin.

The Start of My Sun Damage

In 2017, I spent two weeks backpacking the Philippines, and although I had a fantastic time, I deeply regret the trip. I am still dealing with the repercussions of not wearing sunscreen. Two short weeks on the beach completely changed my appearance. The sun damage on my face was so deep and so dark, prescription skin bleach didn’t scratch the surface. I’ve rubbed lemons on my face (acid), applied top-of-the-line cremes, and, as I mentioned, bleached my skin; absolutely nothing helped. *In walks the hero of the story*

THE HERO

I connected with TRUE at Wolfson Medical Center in Las Vegas, NV, through Instagram, and after scouring their account for before and after photos, I was hooked! Amongst the many services they offer, their IPL photofacial seemed like the best fit for my excessive sun damage. I spoke to a receptionist about my treatment options and scheduled a consultation for the following day.

If they were as good as the pictures portrayed, I refused to wait another second!

TRUE at Wolfson Medical Center

Additional Services Offered

• Warm Sculpting
• Laser Skin Resurfacing
• Laser Hair Removal
• Skin Tightening
• Scar Removal
• Acne Scar Removal
• Stretch Mark Removal
• Cellulite Reduction

What is an IPL Photofacial?

An IPL photofacial is a non-invasive treatment that uses high-intensity pulses of visible light to improve the following skin conditions: dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles, freckles, age spots, rosacea, port-wine stains, and facial veins. It may also help treat mild to moderate acne and stretch marks, and it promotes collagen production.

Test Spot for Sun Damage

I was extremely nervous because up to this point, I had never had any type of treatment done to my face, not even a facial! My skin is extremely sensitive, so I’m hyper-paranoid about anyone touching my face! Thankfully the team took great care of me and understood all of my concerns. They offered to do a test spot on the top left corner of my forehead, to ease my worry. The laser zap on the test spot felt like a little pinch, and I was done within seconds. I booked an appointment four weeks out and waited to see how my skin reacted to the treatment.

To my absolute shock, my spots were gone within a week! If you follow me on social media, you know it was all I could talk about. My test spot was crystal clear! Because of this miracle, I pushed to get in as quickly as possible, but I had to wait for the mandatory four weeks to pass to ensure that my skin had healed completely.

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Treating Sun Damage on My Entire Face

When the day arrived to treat the remaining area of my face, I was filled with nerves. My entire appearance was going to change within hours, and it felt surreal. A nurse coated my face with numbing cream, and I filled out paperwork while we waited for it to take effect.

After 15-30 minutes, I was escorted to the procedure room and snapped a few before photos with the nurse. At this point, I was just about jumping out of my skin to get this treatment started. I desperately wanted the doctor to start zapping my face, because the sooner he started working his magic, the sooner my skin was going to enter into the likes of Gigi Hadid; flawless.

When the photos were complete, the doctor made sure I was comfortable and encouraged me to speak up if I felt discomfort at any time. I rushed him through his spiel and slapped the protective glasses on my eyes. I was ready to get this going!

The process was about 10-15 minutes and painless, aside from the area around my mouth. That part had a bit of a sting to it, but so does popping a zit in that area; it was to be expected. When the doctor had completed the treatment, I was given information about aftercare and sent on my way.

*Aftercare: It’s simple; avoid the sun for four weeks and wear sunscreen. Don’t be a dope.

The Spotless Results!

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The pictures below were taken with the same camera and at the same time of day. I edited the images with my Lightroom presets, so the after photo did not receive more attention. These are my real results! If you zoom in a bit, you’ll notice a few remaining sunspots on my forehead, but a case as severe as mine takes a bit of work. I have had one treatment, and this is the result; I am grateful beyond words. After years of beating myself up, my biggest insecurity was eliminated with a simple 15-minute procedure.

Booking Your Appointment to Remove Sun Damage

Head to their contact page and book an appointment directly through their site, or fill out an information form to be contacted by a specialist. They are happy to answer all of the questions you may have; Lord knows I had a fist-full. True at Wolfson Medical Center, strives to help you achieve your goals and get you where you want to be. I am thrilled beyond words with the outcome of my treatment, and I am happy to answer any questions you may have!