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Even out dark spots and uneven tone.
Sun spots, age spots, freckles, and patches of uneven color are some of the most common reasons people come to see us. At Renew MedSpa in Eagan, we treat hyperpigmentation with IPL and our Helix CO2 laser, matched carefully to your skin tone for clear, even, lasting results.
Hyperpigmentation is simply areas of skin that have become darker than the skin around them. It happens when cells called melanocytes produce too much melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color, leaving spots or patches of uneven tone. It is extremely common, almost always harmless, and it shows up in many forms: sun spots and age spots, freckles, the dark marks left behind after acne, and larger patches like melasma.
Uneven tone is one of the first things we notice in the mirror and one of the most satisfying things to treat well.
The good news is that pigment responds beautifully to the right treatment. The key word is right: the best approach depends on what is causing the pigment and, just as importantly, on your skin tone. At your free consultation we look closely at your skin, often with our VISIA analyzer, and build a plan matched to you.
What causes hyperpigmentation
Why pigment forms
- Sun exposure: the most common cause, UV light triggers extra melanin, creating sun spots and age spots.
- Aging: years of accumulated sun and cell changes leave lasting spots and patches.
- Inflammation: acne, injury, or irritation can leave dark marks behind, known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
- Hormones: hormonal shifts can drive melasma, a distinct patchy form of pigment.
- Genetics: freckles, moles, and a tendency toward pigment can run in families.
The forms it takes
Hyperpigmentation is an umbrella term. Under it sit several things you may have heard named separately:
- Sun spots and age spots: flat brown spots on sun-exposed areas.
- Freckles and pigmented lesions: small flat spots, often genetic, darkened by sun.
- Post-acne marks: dark spots left after a breakout heals.
- Melasma: larger symmetrical patches, often hormonal, treated more cautiously.
IPL Photofacial
IPL, or intense pulsed light, is the treatment most people come in asking about for pigment, and for good reason. It sends broad-spectrum light into the skin that is absorbed by the darker pigment, breaking up sun spots, age spots, and freckles so they darken, rise, and flake away over the following days.
For surface-level sun damage and brown spots on lighter to medium skin tones, IPL is an excellent, popular choice. There is no real downtime, aside from the treated spots looking darker for several days before they flake away. One honest note: IPL clears the pigment you have, but it does not stop new pigment from forming, so results are not permanent and ongoing sun protection and maintenance matter.
Explore IPLWhat IPL is great for
- Surface sun spots, age spots, and brown spots
- Freckles and broad uneven tone
- Quick sessions, no real downtime beyond temporary darkening
- A popular, accessible first step for pigment
- Best suited to lighter and medium skin tones
IPL clears the spots. Helix clears the spots and rebuilds the skin.
A lot of people come in for IPL and, once they understand the difference, choose our Helix CO2 laser instead. Here is the honest comparison so you can decide what fits your goals.
IPL Photofacial
Targets pigment at the surface with light. Excellent for brown spots and sun damage, with no real downtime beyond the spots darkening before they flake off. It treats the color, but it does not resurface the skin, build collagen, or prevent new pigment from forming, so results are not permanent.
Ideal if your main concern is brown spots on lighter or medium skin, and you want a quick, accessible treatment.
Explore IPL →Helix CO2 & 1570 Laser
Our advanced fractional laser does two jobs at once: it clears pigment and resurfaces the skin, rebuilding collagen as it goes. So you do not just lose the spots, you get smoother texture, refined pores, softer fine lines, and firmer skin in the same treatment.
Because its settings can be tailored precisely, Helix can also treat skin tones that IPL cannot, including deeper skin tones, using lighter, customized settings.
Explore Helix CO2 →If you have darker skin and have been told laser is not for you
It is one of the most common worries we hear: that laser will make pigment worse on deeper skin tones. That concern is understandable, and it is true for some treatments. IPL is generally not appropriate for deeper skin tones, because it targets pigment broadly and can lift or worsen color in melanin-rich skin.
But that does not mean you are out of options. Our Helix CO2, Helix Deka Fusion, CoolPeel Fusion, and CoolPeel treatments all have dedicated settings for Fitzpatrick skin types 5 and 6. The settings are lighter and more conservative for deeper skin, which protects against post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. The honest tradeoff is that lighter settings may mean more sessions to reach your desired result compared to someone with a lighter skin tone. You still get real results, we simply get there safely and gradually.
For some deeper skin tones, a series of chemical peels is also an excellent, gentle pigment option. The right path is something we determine together at your consultation, based on your skin, never a one-size-fits-all promise.
Book a Free ConsultationOther treatments for pigment
Depending on your skin and the type of pigment, we may use or combine these. Your plan is built at your free consultation.
Chemical Peels
Professional peels exfoliate pigmented surface cells and brighten tone. A safe, effective option across many skin tones, including deeper tones where light-based treatments are not suitable.
Explore Chemical Peels →CoolPeel + PDGF
A gentler CO2 resurfacing option that refreshes tone and texture with less downtime, with settings available for deeper skin tones.
Explore CoolPeel →Professional Skincare
Medical-grade brighteners, antioxidants, and daily SPF treat pigment at home and, critically, prevent new spots from forming. The foundation of every pigment plan.
Explore Skincare →Specific kinds of pigment
Some forms of pigment have their own considerations. Learn more about these related concerns.
Melasma
Larger, often hormonal patches that behave differently from sun spots and need a careful, managed approach.
About Melasma →Sun Damage
The sun spots, age spots, and rough texture left behind by years of UV exposure.
About Sun Damage →Acne Marks
The dark spots left behind after breakouts heal, a very common and treatable form of pigment.
About Acne Scarring →Clearing up pigment myths
Laser always makes dark skin worse
The wrong treatment can. IPL is not suited to deeper skin tones. But our Helix and CoolPeel treatments have dedicated lighter settings for skin types 5 and 6, so deeper skin can be treated safely, with results built gradually over a few more sessions.
A brightening cream will erase my dark spots
Good skincare helps and prevents new spots, but established sun spots and deeper pigment usually need a treatment like IPL or laser to clear meaningfully. Skincare is the maintenance, not usually the whole fix.
Once the spots are gone, they stay gone
We can clear existing pigment, but new sun exposure makes new spots. Daily SPF and good skincare are what protect your results long term. Pigment is partly managed, not one-and-done.
All dark spots are the same
They are not. A sun spot, a freckle, post-acne pigment, and melasma all behave differently and respond to different treatments. That is exactly why we assess your skin before recommending anything.
Hyperpigmentation FAQ
It depends on the type of pigment and your skin tone. IPL is a popular starting point for brown spots on lighter to medium skin. Many people upgrade to our Helix CO2 laser, which clears pigment and resurfaces the skin at once. For deeper skin tones, Helix, CoolPeel, or chemical peels are matched carefully to you. We build the plan at your consultation.
Yes. IPL generally is not appropriate for deeper skin tones, but our Helix, Deka Fusion, CoolPeel Fusion, and CoolPeel treatments all have dedicated settings for Fitzpatrick skin types 5 and 6. The settings are lighter to protect your skin, so it may take a few more sessions to reach your goal, but you do get real results. Chemical peels are another good option. We tailor everything to your skin at your consultation.
IPL uses light to target pigment at the surface, great for brown spots with no real downtime beyond temporary darkening before the spots flake off. IPL does not prevent new pigment, so its results are not permanent. The Helix CO2 laser does more: it clears pigment and resurfaces the skin, rebuilding collagen so you also get smoother texture, refined pores, and firmer skin. Helix can also treat deeper skin tones that IPL cannot.
It varies by the type and depth of pigment, the treatment, and your skin tone. Some people see big improvement after one session, others need a series. Deeper skin tones treated on lighter settings may need a few more sessions. We give you an honest estimate at your consultation.
The spots we clear are gone, but new sun exposure can create new ones. Daily SPF and good skincare are what protect your results. Think of pigment as something we clear and then help you maintain.
Flat pigmented spots like freckles and sun spots respond well to IPL or laser. Raised growths and moles are different and may be handled with our mole and skin tag removal service instead. Any spot that looks irregular or is changing should be checked by a physician first. We will guide you at your consultation.
With a free consultation, ideally with our VISIA skin analysis, which shows pigment below the surface. We assess your skin and tone, then recommend the safest, most effective plan for you. Book your consultation here.
Clearer, more even skin
Whatever your skin tone and whatever kind of pigment you are dealing with, there is a safe, effective path. Let us look at your skin and build the right plan for you.
