I have tons of freckles others think are cute

Question:
I have tons of freckles others think are cute, but I would love to have smooth skin with one clear tone. Will laser skin-resurfacing cause more freckles to appear since light exposure tends to create more freckles on my face?

Answer:
There are several potential complications associated with laser skin resurfacing. Other than a deeper than desired burn to the skin, the two most common concerns are hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation. These pigment changes result in the skin becoming dark in some treated areas following laser resurfacing or very light in areas following the laser skin resurfacing. I am not particularly familiar with the occurrence of increased freckling after laser skin resurfacing, but, theoretically, laser skin resurfacing should not increase the amount of freckles you already have.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld