Sun damage is not just “a few brown spots.” In a medical spa setting, it’s a pattern of pigment instability, collagen breakdown, and vascular change that can keep worsening—even when the skin looks “fine” in the mirror. Treating it well means improving tone and texture without triggering rebound pigmentation, prolonged inflammation, or visible downtime—especially for patients who don’t want harsh peels or surgery.
At Cosmetic Injectables Center Medspa in Sherman Oaks, care is directed by Dr. Sherly Soleiman, MD, Founder & Medical Director, Board-Certified Physician with 25+ years of medical experience and training. She provides on-site, physician-led oversight across the full scope of medical spa treatments—setting protocols, supervising provider training and clinical standards, and taking responsibility for sterility, safety, and complication management, including conservative pigment-management and resurfacing decision-making.
Start with the right goal: “calm, clear, strengthen” (not “strip the skin”)
When patients say they want to treat sun damage “gently,” what they usually mean is:
- They want even tone (less blotchiness, brown spots, redness)
- They want better texture (less roughness, crepey change)
- They want visible improvement without a “raw” recovery phase
Clinically, that’s achievable—but only if we avoid the common mistake: using aggressive exfoliation to “force results.” Over-stripping can temporarily brighten, but it often raises inflammation and pigment risk, which is exactly what many sun-damaged patients can’t afford.
Step 1: Lock down the non-negotiables (or your results won’t hold)
If you want meaningful improvement without harsh peels or surgery, two basics must be in place:
Daily UV discipline (even when it’s cloudy)
In our patient population, inconsistent sunscreen use is the #1 reason pigment returns after a good treatment series. For many patients, we recommend:
- Tinted mineral sunscreen (often better for visible-light–related pigment)
- Reapplication on high-exposure days (driving counts)
Local clinical reality: In Sherman Oaks, year-round UV exposure and “incidental sun” (school drop-offs, walks, lunch outdoors, commuting) commonly undermines otherwise excellent laser or skincare results. That’s why we build sun behavior into the plan, not as an afterthought.
Medical-grade topical plan (calming + pigment control + collagen support)
A good at-home regimen often includes:
- A pigment-regulating strategy (chosen based on your skin type and pigment pattern)
- A retinoid or retinoid-alternative approach when appropriate (texture + collagen)
- Barrier support (to keep inflammation down)
Clinical judgment that matters: If your skin barrier is irritated, “brightening” products often backfire. We routinely stabilize the barrier first, then treat pigment—because inflamed skin is unpredictable skin.
Step 2: Treat discoloration with low-downtime light/laser choices (not harsh peels)
Sun damage often contains a mix of:
- Brown pigment (lentigines, uneven tone)
- Redness/visible vessels (background erythema, broken capillaries)
- Dullness and rough texture
The most reliable “non-harsh” approach is to match the technology to the dominant issue—and avoid overheating the skin.
IPL photorejuvenation (when brown + red are both present)
IPL can be excellent for patients with the right skin type and the right kind of sun damage—especially when the goal is overall blending rather than one single spot. It’s commonly used on the face, neck, chest, and hands.
For patients exploring this approach, our IPL Photorejuvenation page reflects the type of concerns we evaluate before choosing settings.
Where IPL underperforms: very deep pigment, certain melasma patterns, or when the skin is frequently tanned. In those cases, pushing IPL harder can create the exact problem you’re trying to avoid (post-treatment pigment).
Lumenis Stellar M22 (precision for tone correction when settings matter)
When “sun damage” is actually a blend of pigment + redness + textural change, device choice and settings become more than a marketing detail—they determine whether you improve smoothly or get reactive. The Lumenis Stellar M22 platform is one option we may use when we want controlled, protocol-driven treatment for tone.
Sherman Oaks–specific insight: Many patients here have frequent outdoor exposure and intermittent tanning (intentional or incidental). That increases the importance of conservative energy selection and timing—because treating freshly tanned skin is a common setup for unwanted pigment shifts.
Cutera Excel V (when redness and vessels are the main issue)
If your “sun damage” reads as persistent redness, flushing, or visible vessels, treating only brown pigment won’t fully fix what you see. A vascular-focused laser can be the more direct, less inflammatory route; see Cutera Excel V Laser for the type of vascular issues we assess.
Where it underperforms: texture and brown pigment still require separate planning—this is a component of a plan, not the whole plan.
Step 3: Upgrade texture and early crepiness without aggressive resurfacing
“Harsh peel avoidance” doesn’t mean you can’t improve texture. It means we choose approaches that stimulate renewal without prolonged raw healing.
Laser Genesis (low-downtime texture refinement)
For patients who want subtle but steady improvement in tone and texture—often with minimal recovery—Laser Genesis can be a helpful option, particularly as part of a broader program.
Clinical positioning: This is not the right tool for “erase these dark spots in one visit.” It works best when you’re building improvement gradually and pairing it with pigment control and skincare.
Laser skin resurfacing (when texture change and fine lines need a more decisive reset)
Some patients don’t want surgery or a harsh peel—but their sun damage includes stubborn texture, etched-in fine lines, or widespread roughness that won’t respond enough to “gentle-only” options. In those cases, laser resurfacing can be an appropriate middle ground when it’s selected and sequenced correctly; see Laser Skin Resurfacing for the clinical concerns we evaluate.
Clinical judgment that matters: resurfacing is not a casual add-on. We avoid jumping to resurfacing when a patient is actively tan, inflamed, or showing melasma-type behavior—because pushing heat/inflammation in unstable pigment can trade “smoother” for “blotchier.”
Local clinical reality: With year-round sun exposure in Sherman Oaks, resurfacing outcomes are heavily influenced by pre- and post-treatment UV discipline. When patients can’t realistically protect their skin during healing, we often choose a slower plan that carries less pigment risk.
Microneedling (controlled collagen signaling)
Microneedling can improve uneven texture and early photodamage when performed with good technique and thoughtful aftercare. It’s often used when patients want collagen support but don’t want a strong peel or aggressive laser recovery; see Microneedling.
When we’re cautious: If you’re actively inflamed, poorly controlled melasma-prone, or you pick at your skin, microneedling can be the wrong timing. In sun-damaged skin, timing and preparation matter as much as the procedure itself.
Step 4: For deeper lines and “skin quality,” plan collagen intelligently (not surgically)
Sun damage is collagen damage. If you only chase pigment, you may look clearer—but still look “weathered.”
RF microneedling (Morpheus8) for texture + tightening signals
When crepiness and laxity are part of the picture—and you want to stay non-surgical—RF microneedling can be a strong option in appropriately selected patients. Our Morpheus8 page reflects common goals we treat (and the reality that results depend on settings, depth, and sequence).
Clinical judgment that matters: Morpheus8 is powerful, which means it’s also easy to overdo. We avoid aggressive settings when pigment instability is a concern; a “more is more” approach can trade laxity improvement for blotchy recovery.
Collagen-building strategies as a long-game
Some patients do best with a structured program aimed at gradual collagen improvement rather than a single dramatic intervention. If you’re exploring that direction, Building Collagen outlines the concept in a way that aligns with realistic treatment planning.
Step 5: Use gentle resurfacing only when it’s truly gentle (and truly needed)
You asked about avoiding harsh peels—and that’s often wise. But “no peel ever” isn’t always the best clinical answer. A carefully selected, physician-directed peel plan can sometimes be used as:
- a light “polish” for dullness
- a way to improve superficial discoloration
- a bridge between energy-based sessions
If this is a consideration, it should be conservative and tailored; see Chemical Peels & Resurfacing.
Poor candidate scenario: If you’re melasma-prone, recently sun-exposed, or already irritated from “brightening” at-home acids, even “medium” exfoliation can become too harsh. In those patients, we typically prioritize pigment stability and barrier health first.
Sun-Damage Treatment Comparison Guide
| Option | Best for (sun damage pattern) | Where it underperforms / we’re cautious | Typical downtime | Usual course | Clinical “why choose it” |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broadband light (IPL Photorejuvenation) | Mixed brown + red discoloration; overall tone blending on face/neck/chest/hands | Recently tanned skin; melasma-type patterns; very deep pigment; overly aggressive settings can trigger PIH | Low (often mild redness; pigment may darken/flake briefly) | Series (commonly 3–5) | Efficient when pigment and redness coexist and you want global brightening without “raw” healing |
| Lumenis Stellar M22 (platform-based IPL/filters) | Protocol-driven tone correction when settings/filters need precision | Same cautions as IPL; not a single-spot “eraser” for all pigment types | Low | Series | Good when you need controlled parameter selection across a blended sun-damage presentation |
| Cutera Excel V (vascular laser) | Redness, broken capillaries, background erythema that reads as “sun damage” | Won’t fully address brown spots or texture on its own | Low–moderate | Series (often 2–4+) | Best when redness is the main driver; reduces the “flushed, weathered” look more directly than pigment-only approaches |
| Laser Genesis (non-ablative, low-downtime) | Subtle texture refinement, diffuse redness, “dull” photodamage | Not strong enough for etched lines or significant texture; won’t rapidly clear dense lentigines | Very low | Series (often 4–6+) | Ideal for patients prioritizing minimal disruption and steady improvement over dramatic single-session change |
| Microneedling | Early photodamage texture, pores, mild fine lines; collagen signaling without aggressive stripping | Active inflammation, uncontrolled pigment instability/melasma-prone behavior, poor wound-healing habits (picking) | Low–moderate (1–3 days redness typical) | Series (often 3–6) | Useful when you want collagen improvement with less heat than many energy devices |
| RF Microneedling (Morpheus8) | Crepiness, laxity + texture where collagen tightening is a key goal | Over-treatment can inflame pigment; caution in melasma-prone or recently tanned skin; not primarily a “spot remover” | Moderate (swelling/redness several days; varies by settings) | Series (often 2–4+) | Chosen when laxity/skin quality—not just discoloration—needs meaningful improvement without surgery |
| Laser Skin Resurfacing (fractional resurfacing) | Stubborn rough texture, widespread sun damage, fine lines needing a more decisive reset than “gentle-only” options | Active tan; high pigment reactivity; unrealistic avoidance of strict sun protection during healing | Moderate–higher (depends on depth; more recovery than IPL/Genesis) | Often 1–3 treatments (depth-dependent) | Best when texture and lines are the limiting factor and you can commit to proper pre/post care to protect pigment stability |
| Conservative Chemical Peels (light/physician-directed) | Superficial dullness, mild uneven tone; supportive “polish” between device sessions | Irritated barrier; melasma-prone patterns; recent sun exposure; overuse can worsen inflammation/pigment | Low–moderate (light peeling possible) | Series | Appropriate only when truly conservative and used as a controlled adjunct—not as an aggressive fix for deeper photodamage |
A physician-led sequencing approach that avoids harshness (example roadmap)
Most successful “no harsh peel, no surgery” sun-damage plans follow a sequence like this:
- Stabilize: barrier repair + pigment-control skincare + strict UV discipline
- Correct tone: IPL/M22 for brown and/or red (if you’re a candidate)
- Refine texture: Laser Genesis, microneedling, or laser skin resurfacing (based on downtime tolerance and pigment risk)
- Rebuild: collagen-focused plan (often RF microneedling when appropriate)
- Maintain: periodic light-based maintenance + consistent skincare
What fails: jumping straight to the most aggressive option, treating tanned skin, or ignoring maintenance. Sun damage is cumulative—your plan needs to be, too.
FAQs (patient-facing, decision-focused)
Treatment decisions are best made in person, with a full assessment at our Sherman Oaks location. For patients considering a non-harsh, non-surgical approach to sun damage, we recommend starting with a physician-guided consultation at Cosmetic Injectables Center Medspa.