NEW ORLEANS - It's not only wrinkles that we associate with age but spots and uneven skin tone can also make us look older.
Doctors say those are all results of the sun, not age and now they have a night cream to tackle all of them.
It's no surprise that at 61-years-old, Kay Fallon has kept her body in shape. She grew up taking advantage of the outdoors.
"I rode horses and canoed and pirogued and went duck hunting and all that kind of stuff, had a small farm north of Covington for a long time where I grew herbs and flowers," Fallon said.
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But like so many baby boomers there was no sunscreen.
"When we were in high school we used to take the baby oil and put the iodine in it and put that on our skins and I do have sun spots on my stomach on, I have them, of course, on my hands," Fallon adds.
Kay is right to call them sun spots and not age spots or liver spots.
"These spots have absolutely nothing to do with your liver, nor your liver function. They are purely sun-induced. They can happen in your 20's. If you've had enough sun damage, in your teens, especially if you have the risky behavior of going in a tanning bed," said dermatologist Dr. Mary Lupo.
So Dr. Lupo prescribed a nighttime cream for Kay called Tri-Luma.
"Tri-Luma is primarily used for that overall background of blotchy pigmentation that we associate with age and sun abuse," said Dr. Lupo.
Tri-Luma is three creams in one. First, an ingredient for bleaching or lightening the darks sun spots. Next, the active ingredient in Retin-A, proven to build collagen, reduce wrinkles, soften texture, and make pores smaller. And finally, a mild steroid to lessen the inflammation, redness, irritation and flakiness that Retin-A type creams and gels can cause.
Other dermatologists like it for their patients too.
"I prescribe it almost every day," said dermatologist Elizabeth McBurney. "I think it has really given us a good product that will effectively work on brown spots."
Tri-Luma is only FDA approved for Melasma, sometimes called the mask of pregnancy. Dark brown areas can form from a combination of sun and hormones. While men can get it, it is more common in women who are pregnant, on birth control pills or hormone replacement. It is hereditary and more common with darker skin, such as Mediterranean, Asian, Hispanic and Middle Eastern skin types. But dermatologists also use it for the sun damage that we call aging.
Since it has Tretinoin in it, the active ingredient in Retin-A and other prescription retinoids it also helps fine lines and wrinkles.
"Absolutely, it very much will do that too," said Dr. McBurney.
Studies show that the three ingredients in Tri-Luma combined make them work better than any one of them alone or two of them together. Doctors feel the ingredients are safe.
"I have patients come in a lot and ask me about hydroquinone. They are like, 'Should I be using this? Is it safe?' And I always say, if you're a mouse and you're eating it you're probably in trouble because those are the studies that were done that demonstrated that it caused certain forms of cancer. There are no studies in humans that have ever indicated that hydroquinone is of danger," said dermatologist Dr. Patricia Farris.
"The reason that it works so well and you don't have as much fear of the steroid is because it's combined with Retin-A and the Tretinoin that stimulates new collagen formation, so you don't have as much danger as if you were using the steroid alone," adds Dr. McBurney.
Going back out in the sun will only bring the damage right back. Sharing a friend's prescription so you can look younger can be harmful because of a rare allergy. You must use it under doctor's supervision.
"You always want to make sure if you've got sun damage enough to have blotchy discoloration then you need to be checked for skin cancers," said Dr. Lupo.
"I'm really pleased with the results," says Fallon
"Good, I'm very glad you're happy," Dr. Lupo tells her.
In just a month friends are noticing Kay's skin looks younger. She still is an outdoors kind of girl; she built a country house with her own hands and teaches yoga and tai-chi. But, she's just smarter about being in the sun.
"I was at French Quarter Festival all weekend and I had my hat on all weekend. I even carried an umbrella. I may end up like my mother and wear the little white gloves," said Fallon.
Dermatologists say you always need to check with your doctor to make sure your brown spots are not cancerous.
Tri-Luma costs around $120 and is not covered by insurance, but the tube lasts for a very long time.
