Sun Damage Treatment at Riviera Medical Spa: Match the Laser to Your Concern

Sun damage shows up in three main ways: brown spots, redness, and rough or lined texture. Each one responds best to a different kind of light or laser. At our Riviera med spa in Santa Barbara, the first step is to name your main concern, then choose the tool that fits it.

The short answer: Brown spots call for a pigment-focused option such as Icon IPL, Avava, or Clear + Brilliant. Redness and visible vessels often point to Icon IPL. Texture, pores, and fine lines suit CoolPeel, Tetra CO2, Avava, or Clear + Brilliant. Many people have more than one concern, so we often combine options over a series. A skin assessment settles the plan.

Riviera Medical Spa is the aesthetic division of Montecito Plastic Surgery, at 1722 State Street, Suite 101, in Santa Barbara, next door to Montecito. Dr. Adam Lowenstein is a board-certified plastic surgeon, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS). Our aesthetic nurses carry out treatments under his protocols.

Key facts

• The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) lists intense pulsed light (IPL) and laser resurfacing among the treatments for age spots, and IPL and lasers for a blotchy or ruddy complexion [1].

• The AAD advises a skin exam before treating age spots, because skin cancer can look like one [2].

• Cynosure describes the Icon system as offering facial vessel clearance and pigment reduction, with a live melanin reader to assess skin type [3].

• The FDA clearance record for the Icon system lists its Max series IPL handpieces for benign pigmented lesions and for telangiectasias, the small visible facial vessels [4].

• AVAVA received FDA 510(k) clearance in August 2022 to treat benign pigmented lesions, including hyperpigmentation [5].

• Cartessa says CoolPeel improves fine lines, sun damage, pore size, and skin tone and texture [6].

• Solta Medical says Clear + Brilliant creates hundreds of thousands of microscopic treatment zones, and that patients in recent studies reported visible improvement after 4 to 6 treatments [7].

• Mayo Clinic says too much sun in the two months before laser resurfacing can cause a permanent change in skin color in treated areas [8].

• In one study after CO2 resurfacing, pigment problems appeared in 22% of patients who used sunscreen right away, compared with 38% of controls at eight weeks [9].

What kind of sun damage do you have?

Most people can sort their skin into three groups. Some have spots: freckles, age spots, and sun spots. Some have redness: a flushed look, small visible vessels, or both. Some have texture: fine lines, enlarged pores, rough patches, and uneven tone.

Many have all three. That is normal after years of Santa Barbara sunshine, and the plan simply takes more than one step.

One caution comes first. The AAD says a spot that looks like an age spot could be skin cancer, and it advises a skin exam before any spot is treated [2]. If a spot is new, changing, bleeding, or different from the others, have it checked first. We are glad to wait for that answer before we treat.

How do I match the laser to my concern?

Think of it as a short menu. The table below shows how our treatments line up. Your skin type, history, and goals can shift the order.

The AAD lists IPL and lasers for both age spots and a ruddy complexion, and laser resurfacing for wrinkles [1]. Our menu follows that same logic.

Which laser treats brown spots?

Three options lead the list, and each works differently.

Icon IPL. Icon is a Cynosure system. Its MaxG handpiece uses intense pulsed light, not a laser beam, to target pigment in sun spots and age spots. Cynosure lists facial vessel clearance and pigment reduction among its uses, and describes Skintel, a live melanin reader that helps assess skin type [3]. The FDA clearance record for the system lists the Max series IPL handpieces for benign pigmented lesions and telangiectasias [4]. Downtime is minimal. We ask that you have no recent tanning or sunburn.

Avava. Avava is a non-ablative laser built on Focal Point Technology. It was FDA-cleared in 2022 for benign pigmented lesions, including hyperpigmentation [5], and it is suitable for all skin tones. A typical course is two to three treatments, four to six weeks apart. Downtime runs one to three days for lighter treatments and two to seven days for deeper ones. Our posts on Avava laser treatment and the Avava laser guide cover the details.

Clear + Brilliant. This fractional laser facial takes about 20 minutes with no downtime. Solta Medical describes microscopic treatment zones that replace damaged skin with healthy-looking tissue, and says most patients in recent studies saw visible gains after 4 to 6 treatments [7]. Our nurses usually schedule sessions every 2 to 4 weeks, depending on your skin and treatment plan. Learn more on the Clear + Brilliant page.

CoolPeel and Tetra CO2 also lift pigment, as part of resurfacing the top layers of skin.

What helps redness and visible vessels?

Icon IPL is usually the first choice. Cynosure lists facial vessel clearance among its uses [3], and the FDA record includes telangiectasias and rosacea among the conditions covered by the Max series handpieces [4]. Our laser skin facial also targets sun damage, visible vessels, and pigment in one visit, and it links to Clear + Brilliant.

Not all redness comes from the sun. Rosacea, irritation, and other skin conditions can look similar. A short exam helps us sort out what we are treating and whether you should see a dermatologist first.

What helps texture, pores, and fine lines?

Here the choice depends on how much change you want and how much healing time you have.

CoolPeel uses the SmartXide Tetra CO2 laser. A full face takes about 15 minutes. Cartessa says CoolPeel improves fine lines, sun damage, pore size, and skin tone and texture, with minimal downtime [6]. Expect redness like a mild sunburn on days 1 and 2, fading over days 3 to 5, and mostly clear skin by days 6 and 7.

Tetra CO2 is a fractional CO2 laser for the face, neck, and chest, made by DEKA. It treats sun damage and pigmentation, wrinkles, scars, and laxity. It does more than CoolPeel, and the healing takes longer: about 5 to 7 days for most patients, and up to one to two weeks after a deeper treatment. Sessions run 30 to 60 minutes. Read our Tetra CO2 page and the post on CoolPeel vs. CO2 laser.

Avava and Clear + Brilliant fit people who want little or no downtime and are happy to build results over a series. See the CO2 laser introduction if you want a deeper look at resurfacing.

For a combined plan, the Ultimate Duo pairs CoolPeel with Vivace RF microneedling, with optional PRP. Most people have three sessions, and many feel comfortable in public within about a week. It addresses sun damage and pigment, texture, and firmness.

How should I prepare, and how do I protect the results?

Sun is the biggest variable. Mayo Clinic says too much unprotected sun in the two months before laser resurfacing can cause a permanent change in skin color in treated areas [8]. A systematic review on pigment prevention advises sun protection for at least two weeks before a procedure [10].

Our own prep rules are shorter, and they depend on the laser:

• CoolPeel: no sun or tanning for at least 2 weeks; stop retinoids a few days before.

• Tetra CO2: limit sun for 2 to 4 weeks; stop retinoids and AHAs or BHAs 1 to 2 weeks before; avoid tanning and chemical peels for 3 to 4 weeks.

• Avava: no sun, retinoids, or active skincare for at least 2 weeks.

After treatment, sunscreen matters as much as the laser. A 2025 review recommends broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher from day one, preferably with physical blockers such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, and daily use for at least 3 to 6 months [9]. Pigment changes after a laser typically appear 7 to 14 days later and can last up to six weeks [11]. In that CO2 study, 22% of patients who used sunscreen right away developed pigment problems, compared with 38% of controls at eight weeks [9].

For brown skin, Mayo Clinic notes that tinted sunscreens with iron oxide and titanium dioxide help protect against melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation [8].

Laser skin treatment at Riviera Medical Spa. Individual results vary.

What happens at a Riviera med spa consultation?

We start with your goals and your history. We look at your skin type, how much sun you get, any recent tanning, your skincare, and your calendar. We pick a first treatment, set the number of sessions, and write down your prep and aftercare steps.

You leave with a clear plan. If a spot needs a skin exam, we say so. If one treatment will do the work of two, we say that too.

Considering this? See the Riviera Medical Spa and treatments page, CoolPeel, Avava, Icon laser system, and laser results in our gallery.

Questions to bring to your consultation

• Which of my concerns is most sun-related, and which is not?

• Should a dermatologist look at any of my spots first?

• Which treatment fits my skin tone and tanning history?

• How many sessions will I need, and how far apart?

• How much downtime should I plan for?

• When should I start sun protection, and which sunscreen do you recommend?

• Which skincare should I pause, and for how long?

Frequently asked questions

Does Riviera laser treatment work on all skin tones?

Avava is suitable for all skin tones, and the Icon system includes a melanin reader to assess skin type [3]. Mayo Clinic advises people with brown or Black skin to seek a provider with experience choosing lasers and settings for a range of skin colors [8]. We tailor the device and settings to your skin.

How many treatments will I need?

It varies by device. Avava is usually two to three treatments, four to six weeks apart. Clear + Brilliant is often four to six sessions [7], usually every 2 to 4 weeks depending on your skin and treatment plan. Tetra CO2 may need only one or two. Your plan comes from your skin and goals.

Can I get a Riviera skin rejuvenation treatment in summer?

Often yes, with care. Sun is the main concern in summer, so the prep and aftercare rules above matter even more. Our post on when to schedule laser treatments lays out a month-by-month plan for Santa Barbara.

Is laser or IPL better for sun spots?

Both are used for sun spots. The AAD lists IPL and laser resurfacing for age spots [1]. IPL is gentle and often has little downtime, and lasers may offer more resurfacing. We help you choose.

What is the difference between the Riviera med spa and a plastic surgery visit?

Riviera Medical Spa is the aesthetic division of Montecito Plastic Surgery, in the same Santa Barbara office. Non-surgical skin treatments happen at the med spa, and surgical questions go to Dr. Lowenstein.

Ready to treat sun damage?

Book a skin consultation at Riviera Medical Spa. Visit us at 1722 State Street, Suite 101, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, next door to Montecito. Call 805-969-9004 or contact us online. Browse the photo gallery and ask about financing options.

Sources

1. American Academy of Dermatology. How dermatologists treat sun-damaged skin.

2. American Academy of Dermatology. What can get rid of age spots?

3. Cynosure. Icon aesthetic system.

4. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 510(k) K142376: Palomar Icon Aesthetic System, Cynosure. 2014.

5. AVAVA. AVAVA receives FDA 510(k) clearance to treat benign pigment lesions, including hyperpigmentation. GlobeNewswire, August 17, 2022.

6. Cartessa Aesthetics. Tetra PRO with CoolPeel.

7. Solta Medical. Clear + Brilliant.

8. Mayo Clinic. Laser resurfacing.

9. Lee KWA, Chan LKW, Song JK, et al. Importance of using sunscreen after light or laser facial treatment: a literature review. Life. 2025.

10. Mar K, Maazi M, Khalid B, et al. Prevention of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in skin of colour: a systematic review. Australasian Journal of Dermatology. 2025.

11. Fatima S, Braunberger T, Mohammad TF, Kohli I, Hamzavi IH. The role of sunscreen in melasma and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. Indian Journal of Dermatology. 2020.

This article is for educational purposes and isn't a substitute for an individual medical evaluation. Individual results vary.