Sun Damage & Actinic Keratoses · Mount Gravatt, Brisbane
Sun Damage & Actinic Keratosis Treatment in Mount Gravatt, Brisbane
Treatment for rough, scaly sunspots (actinic or solar keratoses) and the sun-damaged skin around them. A specialist dermatologist checks your skin first, then matches freezing, creams, PDT or LaseMD laser to your damage.
Specialist consultations from $395 · No referral needed to book · Treatment costs confirmed in writing before you start · See fees
A dermatologist-led clinic, founded by Dr Mitch Robinson, FACD, first author of the Australian clinical practice guidelines for lentigo maligna, an early, sun-related form of melanoma, and a teacher of laser to dermatologists and registrars.
Meet Dr MitchSun Damage Treatment at a Glance
What Is an Actinic Keratosis (Solar Keratosis)?
The short answer: an actinic keratosis, also called a solar keratosis or a sunspot, is a rough, scaly patch caused by years of sun on the skin. It's precancerous, not a cancer. Most never change, but a small number become squamous cell carcinoma, so they're worth checking and treating.
They're often easier to feel than to see: a patch like fine sandpaper that may look pink, red, skin-coloured or light brown, and can come and go. The usual places are the forehead, temples, cheeks, nose, ears, a bald scalp, the lower lip, the backs of the hands and the forearms.
Australia has one of the highest rates in the world. They're more likely with fair skin, years outdoors, childhood sunburn or a weakened immune system.
We see patients from Mount Gravatt and across Brisbane's southside, including Holland Park, Carindale, Upper Mount Gravatt and Sunnybank.
How it works
Freezing a sunspot (cryotherapy)
Quick and done in the room. It treats the spot you can see, not the sun damage around it.
- A rough, scaly sunspot (actinic keratosis), with abnormal cells in the top layer of skin.
- Liquid nitrogen is sprayed onto the spot for a few seconds.
- The spot and a small rim of skin around it freeze white. It stings or burns for a few seconds.
- As it thaws, the spot goes red and may ache for a few minutes.
- It may blister over the next day. Leave the blister alone if you can.
- A scab forms and comes off in about 1 to 2 weeks on the face, longer on the hands, arms and legs. Freezing can leave a small paler mark, especially in olive or darker skin.
Simplified illustration, not to scale. Healing time varies with the site and the person.
Fewer spots. Calmer skin.
What Results Can You Expect From Sun Damage Treatment?
Treatment aims to clear the rough spots you have now and settle the damaged skin around them, so fewer new ones appear. Most people end up with far fewer spots and smoother skin, and field treatments often improve texture and uneven colour too.
What it can't do is undo decades of sun. New spots usually keep appearing, more slowly if you protect your skin, so many people need a repeat field treatment every few years and regular skin checks.
What the research says. In a Dutch trial of 624 people with many actinic keratoses on the head, four field treatments kept spots reduced by at least three quarters a year later in about 29% to 75% of people, depending on the treatment (New England Journal of Medicine, 2019). In an Australian study, freezing cleared about two thirds of 421 single spots at 3 months (International Journal of Dermatology, 2004). Both studies were in fair-skinned people with a year or less of follow-up.
Sun Damage Before and After Photos
Patients of DERM Skin Specialists, photographed in the same conditions. They show visible sun damage (colour, texture and lines); actinic keratoses themselves are judged by examining the skin.
BeforeAfter 8 weeks
BeforeAfter 2 sessions
BeforeAfterBefore photo on the left in each pair. Tap a photo to see it larger. Individual results vary. Results depend on how much sun damage you have, your skin type and how your skin heals. All procedures carry risks; see the risks section below.
Is Actinic Keratosis Cancer?
No, but it's a warning sign: a patch of sun-damaged cells in the top layer of skin. A small number become squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a common skin cancer that usually treats well when found early.
For any single spot the risk is low: well under 1% per spot per year in a review of 24 studies, higher after a previous skin cancer (British Journal of Dermatology, 2013). But people with sun damage usually have many spots over many years. In a US study of high-risk veterans, about 65% of new SCCs grew in a spot earlier diagnosed as an actinic keratosis (Cancer, 2009). Both studies had limits, and nobody can tell by eye which spot will change. So a dermatologist checks each spot with dermoscopy, a magnified light, and biopsies anything thicker, tender or different.
Get these checked soon
- A spot that's growing or getting thicker
- A spot that's tender or painful to touch
- Bleeding, or a crust that keeps coming back
- A firm lump rising out of a rough patch
These can be signs of skin cancer. Book a skin check.
Brown Sunspots or Rough Sunspots: What's the Difference?
People use "sunspots" for two different things.
Flat brown sunspots, or age spots, are smooth brown marks on the face, hands and chest. They aren't precancerous, and treating them is a cosmetic choice, usually with a pigment laser such as PicoSure Pro or LaseMD. More on sun spot and age spot removal.
Rough sunspots are actinic keratoses, the ones you can feel. They're precancerous, so they need a diagnosis and medical treatment.
Most sun-damaged skin has both, plus redness and blotchy colour (solar dyschromia), and one treatment can often address the medical risk and the look of the skin together. A brown spot that is changing or unlike your others needs a check first, because some melanomas start flat and brown.
One spot at a time rarely ends
Why Do Sunspots Keep Coming Back After Freezing?
Freezing treats the spot you can see. But the skin around it has had the same years of sun and often holds early changes that aren't visible yet, called field change. As those mature, new spots appear next to the old ones and the freezing starts again.
Field treatment covers a whole area at once, such as the forehead, scalp or backs of the hands, treating visible and early spots together so fewer new ones turn up.
One or two spots can be frozen. Many spots in one area are a reason to ask about field treatment.
Field treatment may suit you if
- You have several rough spots in one area
- New spots keep appearing in the same places
- You've had freezing many times
- You've had a skin cancer in sun-damaged skin
Spots first, then the field
Actinic Keratosis Treatment in Brisbane: Your Options
We usually treat any spot that needs its own treatment first, then the sun-damaged field around it. The right mix depends on how many spots you have, where they are and how much downtime you can take.
Cryotherapy (Freezing)
Best for: one or a few separate spots.
Liquid nitrogen is sprayed onto each spot for a few seconds. It's quick, but only treats what can be seen and felt.
Curette and Biopsy
Best for: thick, crusted or uncertain spots.
Under local anaesthetic, the spot is scraped away and sent to the lab. Anything that might be a skin cancer is biopsied or cut out before field treatment.
Prescription Field-Treatment Creams
Best for: wider field change, if you can manage a visible reaction.
You apply a prescribed cream at home for a set number of weeks. Sun-damaged cells react, so the skin turns red, crusty and sore, usually peaking around week 2, before it heals. Creams have strong trial evidence; the reaction is the hard part. You get written instructions on what's normal.
Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)
Best for: field change with a shorter reaction than a cream.
A light-sensitising cream is applied, left to absorb, then activated with a controlled light, sometimes after a quick LaseMD pass to help it absorb. The light step stings or burns, and the skin is red and crusty for several days. More on PDT.
LaseMD Field Treatment
Best for: sun damage on the face or scalp, with a short recovery.
LaseMD Ultra is a 1927 nm fractional thulium laser that makes tiny, shallow treatment zones across the whole sun-damaged area. After about an hour of numbing cream, the laser takes around 15 minutes. Field treatment is commonly 2 sessions about 6 weeks apart, and it often softens brown spots and texture too. More on LaseMD.
Laser Resurfacing for Sun Damage
Best for: selected people with heavy sun damage and deeper lines.
CO2 laser vaporises a thin layer of sun-damaged skin so a new surface grows. It can treat a whole field in one session, but has the longest recovery and suits only some people. CO2 laser is always performed by Dr Mitch. More on CO2 laser.
Freezing, Cream, PDT or Laser: Which Suits You?
A guide only. Your plan depends on what we find, where the spots are and how much downtime you can take.
Laser or cream? Creams have the largest trials behind them: in the Dutch trial, the top cream kept spots down in about three quarters of people at 12 months, and PDT in about 38%. The trade-off is weeks of visible reaction.
LaseMD takes about 15 minutes in the clinic, with a few days of redness, but its evidence is smaller: in 24 people, up to four sessions of a 1927 nm laser reduced actinic keratoses by 86.6% at 6 months (Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2013). That study was small, had no comparison group and used a different 1927 nm device. Whichever you choose, some spots may still need freezing later, and that's normal.
Does Freezing Sunspots Hurt? How Long Does It Take to Heal?
Freezing stings or burns for a few seconds, and may ache for a few minutes. Most people manage several spots without numbing.
The spot then goes red, may blister, and forms a scab that comes off in about 1 to 2 weeks on the face, longer on the hands, arms and legs.
Freezing can leave a small paler mark, especially in olive or darker skin. A spot still there 6 to 8 weeks later, or back quickly, needs a re-check rather than another freeze.
Caring for a frozen spot
- Wash gently and pat dry
- Leave any blister alone if you can
- Use a plain moisturiser or petroleum jelly while it heals
- Skip sunscreen on broken skin; cover it with a hat or clothing instead
What Happens at Your Sun Damage Appointment?
From your first visit to long-term follow-up, here's how we look after sun-damaged skin.
Check and diagnose
A specialist dermatologist examines your skin with dermoscopy, maps the sun-damaged areas, biopsies anything uncertain and takes photos.
Treat the spots, plan the field
Individual spots are treated first, often by freezing. You get a written plan for the wider field, with options, downtime and total cost.
Field treatment and review
Field treatment is booked to suit your work and the season. We review your skin, treat leftover spots and set up regular checks.
Sun Damage Treatment for Olive and Darker Skin
Actinic keratoses are less common in darker skin but do happen, especially in olive skin after years of Queensland sun. The bigger issue is healing: olive, Asian, Middle Eastern, Indian and darker skin is more prone to pale marks after freezing and temporary brown marks after laser, PDT or a strong cream reaction.
We reduce the risk with shorter freezes, gentler laser settings, skin preparation and strict sun protection. Brown marks, if they appear, usually fade over a few months.
Tell Us Before Sun Damage Treatment If You
- Tan easily or rarely burn
- Have had pale or brown marks after freezing, burns or cuts
- Have had melasma
- Get cold sores
Sun Damage Treatment Risks, and How We Reduce Them
All procedures carry risks. Here are the main ones and what we do about each.
Common, Short-Term Side Effects of Sun Damage Treatment
- Redness, swelling and crusting. Expected after field treatment. We time it around your work and social life.
- Stinging or burning. Numbing cream for laser, and we manage comfort throughout PDT.
- Pale or brown marks. More likely in olive and darker skin. We adjust freeze times and settings and insist on sun protection.
- Spots that don't clear first time. We review you, re-treat or biopsy them.
Less Common Sun Damage Treatment Risks
- Infection, including cold sore flares. Tell us if you get cold sores; we'll plan for it.
- A stronger reaction than expected. Your written instructions say when to stop and call us.
- Scarring. Rare. The right depth for your skin and good aftercare reduce the risk.
- A skin cancer hiding among sunspots. We biopsy anything uncertain first and keep checking afterwards.
If something doesn't heal as expected, you come back to us. Call the clinic and we'll see you here, rather than leaving you to sort it out elsewhere.
Recovery and Downtime After Sun Damage Treatment
Downtime depends on the treatment and the area:
- Freezing: a scab for about 1 to 2 weeks on the face, longer on the hands and arms
- PDT: redness, swelling and crusting that peak in 2 to 3 days and mostly settle within about a week
- LaseMD field treatment: redness and flaking for about 4 to 5 days, or 5 to 7 days after LaseMD Heavy
- Field-treatment creams: redness and crusting that peak around week 2 and take a few more weeks to settle
- Full-field CO2 resurfacing: about 2 weeks to heal, with pinkness that can last weeks to months
Most people work through freezing, and many through LaseMD or PDT; cream reactions are harder to hide. In Brisbane, many people book field treatment in the cooler months.
Before an event. Allow about 2 weeks after freezing, PDT or LaseMD, about 6 weeks from starting a cream, and at least 8 weeks (ideally 3 months) after full-field CO2.
When to Call Us After Sun Damage Treatment
- Increasing pain, heat or spreading redness after 2 days
- Yellow crusting, pus or a fever
- Clusters of blisters or sores, which can be a cold sore flare
- A treated spot that hasn't healed after 6 weeks, or is growing or bleeding
Call 07 3487 1414. Outside hours, see your GP or go to an emergency department.
How Much Does Actinic Keratosis Treatment Cost in Brisbane?
A specialist consultation starts from $395. Dermatologist-led treatment, including freezing, PDT, LaseMD field treatment and resurfacing, is priced on assessment and quoted in writing once we've seen your skin.
LaseMD Heavy, our deeper LaseMD technique
- Small area: $495 per session
- Full face: $1,495 per session
- Face, plus a lighter pass over the neck and chest: $1,995 per session
The real cost is the course. Field treatment is commonly 2 sessions, so you get the total for your plan in writing before you start. For brown spots and dull tone alone, nurse-led LaseMD Ultra starts from $695 for the full face, once a dermatologist has checked any rough spots.
Medicare. Freezing actinic keratoses and some other medical treatments may attract a Medicare rebate, depending on your eligibility; laser is generally not covered. No referral is needed to book, but a valid referral is needed for a rebate on the consultation. We'll explain what applies to you. See our fees.
How Can You Prevent New Sunspots?
Daily sunscreen helps, even after years of damage. In a trial in Nambour, Queensland, adults using sunscreen every morning had a smaller rise in solar keratoses over 2 years than those who used it at their own discretion (Archives of Dermatology, 2003). An earlier Australian trial found daily sunscreen over one summer meant fewer new spots and more fading (New England Journal of Medicine, 1993).
For people who've had several skin cancers, vitamin B3 (nicotinamide) tablets cut new skin cancers by about 23% over a year in an Australian trial (New England Journal of Medicine, 2015). The benefit didn't continue once people stopped, so ask us before starting.
Everyday habits that help
- SPF 50+ every morning on the face, ears, neck, hands and arms
- A broad-brimmed hat outdoors
- Lip balm with SPF
- Regular skin checks
Your dermatologist
Your Sun Damage Dermatologist: Dr Mitch Robinson, FACD
Specialist Dermatologist · Mount Gravatt, Brisbane
Dr Mitch leads sun damage care at DERM Skin Specialists, from diagnosis and skin cancer surgery to LaseMD and PDT field treatment, and performs all CO2 laser resurfacing himself. Our specialist dermatologists Dr Emily Shao and Dr Benny Yau also diagnose and treat sun damage. Nurse-led LaseMD for brown spots and tone is done by our Registered Nurses.
- First author, Australian lentigo maligna guidelinesEvidence-based clinical practice guidelines, published 2020
- Fellowship training in cutaneous oncologyPlus laser surgery and complex scarring
- Teaches laser to dermatologistsLectures on laser protocols and safety in Australia and Asia
Dr Mitch is a clinical presenter and Signature Partner for Cynosure Lutronic, a laser manufacturer.
Mount Gravatt, Brisbane
Sun Damage Treatment in Mount Gravatt
DERM Skin Specialists is at 2/1437 Logan Road, Mount Gravatt, about 15 minutes' drive from the Brisbane CBD, with free parking onsite. Patients come from across Brisbane's southside, including Mansfield, Wishart, Eight Mile Plains and Greenslopes.
Common Questions
Sunspots and Sun Damage: Common Questions
Are sunspots and actinic keratoses the same thing?
Sometimes. "Sunspot" is used for rough actinic keratoses and for flat brown age spots. Only the rough ones are precancerous, but any changing spot needs a check.
Can an actinic keratosis turn into melanoma?
No. Actinic keratoses can turn into squamous cell carcinoma, not melanoma. The same sun exposure raises melanoma risk, though, so a full skin check is worthwhile.
How can I tell if a sunspot is skin cancer?
Often you can't by looking. A spot that is growing, thick, tender, bleeding or not healing needs checking, and sometimes a biopsy confirms what it is.
Do all actinic keratoses need treatment?
Not always, as some fade on their own. We usually treat tender, thick or numerous spots, and spots in people who've had skin cancer.
Will freezing leave a scar?
Scarring is uncommon, but freezing can leave a small paler mark, especially in olive or darker skin.
I reacted badly to a cream. What else can I try?
PDT and LaseMD field treatment both have a shorter reaction, and freezing suits individual spots.
How many LaseMD sessions do I need for sun damage?
Field treatment is commonly 2 sessions about 6 weeks apart. Some people then have a maintenance session once or twice a year.
Does treatment stop new sunspots for good?
No. It clears spots and slows new ones, but sun-damaged skin keeps producing some, so repeat treatment every few years is common.
Can you treat my scalp, ears and lips?
Yes. The scalp and ears are common places for actinic keratoses. A scaly patch on the lip (actinic cheilitis) needs care, because it can hide an early cancer, so it may be biopsied first.
Can you treat sunspots on my arms and hands?
Yes. Freezing, creams and PDT are all used on the arms and hands. Skin there heals more slowly than the face, so recovery takes longer.
What time of year suits field treatment in Brisbane?
Many people choose the cooler months, roughly May to September, when it's easier to avoid the sun while healing. It can be done any time with good sun protection.
Does Medicare cover actinic keratosis treatment?
Freezing and some other medical treatments may attract a rebate, depending on your eligibility. Laser is generally not covered. We'll explain what applies at your consultation.
Do I need a referral?
No referral is needed to book. A valid referral, usually from your GP, is needed if you want a Medicare rebate on your specialist consultation.
Can sun damage be reversed?
Partly. Treatment clears spots and can improve texture and colour, but it can't undo all past damage. Daily sun protection helps some spots fade and slows new ones.
How often should I have skin checks?
It depends on your risk. People with many actinic keratoses or a past skin cancer are usually checked at least yearly. We'll suggest a schedule for you.
Will a dermatologist or a nurse treat me?
A specialist dermatologist diagnoses your sun damage and plans your treatment. CO2 laser resurfacing is always done by Dr Mitch. Nurse-led LaseMD is for brown spots and tone once your skin has been checked.
Get a Plan for Your Sun-Damaged Skin
Book a consultation with one of our specialist dermatologists. We'll check your spots, treat what needs treating, and give you a written plan for the skin around them, with the total cost, before you decide.
Clinical content overseen by Dr Mitch Robinson, FACD (AHPRA MED0001946771). Updated October 2026. General information only, not medical advice. All procedures carry risks; suitability, recovery and results vary between individuals.