The skin of the décolleté, thin and poorly protected, is particularly vulnerable to the sun and often less cared for than the skin of the face. Over time, it undergoes the cumulative effects of UV rays, oxidative stress, hormonal variations and cellular ageing. These factors disrupt melanin production, leading to the appearance of brown spots — also called solar lentigos or age spots. Unlike simple complexion irregularities, these spots become established in the superficial layers of the skin and resist classic cosmetic treatments. They become more visible with age, especially on thin and fair skin, and may be accompanied by signs of photoageing such as skin laxity, fine lines or loss of radiance. Understanding how they form is essential to provide an effective and long-lasting treatment.
The brown spots present on the décolleté do not have the same origin or appearance. Solar lentigos are the most common : caused by repeated sun exposure, they appear as small, well-defined brown spots, either isolated or scattered. Diffuse hyperpigmentation is found mainly on skin that has been repeatedly exposed and appears as spread-out, irregular or speckled pigmented areas. In some cases, deeper spots may be linked to hormonal variations, particularly after menopause, when the skin regulates melanin production less effectively. Identifying the type of pigmentation is essential, as not all of them react in the same way to treatments, and the strategy must be tailored to their origin and depth.
Prevention is the first step in limiting the appearance of brown spots on the décolleté. Daily sun protection is essential, even outside the summer, because UVA rays pass through clouds and windows and are the main cause of chronic hyperpigmentation. The regular use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen, combined with good hydration, helps slow the excessive stimulation of melanocytes.
Wearing covering clothing during prolonged exposure, as well as adopting a skin-friendly lifestyle — notably by limiting smoking and exposure to pollution — also helps slow the ageing of the cells that produce the pigment responsible for spots. These habits do not make existing spots disappear.
To treat or reduce pigment spots on the décolleté, several aesthetic-oriented medicine solutions can be considered depending on the type of spot, its depth and the overall condition of the skin. Depigmenting peel, photorejuvenation laser, fractional laser, regenerative mesotherapy or combined protocols help improve the clarity of the complexion.
The goal is not only to erase existing spots but also to prevent their recurrence. To achieve this, the treatments improve skin quality, regulate pigmentation and provide long-lasting protection of the décolleté against the effects of the sun. The approach is tailored to each skin.
The depigmenting peel is often recommended to reduce superficial or moderate brown spots on the décolleté. It consists of applying a solution based on exfoliating acids such as glycolic acid or trichloroacetic acid, in order to promote the elimination of pigmented cells and stimulate skin renewal. On the décolleté, the concentration must be adjusted to the thinness and sensitivity of the skin. The peel acts progressively, smoothing the skin surface, reducing pigment irregularities and improving skin brightness.
Several sessions, spaced a few weeks apart, are necessary.
For deeper pigment spots, especially when they are associated with creased skin or loss of firmness, the fractional ablative laser can be particularly suitable. It creates micro-ablation channels in the dermis, triggering a natural skin repair process and stimulating collagen production.
This technique eliminates pigment and stimulates collagen synthesis, resulting in an improvement in both the colour and density of the décolleté skin. This treatment is suitable for skin showing more advanced ageing, where spots coexist with fine lines, thinned skin or mild to moderate laxity. Depending on the intensity of the parameters used, a short recovery period (usually a few days) may be necessary for the skin to regenerate.
The number of sessions required will depend on the condition of the skin. Most often, two to three sessions spaced two months apart are needed.
There is no solution that can permanently eliminate pigment spots on the décolleté. Their appearance is linked to deep and persistent mechanisms : skin ageing, repeated sun exposure, oxidative stress, hormonal variations and melanocyte activation. Even after an effective treatment, the skin retains a “pigment memory”, meaning it remains sensitive to triggering factors and can form new spots.
Lasers and peels help lighten spots, even out the complexion and improve skin quality, but they do not prevent recurrence if sun exposure, lack of protection or skin ageing continue.
The best approach is therefore to treat, then to prevent. Daily sun protection, the use of hydrating and antioxidant skincare, as well as maintenance sessions (aesthetic treatments) once or twice a year help stabilise the results and keep the skin more even and radiant.
Treatments are effective, but their effect relies on ongoing maintenance and prevention, not on a promise of definitive disappearance.
No, once they have formed, pigment spots do not disappear spontaneously. They are linked to an accumulation of melanin in the epidermis and require a targeted treatment, such as laser or peeling, depending on the type and depth of the spots.
There is no standard treatment, it all depends on the type of spots and the quality of the skin.
Spots can be significantly reduced or sometimes disappear, but no treatment guarantees a permanent result.
The number of sessions depends on the method used, the depth of the spots and the quality of the skin. On average, two to three sessions of laser or peeling are necessary, sometimes followed by maintenance sessions once or twice a year to maintain the results.
Yes, sun protection is essential after any treatment. Exposure without protection can reactivate pigmentation, cause new spots to appear or reduce the effectiveness of the treatment. It is recommended to use daily sunscreen, even in winter.
It is recommended to seek help as soon as the spots become difficult to live with.
