How to Remove Sun Spots at Home: Step by Step

Reviewed by OcuraLife Skin Experts · Updated June 2026

Sun spots on the cheek
Flat, light-brown sun spots on the cheek, left by UV exposure.

Step-by-Step Guide

How to remove sun spots at home

Sun spots are flat, light-to-medium brown marks left by UV exposure, most often on the face, chest, and hands. With the Ocura Plasma Pen you make a light, even pass of micro-dots across the spot, the pigmented surface lifts as a thin crust, and fresh, even-toned skin replaces it. Here is exactly how to do it, safely.

The Ocura Plasma Pen
This guide uses the Ocura Plasma Pen.

The Right Settings

Tip and power for a sun spot

SUN SPOT (FLAT, BROWN)
Tip FinePower 3 to 5Sessions 1Heals 7 to 14 days

Closely spaced micro-dots across the whole spot. No overlap. A light, even pass. The pigmented surface lifts as a thin crust. Stay shallow with pigment.

On the face, smooth on your kit's Numbing Cream first. After healing, your kit's SPF is the single most important step to keep new spots from forming.

Your Treatment

Step by step

1

Patch test first. Lowest power, fine tip, inside of your forearm. Wait 48 hours and watch for any dark mark before treating a visible spot.

2

Confirm it is a sun spot. Flat, evenly light-brown, smooth border. If it is raised, multi-colored, or has an irregular edge, see a doctor first.

3

Cleanse and dry. Wash with a gentle cleanser and pat fully dry. The skin must be oil-free.

4

Numb, then re-dry. Apply numbing cream for twenty to thirty minutes, wipe it off completely, and confirm the skin is dry.

5

Set up the pen. Fine tip, low power. Pigment needs a shallow pass. Hold the tip 1 to 2 mm above the skin at 90 degrees.

6

Stipple light micro-dots. Tap evenly across the spot, leaving a hair of skin between each dot. No overlap. The surface frosts and lifts.

7

Stop at a thin, even crust. Once the whole spot is lightly frosted, stop. Going deep on pigment risks a pale or dark mark after healing.

8

Aftercare. Apply the included aftercare cream and a healing patch, then follow the timeline below. SPF is non-negotiable here.

What success looks like. A thin, even, light-brown crust across the spot. No deep wound, no overlap craters. With pigment, less is more. You can always re-pass after full healing.

Pigment needs SPF and a light touch

Going too deep or skipping SPF can leave a temporary dark mark, the exact thing you were fading. Keep power low and wear SPF for at least six weeks. Never treat a brown spot with an irregular or changing border, get it checked first.

The Ocura Plasma Pen Ultimate Bundle with numbing cream, aftercare and SPF
Everything you need in one box. The Ultimate Bundle: pen, numbing cream, aftercare and SPF.

Aftercare

What to expect while it heals

Day 0
Right after.A thin crust forms over the spot. Mild redness is normal. Apply aftercare cream and a patch.
Day 1 to 4
The crust sets.Keep the area clean and dry. Do not pick. Keep it out of the sun.
Day 5 to 14
It falls off on its own.Pink, fresh skin underneath where the spot was. Continue aftercare cream morning and night.
Week 2 to 6
Color evens out.Apply SPF over the area every single day, even indoors near windows. This is what keeps the spot from coming back.

Before You Start

When to see a doctor instead

It is changing Any brown spot with an irregular border, more than one color, or that is growing or itching must be seen by a dermatologist before treatment.
It might be melasma Melasma is hormone-driven and can worsen with heat. If the patch is large, symmetrical, and on the cheeks, do not treat it with the pen.
Do not use the pen if You are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a pacemaker or implant, are prone to keloid scarring, or have taken isotretinoin in the last 6 months.

Fade them at home, at the source

The OcuraLife Plasma Pen targets the pigment at the surface. A scab forms, falls off on its own, and fresh, even-toned skin replaces it. Adjustable settings, single-use tips, 90-day money-back guarantee.

See the Plasma Pen

Back to all Step-by-Step Guides · New to the device? Read the full Plasma Pen guide · More on sun spots.