Sun damage can occur when you spend too much time in the sun and don’t protect your skin. Exposing your skin to the sun too often will cause premature aging known as photoaging. This manifests as dry and rough skin, freckles, uneven pigmentation, and wrinkles. The sun’s UV rays can penetrate the deepest layers of our skin and create changes at a cellular level.
Going out in the sun unprotected is never a good idea. Not only can the UV rays from the sun cause skin damage and premature aging, but it also increases your risk of skin cancer. The appearance of skin damage can be reduced and further harm prevented, but it is not reversible. This is why protecting your skin as best you can is essential.
Sun damage is not reversible, though there are steps you can take to reduce the appearance of damage. A sun spot treatment can prevent further photoaging from occurring.
Here are the seven best sun damage skin care tips:
Tip #1: Your Skin Care Routine
One of the ways that sun damage will show up on your skin is by making it look dull. A brightening cleanser is recommended to start your morning and evening skincare routines. This cleanser will encourage cell turnover by exfoliating dead skin cells, leading to smoother, brighter skin. Your next step should be a vitamin C serum.
Studies have shown that vitamin C in skin care products can help reduce signs of aging caused by sun damage, and it can also help prevent further damage. The moisturizer you choose is of utmost importance. Sun damage can decrease the skin’s ability to retain moisture; a rich formulation that will refresh and rehydrate your skin is a must.
Tip #2: Wear Sunscreen
If you’ve never gotten into applying sunscreen on your face, it’s never too late to start. Applying sunscreen every morning is one of the best ways to prevent further sun damage from occurring. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen, one that protects against UVA and UVB rays.
Be sure to pick a product with an SPF of 30 or higher. For the most effective protection, apply sunscreen to your face, neck, and decolletage as the last step in your morning skincare routine. Reapply throughout the day as needed.
Tip #3: Cover Up
You can reduce your skin’s risk of sun damage by not allowing exposure in the first place. When you can, it’s best to avoid the sun between ten in the morning and three in the afternoon; this is when the sun’s rays can do the most damage.
Wear protective clothing like long pants and long-sleeved shirts whenever possible. If it’s too hot for this type of clothing, consider carrying an umbrella to shade you from the sun’s rays. Wide-brimmed hats are a great way to protect your face and neck; sunglasses will help protect the delicate skin around your eyes.
Tip #4: Nighttime Retinoids
Retinol is famous for its ability to combat signs of aging and sun damage. Retinoids are one of the most effective ingredients available to facilitate cell turnover.
Retinoids are best used overnight because they make your skin more sensitive to the sun. Many people experience sensitivity to retinol, so it is suggested that you only apply it every other night at first until your skin gets used to it.
Tip #5: Chemical Peels
A chemical peel is an excellent treatment option for skin that is sun damaged. This treatment, performed by a licensed provider at a cosmetic clinic, uses a solution that removes the damaged outer layer of skin from the face and neck, revealing smoother, healthier skin underneath.
It is possible to experience changes in skin pigmentation or scarring from this procedure, so always talk to your dermatologist or licensed aesthetician first.
Tip #6: Dermabrasion
This procedure can be done in a cosmetic clinic to minimize skin surface damage and irregularities. Dermabrasion works by removing the top layers of skin by abrasion. As the skin heals, the renewed surface will look smoother and brighter.
Microdermabrasion is a gentler type of dermabrasion that can help remove aging or damaged skin and stimulate new growth. This procedure can repair and rejuvenate skin with mild or moderate sun damage and usually requires a few treatments.
Tip #7: Lasers
Laser skin resurfacing is another in-clinic procedure that can be done to reduce signs of sun damage. Laser skin resurfacing is commonly used to treat lines, minor wrinkles, age spots and uneven skin tone, all signs of skin damaged by the sun’s harmful rays.
The light from the lasers burns away the damaged top layer of skin and heats the underneath layers to stimulate collagen production. Collagen is a protein known to improve the skin’s firmness. As the top layer of skin heals, the treated area is rejuvenated, resulting in improved texture and reduced wrinkles. It can also markedly improve the pigmentation of the skin by removing sunspots.