A sun damaged skin treatment can include cosmetic skin rejuvenation, skin care preparations available over the counter, prescription medications, and medical procedures.
There are a number of anti aging products and treatments available to try to prevent or reverse some of the signs of sun damage.
Skin treatment
Let the sun kiss you but “play safe”
Sunshine, although essential for health and well-being, is certainly a hazard for the skin.
We all have a love and hate relationship with the sun. Enjoy all the good it has to offer but protect yourself from the bad side with some sort of good quality sun damaged skin treatment product.
Prevention is always easier than a cure - prevention is the key to retaining a youthful appearance.
Practicing safe sun exposure habits, such as always using sunscreens to protect yourself from the sun’s damaging and aging rays, staying out of the sun as much as possible, and wearing *protective clothing, hats, and good pair of UVA protection sunglasses, are essential to keeping the skin healthy.
In addition, practicing sun safety may prevent the development of skin cancer later in life.
*Tip-Add UV protection to clothing with a laundry treatment UV protectant.
Sun damaged skin treatment products for facial treatments
Sun damaged skin, also known as photoaging is the #1 cause of premature aging in women and men.
UVA ray’s can reach deep layers of the skin breaking down collagen, which causes wrinkles and aging prematurely. UVB radiation affects our top most layer of skin.
Everyone knows the growing numbers of skin cancer- Sun protection is for everyone- Always!
Sunscreen and Sunblock- Different products -
Sunblock -
Because they are quite messy, sometimes more detectable, and may stain clothing they are more used on areas such as the nose, lips, ears and shoulders.
Sunblock reflects and totally blocks the UV radiation from reaching the skin. For people with sensitive skin, sunblocks are the better choice – they are made from non-chemical ingredients such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.
A true sunblock is not listed with a SPF #. It doesn’t have a SPF # because it protects the body from all UV ray’s.
Sunscreen –
Although not as effective as sunblock, a sunscreen is typically used over a prolonged time to be effective.
Sunscreen products are available in a cream or skin lotion and have a more pleasing consistency than sunblock.
Sunscreen contains chemicals that absorb UV ray’s. The chemicals absorb the sun’s radiation thru a chemical reaction.
Some ingredients in sunscreens may cause allergic reactions or irritate the skin.
The strength is determined by the SPF #. The lower the # the less protection it provides.
Using sunscreen will not prevent you from tanning but it will lower your risk of getting burned
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are an emerging concept in skin health and anti aging skin care maintenance.
These antioxidants are most effective when applied topically as a sun damaged skin treatment to stimulate cell replication, build collagen production, and help cells mend prior damage.
Topical Vitamin C is the most widely used along with Vitamins A, E, and beta-carotene.
Copper Peptides
Copper is a trace metal in the body. It is widely used in anti aging skin care treatments to enhance skin’s strength and elasticity.
Eye Cream–
Arm yourself with extra “ammo” Protect those sensitive, delicate eyes from aging lines and wrinkles with a good anti-aging eye cream.
Moisturizers and Make-up –
Some beauty skin care products contain UV protection in them.
Skin care treatments
Specific treatment for sun damaged skin such as coarse, dry skin, freckling, skin discoloration, leathery skin, and deep lines and wrinkles are available for aging skin.
To minimize the effects of sun-damaged skin several sun damaged skin treatment options may include-
Tretinoin treatment
Tretinoin is a prescription topical cream that can reverse sun damage over time, smoothing skin, reducing fine lines, wrinkles, rough skin, discolored skin, and perfect the overall skin texture.
Hydroquinone
Hydroquinone is a topical treatment applied to the skin to inhibit melanin production.
It helps to remove skin pigmentation, blotchiness, and enhance the overall skin tone and clarity.
Medical treatment decisions
Collagen injections
Skin fillers can be used for individuals with deep creases, wrinkles, acne scars and facial lines. It is injected into skin wrinkles to fill in the depression. The benefit lasts for 3-6 months.
Chemical peels
Chemical peels are often used to minimize and treat sun-damaged skin, fine lines, age spots, uneven pigmentation, and superficial scars.
The top layer of skin is removed with a chemical application to the skin. By removing the top layer, the skin regenerates, which stimulates growth of fresher, newer looking skin often improving the skin's appearance.
The peels can either be superficial or quite deep into the dermis of the skin. Superficial peels include glycolic acid preparations.
The deeper peels such as trichloroacetic acid and phenol are used less often. The recovery time is quicker and with less risks with the more superficial peel.
Microdermabrasion
This procedure is a non-invasive skin exfoliating procedure that revitalizes and improves your skin’s appearance and smoothness.
This sun damaged skin treatment works best on mild to moderate skin damage and may require several treatments to see results.
This treatment can be performed by a professional or through microdermabrasion in-home skin care kits.
Laser resurfacing may be used to minimize wrinkles, lines, age spots and fine scars.
The most effective way to rejuvenate your skin. With good sun protection, the effects can last up to five years.
Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy
IPL is one of the newer forms of facial rejuvenation.
These treatments provide a gentle, non-invasive solution that provides gradual, natural improvement in the skin's appearance with low risk and no recovery time.
IPL can improve the texture of the skin and fade freckles, age spots,visible blood vessels, diffuse redness and uneven pigmentation.
Benefits usually last for about a year with good sun protection.
The sun’s kissing you – Enjoy
Taking a few necessary precautions and incorporating sun damaged skin treatment into a skin care regimen early will help prevent skin problems later.
