What is the best skin treatment for sun damage?
Sun damage affects us all. Spending time outside in the hot sun can be fun, but it can also be dangerous. The sun’s harmful UV rays wear down the skin and affect it in different ways. The sun can cause the skin to have uneven skin pigmentation, sunspots, melasma, and other issues. Too much exposure can even be the cause of skin cancer.
Fortunately, there are a plethora of different ways to treat sun damaged skin. The problem then is choosing which one is the right treatment for you.
What is Sun Damage?
Before we can identify ways to treat damage it is beneficial to identify what the different kinds of sun damage are, specifically the aesthetic damage. The most common type of sun damage is uneven pigmentation. The skin creates melanin when over exposed to the sun to protect itself. Melanin is what makes the skin seem brown or sun tanned. Sometimes the melanin can be produced unevenly. This uneven production can cause uneven skin pigmentation. The sun can also stretch and burst small blood vessels which gives the skin a reddish appearance. When combined with the uneven pigmentation it gives the skin a mottled and blemished appearance.
Another common type of sun damage is solar lentigines. These lentigines are what are commonly referred to as sunspots or liver spots or skin spots. These are flat brown spots, typically darker than freckles and more irregular. They vary in size and can appear anywhere on the body that has been exposed to the sun. They typically occur on older people with fair skin but can affect anyone with over exposure to the sun.
Other kinds of skin damage include Melasma, which is a dark patch of brown on the face. It is also called the mask of pregnancy and can be worsened by sun exposure. Another kind of sun damage is actinic keratoses, which is a rough scaly patch of skin that can be tan, brown, or dark pink. These are often formed on people with light skin and if left untreated can become skin cancer. Additionally, the skin can be stretched and loosened by too much sunlight.
Can you prevent sun damage?
Since sunspots and sun damaged skin is caused by harmful UV rays the best way to prevent sun damage is to avoid going out in the sun. Since that is not really feasible, or an enjoyable way to live your life, there are some simple steps you can take to help reduce the amount of damage the sun does to your skin. If possible, avoid sun exposure during peak hours, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Also, when outdoors apply sunscreen at least every two hours and use SPF 30 or above. If you wear makeup, choose makeup with sunscreen or UV protection. Finally, cover your skin with clothing and hats to help avoid unnecessary sun exposure.
Types of Skin Treatment for Sun Damage
Home Remedies
There are a number of home remedies that may or may not help with sun damaged skin. All of the preventative measures listed above will help with preventing the worsening of current sunspots or the development of new ones.
A good sleep schedule also helps with skin health. The nighttime is when your body does the majority of its repair. Eating well also helps to reduce the generation of new sunspots. Lots of vitamin C and healthy oils can help skin health. Cutting out alcohol, fatty meats, and sugary foods will also help. Finally, exercising helps skin health, and the earlier you start the better, although it is never too late. Many studies have shown that exercising has helped with skin health and condition.
Topical Solutions
There are plenty of options when it comes to topical solutions. One is aloe vera. Some studies have proven that the aloesin and aloin in the aloe vera plants can help lighten sunspots and and other hyperpigmentation. As for over-the-counter creams, anything that contains glycolic acid, hydroxy acid, kojic acid, hydroquinone, or deoxyarbutin could be helpful as skin treatment for sun damage.
Because everyone’s skin is different and not all creams work for everyone the only way to find what works best for you is to try out creams. However, make sure to apply them daily and to do so for a few weeks before expecting results as it takes some time for the chemicals in the creams to begin to affect the skin.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels work by using concentrated acids to peel off the top layer of the skin. This exfoliation can help to reduce the appearance of your irregular pigmentation or other damage caused by UV exposure. Chemical peels can be found either over the counter or at a dermatologist’s office. If you choose to get an in-office peel, be sure to discuss the risks of side effects with your dermatologist. All chemical peels could cause blistering, redness, or irritation when used improperly.
Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion and microdermabrasion can treat surface level sun damage such as uneven pigmentation and spots. The dermatologist will use a drill-like handheld tool that is abrasive and moved across the skin. Essentially these treatments are extreme exfoliation techniques. Microdermabrasion does less skin removal than regular dermabrasion. You should consult with your dermatologist about which method is best for you.
Laser Resurfacing Treatment at LightRx
A professional medspa treatment is your best bet for proven and significant results as a skin treatment for sun damage. If you have serious sunspots or other sun damaged skin, then we have a treatment for you. FDA-cleared, clinically proven Venus Viva™ works to improve the overall texture of your skin. It covers both major and minor skin blemishes and works fast. What makes the Venus Viva™ truly unique is its ability to cover a greater surface area and treat multiple issues in the same session. Plus, it’s safe and effective. Laser resurfacing is safe for men and women and terrific for treating sun damaged skin.
The Venus Viva™ has many benefits, the first being the treatments it provides. It works to reverse sun damage caused by harmful UV rays. Sun damage can affect the way your skin looks on your face and on your body. Venus Viva™ works to remove any of these blemishes.
What is great about the treatment is that it is noninvasive and surgery free. This means that you avoid both the risks of surgery and the downtime afterwards. Venus Viva™ treatment is done completely on the surface of the skin. There are no incisions, meaning no risk of scarring, infection, or internal damage. In fact, one of the treatment targets is scarring. If you have facial scarring from a previous treatment, then Venus Viva™ can help you reduce it.
Venus Viva™ treatments are tailored to make you look younger. Venus Viva™ has the technology to reduce its appearance. Venus Viva™ combines NanoFractional™ Radio Frequency (RF) and Pulsed Electro Magnetic Fields with SmartScan™ technology to safely deliver reparative heat to deeper layers of the skin without causing harm to any of the surrounding tissue. This process activates the body’s ability to naturally rebuild and regenerate collagen (Collagen Remodeling). Along with boosting collagen production the treatment has been shown to improve the look of the skin by increasing blood supply and improving circulation. As a result, discoloration like sunspots and rosacea are corrected and skin tone and texture evened out.
Laser resurfacing can help treat any kind of damage caused by sun exposure. Not only can it help to reduce sunspots and uneven pigmentation but can also help with the other kinds of sun damage. Whatever kind of damage you have as well as its severity will determine the kind and of treatment you will need. Your treatment is tailored to you and can be adjusted to fit your life and needs.
Laser Skin Tightening
Not only does collagen help with pigmentation issues in the skin, but it can also help reverse the effects of wrinkled or loosened skin. As previously mentioned, sun damaged skin can cause the skin to stretch and wrinkle. Laser skin tightening it pretty simple, despite the sci-fi technology involved. The skin is heated using a laser in tandem with electromagnetic waves and radio frequencies. The skin is heated to the perfect degree so as to catalyze the skin’s natural healing process while not damaging the surrounding skin.
This natural healing process creates new collagen, which is the skin fiber responsible for the tightening and elasticity of the skin. This new collagen then does its job and tightens the loosened and wrinkled skin. It takes collagen around three months to fully form, so as a result it will take around three months before you see the full results of the treatment.
If you are interested in learning more about our treatments and want to know more, call us at 877-721-4547 and schedule a free consultation at your local LightRx. These consultations take as little as 30 minutes and are private one on one consultations with the clinic director.
