We’ve reached the end of summer and the days of basking in the sunshine. Although relaxing in the sun during the summer months can be nice and relaxing, the effects the sun has on your skin can cause long term damage. When we forget to wear sunscreen or forget to reapply because we’re having so much fun it can add years to our faces. While the sun does help our bodies produce vitamin D, too much of it can lead to wrinkles, sagging, discoloration, or even risks of skin cancer.
People of all skin types develop sun damaged skin, mostly on the face, chest, neck and the hands but also on the arms, and legs. Long-term exposure to UVA and UVB, can result in brown spots, dilated blood vessels and fine lines and wrinkles. Fortunately, there are multiple skin treatments that we offer at our skin care center that can treat and reverse the signs of sun damage.
Skin tones can range from almost translucent to almost black due to the melanin in our bodies. A common misconception is that people with dark skin don’t need sunscreen however that is not true. Sunburns and sun damage happen to everyone only people of different skin tones may see different effect of the sun’s damage. People with fair skin tend to see fine lines and wrinkles first, however those with darker skin will see dark spots, patches of pigmentation discoloration and uneven skin tone.
The treatments range from topical therapies to laser treatments.
Facials – Facials are a great treatment to help with minor sun damage and skin texture. The abrasive technique exfoliates the skin, prompting the body to generate new skin cells.
Chemical Peels – Chemical peels are very effective in improving texture and reducing dark spots, however people with darker skin tones may not be the best candidate for a chemical peel as it can have a negative reaction, so it’s important to discuss this with your skin care provider.
Laser treatments – Laser treatments can also repair sun damaged skin. IPL Photofacial treatments reduce redness and brown spots on the face caused by skin sun damage with little to no downtime. An IPL is a non-invasive procedure that makes your face look more youthful by reversing sun damage, reducing pores and acne spots and even treats rosacea. It is one of the most popular treatments due to its low downtime and great results. Fractional laser treatments improve the texture of the skin, fine lines and wrinkles, and sun damage. It is an excellent treatment for sun damaged skin treating both the brown spots and fine wrinkles associated excessive sun exposure.
Retinoid – Retin-A or Retinoid’s are one of the oldest and most used methods of reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Retinoids are a topical cream, applied daily to the affected area that speed up cell turnover, causing your body to generate newer, “younger” cells faster, giving your skin a more youthful appearance. This product is available by prescription and is a great daily treatment used in conjunction with your skincare regimen.
Hydroquinone – This is a topical cream used to reduce dark spots on the skin. Hydroquinone is an ingredient that can be found in over the counter skin care creams like balancers, however for a significant amount of dark spots, your healthcare provider can prescribe a stronger, more effective, concentrated formula.
If you’ve had a lot of exposure this summer and are experiencing fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots or other damaging effects from the sun, schedule a free consultation with one of our skin care experts.
