Do you have sun-damaged skin? Learn to recognize the signs of sun damage and about the skin treatments that can repair your skin.
Sun exposure is actually very good for you, and like many things, too much of something may not be good for you either. Enjoy the sun but also be kind to your skin.
Signs of Sun Damaged Skin
- Sun spots/Brown spots – They are typically round and can range in size and colour. As you age or have more sun exposure, these spots can darken as it’s being damaged by the UV rays.
- Fine lines/wrinkles – Sun exposure damages collagen, speeding up the wrinkling process. Over time, lines will deepen and wrinkles will become more apparent.
- Loss of elasticity – the Elastin proteins are damaged when exposed to UV rays and over time, your skin can start to sag, and the volume in your face decreases.
- Actinic Keratosis – Scaly, rough patches of skin that usually show up on your face, scalp, ears, neck, arms or hands. Inform your doctor and note any changes in these spots.
- Dilated veins – Sun rays can harm the small blood vessels under your skin. As you age, the red blotches and bumps on your skin may be more persistent, leaving a constant pinkness to your skin.
We all have some degree of sun damaged skin, in fact, it begins right when we are young.
Regardless of your age, it’s never too early to protect and repair your skin.
Sun Damaged Skin Treatments
- Vitamin Topicals – When purchasing a moisturizer, target the signs of ageing with Vitamins A, C and E. Each of these vitamins play a different role in repairing your sun spots. (Consuming and applying Anti-oxidants can protect the collagen and elastin from free radical damages, which leads to wrinkles and sagging skin)
- SPF – If you are repairing your skin from the effects of sun damage then the logical thing to do is also protect your skin from sun damage right in the beginning. For the best SPF, look for one that has Titanium Dioxide and/or Zinc with an SPF 25-30.
- Exfoliation – This is an important step for brightening your skin since it removes dull dead skin in order to keep your skin fresh and soft. You can use a physical or a chemical exfoliator. Different skin types suit certain exfoliators better, so start with a gentle exfoliator first.
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Treatments – If you want to speed up the process of reversing the signs of ageing, medical spa treatments will give you the most effective results. Potential treatments include:
- Medical Microdermabrasion/ Chemical Peels
- Vitamin Infusion Correction Therapy
- IPL Photo Rejuvenation
- Collagen Induction Therapy
Truly caring for ageing skin, is an investment in yourself and a commitment to keeping your skin looking healthy and more youthful in the long run.
It can be overwhelming to navigate the cosmetic world, so seek a professional skin therapist to create a customized plan for your specific skin type and concerns.