Sun damage can cause serious skin conditions. Therefore you should always take it seriously. And do everything to prevent it in the first place. But where does that leave you if you already noticed pigmentation and discolouration? Or may noticed dryness or premature ageing as the result of over indulging in the sun, without proper protection. Can sun damage be reversed? What treatments are available? And what steps can you implement from today?
Most common types of sun damage;
While you expose your skin to sun light without protection, the damaged pigment cells will leak pigment into the deeper layers of your skin. But besides pigmentation it would cause a number of changes in your skin’s structures. Some of these include the following;
- Dry skin – Once the sun has depleted your skin of its essential oils and moisture, the skin will look dry and flaky. Also it’ll present signs of premature ageing by triggering wrinkles to appear.
- Sunburn – The injury that occurs directly after the skin is burned by the sun’s uv rays. As a result your skin will appear red, painful, in some cases may blister as well. Consequently leaving your skin unprotected will increase the chance of getting pigmentation and worst of all skin cancer.
- Changes to your collagen’s structure – This refers to premature ageing of the skin caused by sun exposure ( photoaging). In photoaging, the skin develops wrinkles and fine lines because of changes in the collagen in the deeper layers of the skin.
How can sun damage be reversed?
- Laser photofacial skin rejuvenation improves skin tone and texture. The treatment has minimal downtime. It’s suitable for a range of conditions including sun damage, wide and localised areas of discolouration. And last but not least ageing skin.
- Laser pigmentation removal is a targeted laser treatment. It’s designed to remove superficial and deeper pigmentation. As well as sun damaged areas on the face, forehead, shoulders and arms.
- Skin peels or resurfacers help to improve skin texture. They’re suitable for a range of conditions. These conditions include pigmentation . In addition they’re available in different strengths with different downtimes according to your skin condition
Remember prevention is always the best protection. Here are a few tips you can implement from today to protect your skin from sun damage;
- Apply a sunscreen before you go outside. Choose a water-resistant sunscreen that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or above, with a broad spectrum of protection against both UV-A and UV-B rays. They protect your skin by creating a shield that forces the UV rays of the sun to bounce back off the skin completely. Sun protection is without a doubt the most important step for long term cancer and wrinkle protection.
- Limit the time you spend outside. Especially during the peak hours. If unavoidable try and wear long clothing and a hat with a wide brim
- Wear sunglasses with UV light protection.
- Be aware that some medicines and skin care products can increase your skin’s risk of UV damage. These include certain antibiotics, prescription medicines. And also certain nonprescription skin care products containing alpha-hydroxy acids that can make your skin more vulnerable to damage from sunlight.
To learn more about your skin and how can sun damage be reversed, why not visit us at our Oxford Street clinic, in Central London? My Expert team will start with a thorough assessment of your skin.
How to book an appointment?
As the first step of your skin journey at Skin Perfection, you’ll be invited to attend a no obligations consultation. This’ll give you the opportunity to get a good understanding of your skin.
Following your assessment a personalised treatment plan will be recommended to address your skin concerns. During your first meeting you’ll receive all the information and knowledge you’ll need to keep your skin healthy.
Contact our team today to book an appointment.
