Overexposure to the sun is known to harm our bodies in more ways than one. From damage to our eyes, immune system, and of course our skin, it’s important to protect ourselves from when necessary. When we catch too much sun, this can result in minor and not so minor changes to our skin as a whole.
In this blog post, we will be sharing everything you need to know about what sun damage does to your skin and how to help treat this. Reputable skincare clinic, The Laser Treatment Clinic, has helped us create this guide on the treatments available for sun damaged skin.
What is sun damaged skin and how is it caused?
Sun damaged skin is when your skin undergoes some changes due to being overexposed to the sun. This happens when you’re in the sun for long periods of time without SPF protection, or you’re overusing sunbeds.The harmful UVA and UVB rays emitted from the sun can be very damaging if you’re not using suncream.
Of course soaking up the sun has amazing benefits such as increased vitamin D intake, but it’s important to know the dangers of prolonged sun exposure without any sort of protection. Sun damaged skin may not only look unhealthy, it also has negative health effects such as increasing your risk of skin cancer.
How do you know if your skin is sun damaged?
If you think you have sun damaged skin, there are certain signs and symptoms that can indicate this. These include:
- Brown spots such as moles
- Premature wrinkles
- Leathery texture to the skin
- Freckles
It’s important to get any new moles and brown spots checked out by a doctor. For other symptoms such as premature wrinkles and a leathery texture, there are a wide range of treatments available to help with these imperfections.
Treatments to consider for sun damaged skin
Laser treatment is a fantastic way to treat the appearance of sun damaged skin. If you have sun damaged skin and you wish to help your skin return to a healthy glow, you may want to consider laser treatment as your plan of action.
Laser treatment stimulates the production of collagen, a protein in the skin that gives it a youthful glow. By tightening the skin, laser treatment allows for the improvement of wrinkles and helps improve texture from sun damage.
Ways to prevent sun damage
To avoid needing any treatment for sun damaged skin, taking preventative measures is the best course of action. Ensuring you protect your skin from harmful UV rays allows you to avoid the negative health risks and skin damage that is associated with too much sun.
Here are the most effective ways to avoid sun damage to your skin:
Apply sunscreen when you need it: Applying sunscreen with a high factor is an incredibly effective way in avoiding sun damage and protecting your skin. The SPF acts as a barrier to your skin from the UV rays, allowing you to enjoy the sun without the damage it can cause.
Keeping out of the sun: The most effective way of avoiding damage from the sun is to keep out of the sun during the hottest hours of the day. If you have plans to travel abroad to a hot country this winter and you’re worried about sun damage, keeping out of the sun is a great option.