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Living in Phoenix, Arizona doesn’t have to mean living with sun damage! This guide offers practical insights into how to repair sun-damaged skin, with preventative measures and effective treatments.
If there is one thing we have in abundance in Phoenix, it is sunshine. There is a lot of it, and it’s here just about all year long. While it’s great for outdoor lovers, it’s less great for our skin. We all know the importance of sunscreen and sun protection, but we all fall a little short when it comes to 100% adherence to taking measures to keep our skin safe from the damaging effects of the sun.
So, exactly what can we do to keep the damage at bay while still enjoying the great outdoors? Let’s talk about how to prevent and repair sun damaged skin!
Sun damage encompasses a spectrum of effects extending beyond mere sunburns. These effects may impact either the aesthetic appeal and the health of our skin. Premature aging, hyperpigmentation, and an elevated risk of skin cancer are among the myriad consequences of prolonged sun exposure. Essentially any impact to the well-being of your skin as a result of being exposed to the sun can be classified as sun damaged.
You do not have to spend hours and hours in the sun to have damage. In fact, people are not affected by the sun at the same rate. People with lighter skin typically experience sun damage quicker and with less sun exposure than those with darker skin.
You’ll need to understand some terms to understand sun damage more fully:
Hyperpigmentation: This refers to darkening of specific areas of the skin.It comes from an overproduction of melanin, the pigment responsible for skin coloration, and it can happen just about anywhere on the body.
Sunburns: This is a skin condition characterized by redness, discomfort, and inflammation resulting from excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. You tend to get this from being out in the sun for too long, but you can get a sunburn from artificial UV sources like tanning beds.
Sun damage: This refers to the adverse effects of prolonged sun exposure on the skin. The damage comes from the UV radiation, and it causes sunburns, premature aging issues like wrinkles and age spots, texture changes, hyperpigmentation, and an increased susceptibility to skin cancer.
UV radiation: This is electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun and certain artificial sources. It is composed of the wavelengths UVA, UVB, and UVC, which can induce skin damage and heighten the risk of skin cancer.
Before we dive into repairing and reversing sun damage, we want to talk about preventing it. It is much easier to limit the damage than it is to try and reverse extensive sun damage, so be sure to spend some time, energy, and effort incorporating sun protection into your daily routine.
The good news is that there are many things you can do, and plenty of products that can help you do it, to limit the harmful effects of the sun.
Wear protective clothing: Choose lightweight, long-sleeved apparel, pants, and wide-brimmed hats to shield your skin from direct sunlight. There are specialized garments available that enhance UV protection while ensuring comfort in warm weather.
Find shaded areas: Whenever possible, seek shelter in shaded spots. You will especially want to do this during the peak sun hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Wear UV-protective sunglasses: Equip yourself with sunglasses that have UV protection to safeguard your eyes from harmful rays and reduce the risk of eye conditions such as cataracts. If you wear glasses, consider getting UV protection included in your lenses.
Apply sunscreen consistently: Always use broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher on all exposed areas, including your face, neck, ears, and hands. Reapply every two hours, or more frequently if you’re swimming or sweating. And use the type made for use in water if you plan to swim or are someone that sweats excessively.
Limit outdoor activities during peak sun hours: Plan your outdoor pursuits for early mornings or late afternoons to avoid prolonged exposure to intense sunlight.
Use umbrellas or parasols: Carry a portable umbrella or parasol to create your own shade during extended outdoor excursions. You can also get versions that are intended to block more UV than standard umbrellas or parasols.
Using these types of efforts daily can substantially diminish the risk of sun damage so that there is less damage to repair!
Despite our best efforts, complete protection against sun damage isn’t possible. Every time you’re in the sun, some of those UV rays touch your skin and over time, some sun damage is going to happen. What is important, other than slowing it down, is recognizing it. We want to pause here, however, to say that it is important to consult a dermatologist if you have any skin abnormalities or changes. Early detection is crucial in identifying potential signs of skin cancer, and any changes in skin appearance should not be disregarded or downplayed.
Signs of sun damage include:
Women may also have brown discoloration on the face, cheek, upper lip, and chin called melasma. This discoloration can sometimes appear in other areas. This is sometimes triggered by sun exposure or hormonal changes, genetics, medication usage, or thyroid dysfunction.
Women with PCOS, those premenopausal or going through menopause, or otherwise dealing with hormonal issues also may experience this discoloration separate from sun damage. Regardless of the cause, however, it can still be treated and minimized in appearance.
Not all indications of sun damage can be seen in the mirror. In fact, sun damage can be building, unseen, for years before it manifests as discoloration or poor skin texture. One way to see this “invisible sun damage” is through UV photography. UV photography is a uses special filters that highlights areas of hyperpigmentation, sunspots, and other signs of UV damage that may not be visible under normal lighting conditions. This allows UV photography to help in the early detection and monitoring of various sun-related skin issues.
In the past there was little to nothing you could do about leathery skin, hyperpigmentation, or any of the other issues caused by sun damage. Fortunately, you now have so many tools at your fingertips that you can essentially reverse sun damage and reclaim the radiance of your skin, minus the damage!
Let’s look at some of your options for addressing sun-damaged skin:
Chemical peels remove damaged outer skin layers, reducing the appearance of sunspots, hyperpigmentation, and uneven skin tone caused by sun damage.
IPL Photofacial is an ideal treatment for diminishing hyperpigmentation, brown spots, and uneven skin tone.
LaseMD Lutronic uses light to deliver heat just under the skin and can treat a range of issues like fine lines and wrinkles, sun spots, hyperpigmentation, and other signs of sun damage.
Laser Genesis is a great tool for improving skin tone, redness, hyperpigmentation, and even reduces fine lines and wrinkles.
Microneedling can improve the texture of skin, boost collagen product, and improve skin tone by reducing hyperpigmentation.
Subnovi Plasma Pen uses low frequency technology to reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and pigmentation, all signs of sun damage.
These treatments have a variety of uses, and there is no one-size fits all approach to reversing sun damage. Your treatment plan should take into account your skin tone, age, the severity of sun damage you have, your goals, and a range of other factors unique to you. That’s why it’s important to have an in-depth consultation before creating a treatment plan designed to give you the optimal results you deserve!
You don’t have to stop loving the sun and outdoors! It’s Phoenix, Arizona, after all, there is no escaping it! You do, however, need to protect yourself and take care of your skin to keep it from taking a toll on your skin. And if you’re interested in learning how to reverse and repair sun damage, we’d love to hear from you. You can call us at 602.522.9222 today to schedule a consult.
