Everyone experiences normal aging changes in their facial skin. But too much unprotected sun exposure creates a different kind of aging process, called photoaging, which can make you appear older than your actual age. As much as 80 percent of your skin's aging is the result of the effects of the sun, according to the website Go Sun Smart.
How Sun Damages Skin
Over time, sun damage depletes the skin of moisture, leading to a loss of elasticity and a flaky, dry and wrinkled appearance. The sun also creates long-term changes in your skin's collagen, robbing your skin of the protein substance that keeps it firm. Once collagen is depleted, it cannot rebuild itself. Sun exposure also weakens the tiny blood vessels beneath the surface of the skin.
Symptoms
Too much exposure to the rays of the sun causes the skin on the face to develop premature lines and wrinkles and a coarse, leathery texture. Sun-damaged skin is likely to be flaky and dry. Mottled dark patches of excess pigment, or age spots, are common in older people with sun damaged skin. Many people with sun damage develop solar elastosis, a thickened layer of the upper dermis which gives the skin the appearance of yellowish chicken skin, according to the website Skin Care Guide. Excess redness due to telangiectasias---broken capillaries beneath the skin---may also occur. The most serious effect of too much sun exposure is the formation of cancerous or pre-cancerous lesions, which are usually treatable if caught early.
Non-Surgical Treatment
Non-surgical treatments you can try to help rejuvenate the appearance of sun-damaged skin include botox injections, which soften wrinkles, and collagen injections, which improve the look of wrinkles and lines by replacing the body's own collagen. Chemical peels and dermabrasion encourage the growth of healthy new skin by removing the top layers of skin, according to the website Health Key.
Surgical Treatment
Surgical methods for rejuvenating facial skin damaged by the sun include laser skin resurfacing and non-ablative resurfacing, which use laser therapy and electrical energy to treat wrinkles. Intense pulsed light, or IPL therapy, is particularly effective for treating discoloration from age spots and redness caused by broken capillaries.
Non-Prescription Treatments
Many non-prescription facial creams and lotions are available to help correct mild symptoms of sun damage. Look for products with ingredients such as retinol, which softens skin and smooths lines. Antioxidants reduce the appearance of wrinkles, help decrease discoloration and improve skin texture. Copper and copper peptides impart elasticity and strength to the skin, while AHAs or alpha-hydroxy acids improve skin tone.
Skin Protection
No matter which skin rejuvenation method you use, it is essential that you change your habits to preserve any improvements you gain through treatment, and to prevent any further sun damage to your face. This means applying sunscreen, donning a wide-brimmed hat and avoiding the sun between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., when ultraviolet rays are at their most intense.
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