There's only one way to prevent sun damage and skin discoloration---protect yourself from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays with sunscreen or protective clothing. As you age, the effects of previous sun exposure emerge, resulting in wrinkles and several types of discoloration that can make you look older than you are.
Sun Damage
When unprotected skin meets the harmful UV rays of the sun, it's only a matter of time before damage occurs. According to the Cleveland Clinic, these UV rays damage your body's cells and blood vessels beneath the surface of your skin. Every incidence of exposure builds up to a cumulative effect; your skin becomes weaker, Cleveland Clinic researchers note, bruising more easily and becoming susceptible to skin cancer. Just because you don't burn, they say, doesn't mean damage isn't occurring.
Uneven Pigmentation
When exposed to the sun's damaging UV rays, your skin fights back by producing a certain type of cell called a melanocyte. The Mayo Clinic notes that melanocytes produce melanin, a dark pigment. In some cases, the melanin is distributed evenly, as in the case of a suntan. In other cases, it's distributed unevenly, causing some parts of your skin to appear darker than others. Sometimes this pigmentation arises in the form of sunspots, small dark patches on your skin.
Visible Blood Vessels
The sun can also damage the blood vessels housed within your skin. According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, the fibers of these vessels weaken and stretch after UV damage, making them permanently visible. Usually occurring in people with fair skin and often coinciding with the skin condition called rosacea, telangiectasia can be solved with one of two cosmetic procedures. Cosmetic surgeons can zap the vessels with an intense pulsed light or cauterize them with an electric needle, either of which removes the visible red coloring.
Treatments
Minor cosmetic procedures can often reverse the visible effects of too much fun in the sun. According to New York Presbyterian Hospital, four possible treatments for skin discoloration include chemical peels, dermabrasion, laser skin resurfacing and tretinoin creams. Chemical peels and dermabrasion remove the top layer of your skin, revealing fresher, undamaged skin beneath. Laser resurfacing burns away small areas of sun-damaged skin. The least invasive treatment method involves tretinoin creams, also known as retinoids. These prescription-strength acids can gradually wear down wrinkles and discolorations, revealing new, even-toned skin.
Skin Cancer
Sun damage and discoloration may indicate you are at risk for skin cancer. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, more than 3.5 million people get diagnosed with skin cancer every single year, making it the most common cancer in the country. The same UV rays that cause sun damage can cause mutations in your cells that result in melanoma, a potentially fatal form of skin cancer. The SCF notes that your chances of developing melanoma more than double if you've had one serious childhood sunburn. See your doctor or dermatologist for a full evaluation and skin check-up.
