Sun exposure damages skin. Sunburns can lead to DNA damage to your skin and cause photoaging, an accelerated aging process caused by UV light, according to MayoClinic.com. Once your skin has sun damage, you can help reduce the effects through skin care products, such as moisturizer. Moisturizer with specific ingredients, combined with prevention, can improve sun-damaged skin.
Effects
The effects of sun damage can range from photoaging to skin cancer. UV light exposure accelerates skin aging. It can cause the skin to appear leathery and discolored. Deep wrinkles, weakened elasticity and strength, roughness, dryness, red veins, lesions and freckles all occur with sun damage to the face, according to MayoClinic.com.
Prevention
Even if you already have some sun damage to your facial skin, you can prevent further damage. A facial moisturizer with sunscreen applied every day will help. You can use it under your makeup or use makeup that incorporates sunscreen into it. Most people can avoid developing skin cancer by preventing sun damage, according to the Cleveland Clinic. A healthy diet with the daily recommended amount of water can help your body protect your skin. Avoid being in the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when UV rays cause more damage.
Treatment
Face moisturizer should make up a part of your daily skin care routine, suggests the Cleveland Clinic. Moisturizer soothes dry skin and replaces the hydration your skin needs. Antioxidants in moisturizer can help fight the damage of sun exposure by neutralizing free radicals. Other ingredients can target specific signs of sun damage and photoaging.
Ingredients
Sun-damaged skin often has discoloration, fine lines, wrinkles and a rough texture. When using a moisturizer for the damaged skin, choose ingredients that treat those problems. Ingredients to look for include retinol, hydroxy acids, hydroquinine and copper peptides, advises MayoClinic.com. Retinol helps sun-damaged skin through exfoliation, reduction in fine lines and an evening of the skin tone. Hydroxy acids can improve the skin's texture and pigmentation. The acids also exfoliate the skin and can reduce age spots. Hydroquinine acts as a lightening agent, reducing age spots and discoloration associated with photoaging. Copper peptides increase the skin's ability to heal and help with collagen production.
Considerations
Sun damage accelerates your skin's age and increases your risk of developing skin cancer. If your skin has what you consider severe damage, see a dermatologist. You should have her perform a cancer screening. You can ask the dermatologist for recommendations on over-the-counter or prescription moisturizers, such as Retin-A.
