Sun damage can wreak havoc on your skin, becoming more evident as you age. Sun damage comes in the forms of wrinkles, age spots and dry, cracked skin. Depending on the extent of the sun damage, treatments can be done at home or in a licensed skin care specialist's office. Treating sun damage and avoiding further damage will greatly reduce your risk of skin cancer in the future.
Step 1
Exfoliate the skin on the arms once daily. Use a gentle exfoliating cleanser and massage into the skin using a circular motion, then rinse with lukewarm or cold water. This will stimulate the skin, increasing blood flow and promoting skin cell regrowth. Old skin is sloughed away, exposing new clear skin after repeated use. Do not rub too hard, as this will dry out skin and can cause irritation and inflammation.
Step 2
Use a vitamin E and K enriched moisturizer twice daily. Vitamins E and K help replace lost collagen and assist the skin's natural healing process. Moisturizers with retinol are also beneficial in healing sun damage and promoting collagen cell growth.
Step 3
Apply sunscreen to your arms with at least an SPF 15 rating anytime you go outdoors. In order to get rid of existing sun damage, it is important to keep UVA rays from furthering the damage and creating more.
Step 4
Opt for IPL (Intense Pulsated Light) treatment. This treatment uses high-intensity light pulses to resurface the skin and even out skin tone. This can be used in conjunction with chemical peels and microderm abrasion treatments for optimum results.
Step 5
Drink at least eight glasses of water per day. Keeping skin hydrated will assist the healing process and flush out toxins in the skin caused by the sun's damaging rays.
