Days spent soaking up the sun can put you at risk for skin damage ranging from slight discoloration to serious skin cancer, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. The best way to deal with sun damage on your face is to avoid it in the first place by consistently wearing sunscreen and a hat if you're going to be outdoors. If your face has been affected by sun exposure, there are several things you can do to correct the effects of sun damage.
Step 1
Schedule a chemical peel. Over time, exposure to the sun can make your skin dry and dull and cause skin discoloration to occur in patches and spots. The acid in a chemical peel sloughs away the top layer of your skin cells, reducing discoloration and brightening your skin, dermatologist Dennis Gross told InStyle magazine on CNN.com.
Step 2
Have a series of intense pulsed light (IPL) sessions--five or six sessions of this light therapy can help repair damaged collagen in the skin, minimizing wrinkles and improving skin tone. When collagen is damaged by prolonged exposure to sunlight, it causes skin to crease and sag, making wrinkles one of the most common signs of sun damage.
Step 3
Use an antioxidant moisturizer every day. Antioxidants can help reverse some of the signs of sun damage and prevent further damage from taking place. Look for a lightweight formula that contains vitamin C, green tea or idebenone to get the best results, suggests New York City-based dermatologist Macrene Alexiades-Armenakas in InStyle magazine on CNN.com.
Step 4
Choose a night cream that contains vitamin A. Dr. Alexiades-Armenakas says in InStyle magazine on CNN.com that vitamin A promotes cell regrowth to speed the growth of new skin cells and plumps up skin cells to reduce wrinkles and improve texture by stimulating the production of collagen and hyaluronic acid.
Step 5
Wear sunscreen every day, even if you only anticipate limited exposure to sunlight. Make sure to apply the sunscreen thoroughly, including along your hairline and your throat.
Tips and Warnings
- Treatments to reduce the signs of aging are usually considered elective and aren't covered by most insurance plans. Be sure you understand your payment responsibilities before booking a treatment.
- See a dermatologist if you notice any changes to moles, unusual discoloration or other strange changes to the appearance of your skin, which could be a sign of skin cancer. Skin cancer is a serious condition, but it's treatable if you catch it early.
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