Sun-damaged skin is permanent, but there are several things you can do to reduce its appearance. Skincare products that might treat sun-damaged skin include retinol and vitamin C serums. Dermatologists say that sunscreen with a SPF of at least 30 is essential for preventing photoaging, or the effects of sun damage.
Excess unprotected sun exposure might increase your risk of health problems like skin cancer. Find out how you can treat—and prevent—skin damage from the sun and how it might harm your health.
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What Is Sun Damage (Photoaging)?
The sun emits ultraviolet (UV) rays. UV rays are essential because they provide your body with vitamin D, which is necessary for strong bones. UV rays can cause health risks if you do not protect your skin properly. For example, UV rays might burn your skin and decrease its elasticity, resulting in premature aging, known as "photoaging."
UV rays can damage your skin cells if they penetrate the deep, inner skin layers. Sun damage might increase your risk of skin cancer over time.
What Sun Damage Looks Like
You may have developed sun-damaged skin if you have ever sat outside in the sun for a little too long without applying or reapplying sunscreen.
Signs of photoaging include:
Age spotsFrecklesLoose skinMelasma, which causes dark skin patchesSkin growthsSpider veins, or red veins that appear as branches or spider webs underneath your skinUneven pigmentation, or skin coloringWrinkles
You might develop actinic keratoses (AK), or deep lines and dry patches of scaly skin. AKs are precancerous growths that may become squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer.
Using tanning beds, which use artificial UV rays, might speed up photoaging. Some people might see significant skin changes within one year.
8 Questions About Sun Protection Who's at Risk?
Anyone can develop sun-damaged skin since every person is exposed to the sun. Some people might have a higher risk of developing health conditions from sun damage than others.
People with an increased risk of sun damage include people:
Older than 50Who have a family member with a history of skin cancerWho have had sunburnsWho spend a lot of time outdoorsWho take certain medications, such as antibiotics and birth control pills, or use products with benzoyl peroxideWith light-color eyes, hair, and skin How To Prevent Sun Damage
Sun exposure is unavoidable. Still, you can protect yourself from harmful UV rays and stop photoaging in several ways.
Apply Sunscreen
Sunscreen delivers essential sun protection. Ensure your sunscreen has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. SPF determines how well the sunscreen can block UV rays. The higher the number, the more protection you have from UV rays.
Sunscreen loses its protection over time. You'll want to reapply every two hours while you are outside or after sweating or swimming.
Cover Your Skin and Eyes
You can reduce your risk of sun-damaged skin by covering it. Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts to protect as much of your skin as possible. Find shade, such as a tree, or use an umbrella outside if the weather is too hot for long sleeves. Try to wear light-colored clothing, which also helps protect you from the sun.
Hats provide even more coverage by shielding your face, head, and neck. Opt for a wide-brimmed hat made out of canvas or another tightly woven fabric.
The sun can damage your eyes, too. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes and the surrounding skin from UV rays.
Avoid Tanning
UV rays can come from artificial sources, such as lasers and tanning beds. Avoid indoor tanning, especially for adolescents with a high risk of melanoma, the most harmful type of skin cancer.
About 10% of people with melanoma have close relatives with the disease. People with a family history of melanoma have a higher risk than others, possibly because of shared characteristics, such as gene changes, light-colored eyes, hair, and skin, and regular sun exposure.
Treatment for Sun Damage
Most sun-damaged skin is permanent. Still, there are multiple treatments that you might try to improve your skin's appearance.
Treatments might include:
Chemical peels: A healthcare provider will use a chemical solution to remove your skin's outer, damaged layer so that new, smooth skin replaces it. Chemical peels might cause permanent or temporary changes in your skin color or scarring.Cryosurgery: This is a freezing technique that helps reduce age spots.Fillers: These might improve loose skin and wrinkles on your face, hands, and lips.Growth factors and peptides: You apply these to your face to help tighten loose skin. Lasers and lights: Laser and lights are in-office procedures that treat photoaging by heating your skin cells. For example, photodynamic therapy (PDT) uses light and special drugs that react to light to get rid of AKs. You might need two PDT sessions to get rid of AKs.Microdermabrasion: This treatment exfoliates your skin to get rid of age spots, uneven skin tone, and wrinkles.Moisturizer: Apply a hydrating moisturizer daily to help prevent and treat wrinkles.Non-invasive radiofrequency: The dermatologist will apply a device to your skin that heats the tissue to help tighten loose skin.Prescription-strength retinoid: This has a stronger formula than OTC options to help reduce signs of photoaging.Ultrasound: This delivers heat to your skin to help tighten it. Skincare for Sun-Damaged Skin
Dermatologists say sunscreen is one of the most essential products to add to your skincare regimen to prevent photoaging. Use a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 daily. Make sure you apply sunscreen to all parts of your skin that your skin does not cover, and reapply every two hours or as needed.
Avoid using too many anti-aging skincare products, which may irritate your skin. Instead, stick to a gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen.
A skincare routine for sun-damaged skin could look like the following:
Wash your face with a gentle cleanser, then pat dry.Use any medications and treatments, like a retinoid or vitamin C serum.Apply moisturizer, then sunscreen. You might save time by using a moisturizer with SPF.Apply a lip balm with an SPF of 30 or higher to protect your lips from skin cancer. Best OTC Treatment for Sun Damage
You might consider looking for ingredients available over the counter (OTC) to treat sun-damaged skin. For example, retinoids are vitamin A derivatives that help speed up skin cell production to improve the appearance of photoaging, such as uneven skin tone and wrinkles.
Retinoids make your skin more sensitive to the sun than usual. Use retinoids at night to minimize sun damage and protect your skin from the sun during the day.
Niacinamide is a vitamin B3 derivative that might prevent photoaging by boosting the repair of cell damage that UV rays cause. Some evidence suggests that niacinamide might lower your risk of non-melanoma skin cancers.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that may prevent sun damage. Research has found that topical vitamin C helps reduce signs of aging and improves uneven skin tone. Consider adding a vitamin C serum to your skincare routine if you have signs of aging or uneven pigmentation.
Other ingredients that might help even your skin tone by reducing dark spots include:
Azelaic acidGlycolic acidKojic acid When To Contact a Dermatologist
Excess unprotected sun exposure over time is the leading cause of skin cancer. Frequently checking your skin for changes and suspicious growths is one of the best ways to detect and treat skin cancer early.
Consult a healthcare provider if you notice:
Changes in the color, shape, or size of a moleA mole that becomes scaly, bleeds, crusts, is painful, or oozesA sore that take two weeks or longer to healShiny bumps that look pearly white, pink, red, or translucent
A healthcare provider can perform a skin biopsy to determine whether skin change or growth is skin cancer. They will remove a sample of the suspicious area, which they will observe under a microscope for cancer cells. Keep in mind that not all skin changes or growths mean skin cancer.
How To Improve Your Skin Texture, According to Dermatologists A Quick Review
UV rays cause sun-damaged skin and speed up the process of photoaging. Over time, excess unprotected sun exposure may cause health problems like skin cancer. Sun-damaged skin is permanent, but there are ways to reduce the appearance. Treatment options include chemical peels, lasers, retinoids, and vitamin C serums.
Protect your skin from sun damage by covering it as much as possible outdoors. Use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 daily. Consult a dermatologist if you notice any changes in the color, shape, or size of a mole or any suspicious skin growths.
FAQs Frequently Asked Questions1. How can I fix my sun-damaged skin naturally?
You might try using some natural methods of treating sun-damaged skin in addition to other treatments, such as:
Eat antioxidant-rich foods: UV rays increase the production of free radicals in your body. Free radicals are harmful chemicals that might increase cancer risk and premature aging. Antioxidants help lessen the effects of free radicals. Foods rich in vitamins C and E might protect against sun-damaged skin.Exfoliate: Exfoliating removes dead skin cells, improving the appearance of your skin. Mechanical exfoliation involves a device (e.g., a brush) that scrubs your skin. Chemical exfoliation uses chemicals to get rid of dead skin cells. Talk to a dermatologist if you use other treatments like benzoyl peroxide or retinol before exfoliating.Get plenty of sleep: Research has found that sleep deprivation might speed up photoaging. Try sleeping seven to nine per night to help support a healthy skin barrier.Massage your face: Some evidence suggests that using a device to massage your face might boost the effects of other treatments, such as anti-aging creams.Stay hydrated: Water helps reduce inflammation and premature aging. Try drinking at least 91–125 fluid ounces of water daily.Try using natural oils: Some evidence suggests that natural oils, such as coconut oil, have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that help reduce signs of photoaging. Coconut oil is also moisturizing, which helps hydrate and repair the skin. 2. What does sun damage look like?
You might notice signs of photoaging if, over a long period, you spend a lot of time outside without sun protection. Sun damage happens more quickly than usual if you use tanning beds.
Signs of photoaging include:
Actinic keratoses (AK)Age spotsFrecklesLoose skinMelasma Skin growthsSpider veinsUneven skin toneWrinkles