Sun Damage

 

 

Sun damage is perhaps the greatest enemy of the skin. It is responsible for a whole host of conditions such as skin rashes, spider veins, skin cancers, skin wrinkles, age spots and uneven skin tone. Exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun is also the number cause of premature skin aging. Changes caused by this exposure can also include thinning or thickening of the skin and sun damage to the skin may cause it to bruise or tear more easily.

 

Symptoms of Sun Damaged Skin Age Spots (hyperpigmentation) - Also known as liver spots, this mottled skin appears after prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light and usually develop over time. Melanin, which is responsible for adding dark colors to skin pigment, accumulates making the skin appear darker in spots. They are more frequently associated with older skin but too much sun exposure can cause them to form on skin of any age.

 

Wrinkles - Skin wrinkles are the classic sign of both skin aging and sun damage. Also called photoaging, wrinkles are caused by damage to the collagen fiber producing process in the skin where fibers known as solar scars are formed. When the rebuilding of collagen fibers become overly repetitive, wrinkles form.

Spider Veins - Also known as varicose veins, can result from sun damaged skin and usually appear on the cheeks or nose of those people with pale skin. Sun damage to the vein causes weakness and allow blood to collect in the vein giving it a more pronounced appearance.

 

Skin Treatments for Sun Damage to the Skin

 

Skin Lighteners - These over the counter creams and lotions usually contain alpha hydroxy acids or hydroquinone. These substances can block the production of melanin which causes age spots and help to reduce the appearance of age spots over time. There is a great deal of debate about the effectiveness of these products due to the amount of active ingredients they contain.

 

Skin Peels - These procedures are usually performed by skin care professionals and involve the use of acids to repair sun damaged skin. Popular skin peels use Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid or Phenol and work by producing a chemical burn on the upper layers of the skin. These layers then blister over and eventually peel off to reveal new, more pristine layers of skin underneath.

 

Laser Resurfacing - Laser are also commonly used in similar fashion to skin peels. Laser are applied to the skin forcing it to eventually blister and peel off revealing new layers of skin beneath. For spot treatments, the Fraxel Laser can dissolve excess skin pigment without affecting the skin surrounding the discoloration. Laser skin treatment can also remove veins that have become much more noticeable due to sun damage.

 

Prevention

 

Most solar damage to the skin is avoidable. Using sunscreen with an spf (skin protection factor) greater than 30 when spending long amounts of time in direct sunlight can go a long way in protecting the skin and avoiding skin rash and other symptoms. If a sunburn begins to develop when you're outdoors, this is a clear and obvious sign that too much ultraviolet light is reaching your skin. Covering up or applying additional sunscreen will protect skin against potential sun damage.