How to Repair Sun-Damaged Skin

Many of us tend to forget that the sun can easily leave long-term damage to our skin. Whether it be wrinkles, dark spots, discoloration, and fine lines, it\’s never a good idea to be exposing ourselves to the sun\’s harsh rays. However, the damage may not always be permanent. Skincare has made breakthroughs in methods, treatments and technologies that can help restore sun-damaged skin. Here are four tips you can follow:

  1. Limit Sun Exposure – This is the absolute first step. In order to prevent sun damage, you should first stop exposing your skin to the sun. Whether you\’ve been exposing your skin to the sun for 10 minutes or 10 years, you should try to limit the amount of time you spend outside during the day when the sun is out.
  2. Moisturize – People who have sun-damaged skin often have a dry complexion. Skin deprived of moisture and water dries up and turns flaky. Dry skin results in the easier formation of wrinkles and fine lines. Use an appropriate moisturizer for your skin type, and apply regularly.
  3. Start an Exfoliation Routine – Exfoliation removes the uppermost layer of your skin, which is usually the dullest, most damaged by the sun and full of dead cells, to expose the younger and fresher layers underneath. This is either done with a mechanical tool like a gentle scrubber, or using chemicals that peel off the top layer of your skin. Exfoliating regularly can help renew your complexion and strip away the old layers that have been ravaged by sun damage.
  4. Use Retinoids or Retinols – These serums and creams increase the rate at which collagen is produced by your skin. This means that the renewal process of cells becomes faster, quickly creating younger cells and discarding the ones that have been damaged. Retinols and retinoids help regenerate your skin and reduce the tendencies of wrinkling, the formation of dark spots (also known as hyperpigmentation), and also helps your complexion look soft and smoother.
  5. Consult Your Dermatologist – If the damage done by the sun to your skin is too severe, you should consult your dermatologist. They will diagnose how much damage your skin has actually sustained over the amount of time it\’s been exposed to the sun. Then they will tailor a personalized treatment plan just for you. It might contain a mix of prescription creams, in-office treatments, and other over-the-counter recommendations, but you will get the results you want.