Remember those childhood sunburns? Or that overcast day you didn’t think you needed protection, but ended up with a painful sunburn anyway? Avoiding the sun’s harmful rays requires awareness and diligence, because “just a sunburn” can lead to sun damaged skin later in life, and dryness, discoloration and dry, scaly spots can turn into deeper lines, more uneven surfaces and a loss of tightness in skin tone.
The first treatment for sun-damaged skin is preventing or minimizing the damage in the first place. The steps for prevention are simple, but important. They include:
- Avoiding sun exposure when UV rays are at their peak (between 11 am and 4 pm).
- Wearing long sleeves, long pants and a hat when you can’t avoid being over-exposed.
- Applying sunscreen to your face every day, even if you’re just going about your usual business. A majority of sun exposure actually occurs on an everyday basis, such as when walking to and from your car.
- Avoiding tanning beds altogether.
Overexposed skin can be treated to reverse or minimize the effects of sun damage. Your dermatologist can help you determine the best course of treatment for you.
- Surface skin can be rejuvenated to get rid of sun-damaged cells and stimulate the body to make more, healthy skin cells.
- Pigment discoloration can be treated.
- A dermatologist can prescribe a topical application to lighten pigment, or a retinoid to speed skin-cell turnover and a steroid to prevent inflammation.
- Antioxidant serums, such as vitamin C and green tea, may be recommended to prevent sun damage and repair existing damage
- Peels can also rejuvenate skin.
Darker skin can also be damaged by overexposure to sun. In fact, overexposure to sun is a main cause of pigment problems in darker skin. People with darker skin should take the same prevention measures that lighter skin people do: daily sunscreen, protective clothing and avoiding peak UV rays. If sun damage has occurred, a dermatologist can recommend treatment, including:
- A topical application with multiple active ingredients (such as chemical or herbal bleaches as well as vitamins) for a combination approach.
- Chemical peels
Remember that preventing over exposure not only minimizes skin damage and the signs of aging, but also reduces the chances of contracting skin cancer by 90 percent. So follow these simple steps to look younger, feel better, and live longer.
Dr Lisa Benest is a medical and cosmetic dermatologist in Burbank. She and her staff provide comprehensive skin examinations as well as an array of non-invasive, cosmetic procedures and offer a full line of skin care products. To learn more about skin rejuvenation as well as the most up-to-date lasers, schedule a Free Consultation with their cosmetic nurse.
Lisa Benest M.D.
1624 W. Olive, Suite B
Burbank, CA 91506
818-729-9149
www.lisabenestmd.com
