Can Sun Damage Be Repaired or Reversed?

4 Types of Sun Damage and Steps You Can Take

Spending time under the sun comes with a plethora of benefits, including boosting your mood, raising your vitamin D levels, and even reducing your risk for certain medical conditions. However, excessive sun exposure can take a toll on your skin. The sun's ultraviolet rays can damage DNA in different ways, from triggering mutagenesis (change in genetic material), to inducing photoaging, to causing cancer.

What Causes Sun Damage?

Sunlight contains ultraviolet (UV) radiation, of which there are three types: UVA, UVB, and UVC. UVA rays have the longest wavelength and can damage all layers of your skin. UVB rays have medium wavelength and can irritate the outer layers of your skin. UVC rays have the shortest wavelength and are filtered out by the atmosphere, so they post little risk to our health.

Overexposure to UVA and UVB rays ages your skin, bringing on different types of sun damage, from sunspots to wrinkling to sunburn. Completely reversing all of the damage your skin has suffered isn't possible, but there are steps you can take to repair your skin.

Sunspots

Sunspots are dark spots that have developed due to years of sun exposure. Your skin reacts to this exposure by producing melanin in a concentrated area to protect itself. Sunspots vary in shape and size and generally appear in areas that are most exposed to the sun, such as your face, arms, shoulders, and the back of your hands. To fade sunspots, try applying aloe vera, vitamin C, or skin-lightening creams with ingredients such as kojic acid or glycolic acid. Other sunspots treatment options that you can consult your dermatologist about include laser therapy, microdermabrasion, and cryotherapy.

Wrinkling

UV rays prompt free radicals to form within the skin, thus damaging its elastin fibers. Enjoying a healthy diet high in anti-aging ingredients will help to prevent wrinkling. Consume foods rich in protein peptides and essential fatty acids to strengthen your collagen levels and improve skin barrier function. Add facial massage or facial exercise to your daily routine to improve circulation and support blood flow to your skin.

Sunburns

Sunburns are inflammatory responses to extended exposure to UV rays. Sunburns can cause skin redness, irritation, and pain, and it is very important to begin treating it as soon as you realize your skin is sunburned. To relieve pain from a sunburn, take cool baths. When drying off, gently pat yourself with your towel, as your skin may be extra sensitive to the touch. Moisturize your skin with soy lotion or aloe vera, both of which have antioxidative properties and can aid in healing. Drink water to replace fluids lost, as sunburns draw fluids to the skin's surface.

How Presidio Can Help

Presidio Home Care Aides understand sun protection. We know that helping your loved ones prevent future sun damage and lower their risk of skin cancer involves everything from ensuring they are wearing the right protective clothing, to timing trips outdoors, to assisting with applying and reapplying broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF30 or higher. Contact us today to learn more.