Summer is now past, and fall is finally here. Now is the perfect time to begin erasing all of the skin damage incurred during the last few months as you played out in the sun.
As your skin is exposed to the sun, it has its own natural defense. The skin naturally produced melanin, which is what causes your skin to tan, in order to protect itself from the sun’s damaging rays. This natural production is both healthy and necessary, and many people find that they have no lasting effects. However, there are some whose skin reacts negatively to the sun with an irregular coloring and over-pigmentation. This leaves the skin with uneven skin tone, dark spots and patches. If your facial skin has been damaged by the sun, here are tips and treatments that can help you regain a radiant and even complexion.
- Sunscreen. You should apply sunscreen to your face every single day. Whether it is sunny, cloudy, hot, or cold, the sun’s damaging rays are still present. Protecting your skin from damage is essential in healing it.
- Topical creams and gels. Advancement in skin care products has given people more tools than ever for enhancing the appearance of their skin. Retinoids and Vitamin C creams and gels are easy products to add to your beauty routine each day. These encourage the skin cells to slough off and renew themselves in order to lighten brown spots and patches on the skin.
- Exfoliants. Exfoliating your skin is an easy and beneficial step for creating beautiful skin. Sun damage drastically reduces the rate at which your skin cells turn over. This reduction causes those with uneven skin tone to have an even greater appearance of dark patches on their skin. Using an exfoliant once or twice a week can help stimulate faster skin cell turnover.
- Lightening agents. There are several decent skin lightening agents on the market that have been clinically proven to lighten dark patches of skin. Make sure you are looking for the ingredient “hydroquinone,” as it is the leading ingredient for lightening superficial discoloration.
- Chemical peels. A chemical peel is a specialized procedure done by a doctor that encourages the rapid sloughing off of dead skin cells. This quick out-patient procedure can be successful in just one treatment for those with minimal sun damage. For those with significant sun damage or stubborn dark patches of skin, chemical peels can be performed in a series in order to produce desired results.
- Laser skin therapy. Laser skin therapy is a special skin therapy that reaches deep down into the skin’s layers in order to correct sun damage. This procedure can be used to improve the skin’s texture and complexion.
Dr. Maurice Khosh, MD, FACS, is proud to offer his expertise for those who wish to improve their facial appearance. If you are concerned with the damage produced by the sun on your face, contact our practice today to learn how we can help you.
