Nothing beats a refreshing walk in the sunshine. However, without sunblock, the UV rays accelerate skin ageing and can leave dark spots and cause pigmentation. These harmful rays penetrate the skin and change the DNA on a cellular level, which can, in adverse cases, lead to skin cancer.
The scary part of sun damage is that it is not obviously visible. Your skin can look absolutely flawless and yet have skin damage due to overexposure to UV rays. If this year’s warmest months have left your skin with dark spots, discolouration, and pigmentation, get in touch with Belvedere Clinic at once.
We are one of the top cosmetic surgery companies in the UK, offering a comprehensive range of services and expert guidance on general health and skincare. Our state-of-the-art diagnostic machines can easily detect even hidden sun damage, and our highly experienced plastic surgeons can suggest you bespoke treatment plans on how to undo summer skin damage.
How to reverse summer skin damage?
- Vitamin A
Topical retinol (Vitamin A1) is considered only second to a high-quality sunblock in preventing sun damage. They can be used frequently in revitalising the skin and restoring the structure, promoting skin cell turnover, and countering uneven skin tones. Moreover, retinol is also known to promote the production of collagen and elastin, which decreases in the skin with ageing and exposure to harmful UV rays.
- Laser treatment
Lasers are also extremely effective in reversing the signs of sun damage. Treatment using lasers primarily targes melanin in the skin, which is the cause of skin hyperpigmentation. They can also treat broken blood vessels, which causes redness of the skin after exposure to the sun. Essentially, lasers can zap away sunspots by causing delicate and controlled injury to the skin, leaving you with an even and fairer complexion.
However, you must only visit trusted cosmetic surgeons as incorrectly done laser treatment can have adverse effects.
- OTC chemical peels
Chemical peels (acid exfoliants) can work wonders for your skin and leave you with a rejuvenated face. Chemicals like salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and trichloroacetic acid can significantly speed up the natural skin rejuvenation process, effectively turning back the clock on sun damage. Your new skin underneath will have fewer spots and will be smoother with fewer expression lines.
One precaution you must be wary of is that never mix exfoliants, especially different chemicals or brands. If you decide to use more than one product, use one in the morning and one in the night for maximum effectiveness.
- In-office chemical peels
If you have noticeable signs of summer damage, OTC chemical peels might not be as effective in reversing the effects of sun damage. In such situations, book a session with a plastic surgeon or dermatologist, who can blend and customise the peels to suit the specific needs of a patient.
Experts at reputed clinics can blend skin peels that can help reduce hyperpigmentation, discolouration, sunspots, fine lines, etc. Talk to them for more information on how to recover the lustre of your skin.
