What You Can Do to Reverse Sun Damage

The weather is finally cooling off here in Salt Lake City, but your summertime activities may have left a lasting mark on your skin. Long after the sunburn fades, your skin could continue to suffer from dryness and age spots. While prevention is the best medicine, it’s also possible to reverse some signs of sun damage that have already occurred. Here’s how.

Treat Bad Sunburns

You may think tanned skin looks beautiful, but this is a sign of sun damage. Your skin amps up melanin production as a natural defense against UV rays. So if your skin is burned and peeling, this means your skin is so injured that your body must rid itself of the damaged cells.

Unfortunately, there’s no quick fix for a nasty sunburn. As you wait for your skin to heal, you can find relief by applying aloe vera and taking cool showers. Stay out of the sun, and refrain from picking at or exfoliating your peeling skin. You could cause scarring if you remove the skin before it’s ready, so just let it shed naturally.

Be mindful of the makeup you wear as well. Firm brushes and acne-fighting ingredients can irritate burned skin, so opt for soft makeup sponges and lightweight mineral powder until your skin heals.

Soothe Dry Skin

Overexposure to UV rays can cause your skin to dry out, even if you don’t develop a sunburn or sunspots. To reverse the appearance of a dull, dry complexion, exfoliate your skin once or twice a week (as long as you aren’t sunburned). Topical vitamin C and E are also helpful for repairing damaged skin cells.

Also, just because the temperature drops in the fall doesn’t mean your risk of getting sunburned disappears. Continue wearing sunscreen in the autumn and winter anytime you spend more than a few minutes outside. If you’re prone to dry skin, choose a moisturizing product to help smooth out your skin’s texture.

Lighten Sun Spots

Dark spots on your skin can come in many forms, including freckles, moles, birthmarks, and sunspots. These are all examples of hyperpigmentation resulting from high concentrations of melanin. Sunspots are larger than freckles or moles, and they usually appear on the parts of the body that get the most sun, including the face, hands, and arms.

To help sunspots fade naturally, try adding topical vitamin C to your daily skin-care routine. This antioxidant can help heal your skin, though it takes at least a month to notice results. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) photo facial therapy is a fast, effective method to help treat blotchy, discolored, and sun-damaged skin. One to three sessions is all you need to revitalize your appearance!