Article: How to Reverse Sun Damage

Nov 29, 2022spf

How to Reverse Sun Damage

I am often asked on how to heal the damages skin or reverse the sun damage. This blog that I found describes it perfectly! Enjoy.

Brown spots. Visible blood vessels. A complexion that appears more saggy or wrinkled than before. Perhaps dry, pink, or discolored spots that are pre-cancers or even skin cancer. The good news is, you can reverse signs of sun damage -- and this is the perfect time to do it. Here are some derm-recommended strategies that can help.

Sun Damage

Young woman sunbathing — 1/17

The Risks of Catching Rays

It feels good to lounge in the sunshine, but it can hurt your health in the long run. Over the years, too much time outdoors can put you at risk for wrinkles, age spots, scaly patches called actinic keratosis, and skin cancer. Go in the sun for 30 min a a day and always use a sunscreen!

Teenage girl (14-16) looking at tan lines at beach — 2/17

Suntan

A tan may look nice, but that golden color is due to an injury to the top layer of your skin.

When you soak up the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays, it speeds up the aging of your skin and raises your risk of skin cancer. To prevent damage, use a "broad spectrum" sunscreen that is SPF 30 or higher. And do not forget to reapply every few hours!

Sunburned young men — 3/17

Sunburn (First-Degree Burns)

There's no guesswork about whether you've got a sunburn. Your skin turns red, it feels hot to the touch, and you may have some mild pain.

It's called a first-degree burn when it affects only the outer layer of your skin. To get some relief from pain, take aspirin or ibuprofen. Try a cold compress, or apply some moisturizing cream or aloe.

Sunburn blisters — 4/17

Sunburn (Second Degree)

A second-degree sunburn damages deep layers of your skin and nerve endings. It's usually more painful and takes longer to heal.

You may have redness and swelling. If blisters form, don't break them. They might get infected.

Lines and wrinkles around woman's eye — 5/17

Wrinkles

The sun's rays can make you look old. Ultraviolet light in daylight damages the fibers in your skin called elastin and collagen. When that happens, it begins to sag and stretch.

Mature woman with uneven skin tone — 6/17

Uneven Skin Tone

Too much sun causes some areas of your skin to appear darker, while others look lighter. It can also make permanent changes in small blood vessels, which gives you a reddish look in places.

Smiling young woman with freckles — 7/17

Freckles

You get these on areas of your body that are exposed to the sun. You'll notice them more in the summer, especially if you're fair-skinned or have light or red hair.

Freckles aren't bad for you. But some cancers in the earliest stages can look like one. See your doctor if the size, shape, or color of a spot changes, or if it itches or bleeds.

Melasma (pregnancy mask) on forehead — 8/17

Melasma

This shows up as tan or brown patches on your cheeks, nose, forehead, and chin. It's common among women who are pregnant, but men can get it too.

It may go away after your pregnancy ends, but you can also treat it with prescription creams and over-the-counter products.

Use sunscreen at all times if you have melasma (and just in general), because daylight can make it worse.

Older woman's hand with age spots — 9/17

Age Spots (Solar Lentigines)

These pesky brown or gray areas aren't really caused by aging, though more of them show up on your body as you get older. You get them from being out in the daylight. They often appear on your face, hands, and chest.

They don't harm your health, but check with your doctor to make sure they're not something more serious, like skin cancer. Again, use SPF creams to prevent those!

Actinic keratosis, a precancerous skin condition — 10/17

Actinic Keratosis (Solar Keratosis)

These red, brown, or skin-colored patches are small and scaly. You get them from being out in the daylight too much. They usually show up on your head, neck, or hands, but they can also appear on other parts of your body.

See your doctor, because if they're not treated they can sometimes turn into squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer.

Actinic cheilities on the lower lip — 11/17

Actinic Cheilitis (Farmer’s Lip)

This usually appears on the lower lip, and you may have scaly patches, dryness and cracking, or swelling.

The sharp border-line between your lip and skin may also disappear.

Get this checked by your doctor. It may turn into squamous cell carcinoma if it's not treated.

Squamous cell carcinoma lesion — 12/17

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

This type of skin cancer may show up as a firm red bump, a scaly growth that bleeds or gets a crust, or a sore that doesn't heal. It most often happens on your nose, forehead, ears, lower lip, hands, and other areas that get a lot of sun.

Squamous cell carcinoma can be cured if it's treated early.

Bowen Disease on the surface of the skin — 13/17

Bowen Disease

This is a type of skin cancer that's on the surface of your skin. Your doctor may also call it squamous cell carcinoma "in situ."

Unlike "invasive" squamous cell carcinoma, Bowen disease doesn't spread to the inside of your body. It looks like scaly, reddish patches that may be crusted.

photo of basal cell carcinoma on the nose — 14/17

Basal Cell Carcinoma

This is the most common form of skin cancer, and it's the easiest to treat.

Basal cell carcinoma generally occurs on sun exposed skin and spreads slowly. The tumors can take on many forms, including a pearly white or waxy bump, often with visible blood vessels, on the ears, neck, or face.

A tumor can also appear as a flat, scaly, flesh-colored or brown patch or, more rarely, as a white, waxy scar on your back, chest, or legs.

photo of melanoma — 15/17

Melanoma

It's not as common as other types of skin cancer, but it's the most serious. Possible signs include a change in the way a mole or colored area looks.

Melanoma can affect the skin only, or it may spread to organs and bones. It can be cured if you get early treatment.

Close-up of a mature cataract — 16/17

Cataract

This is a cloudy area in the lens of your eye. It's painless, but it may cause foggy vision, glare from light, and seeing double. You can help prevent cataracts by wearing a hat and sunglasses when you're in the sun.

A mother applies sunscreen to child at the beach — 17/17

Shun the Sun

The best way to avoid sunburn, wrinkles, skin cancer, and other damage is to stay out of the daylight, especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m, when the sun's rays are strongest.

If you need to be outside, use a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30, wear a UPF fabric hat and sunglasses, and cover up your skin with clothing. And do not forget to re-apply the SPF every few hours!

If you see any changes to a mole or you spot a new growth or a sore that won't heal, see your doctor right way.

How to avoid or reverse the damage!

Protect from the sun. You’re probably aware that sunscreen guards against new damage. But you might be surprised to learn that protecting against ultraviolet (UV) light gives the skin an opportunity to heal and actively reverse old damage (much like “smoker’s lung” can improve significantly a few years after quitting cigarettes). Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays are out in force mostly during summer, but ultraviolet A (UVA) light reaches our skin year-round, gradually damaging and aging our skin whenever we step outside. That’s why dermatologists are always harping about wearing a broad-spectrum, SPF 30+ sunscreen all year long.

Support your skin with an antioxidant serum. Vitamin C, vitamin E, green tea, and resveratrol are antioxidants that can help skin cells repair their DNA and fend off free radical damage from sunshine, pollution, and the body’s metabolism. Layer them up every morning!

Consider a supplement. Antioxidant supplements can help keep skin healthy, too. The B vitamin called nicotinamide has been shown in human studies to lower the risk of skin precancers and nonmelanoma skin cancers. The fern extract Polypodium leucotomos has been shown to reduce the risk of sunburn and make the skin a bit more resilient to UV damage. Though these supplements may offer bonus protection, it’s important to note that dermatologists do not consider them a substitute for sunscreen, hats, clothing, sunglasses, and shady spots. Talk to your doctor before you start any new supplement.

Dabble in acid. Over-the-counter creams, masks, and serums containing alpha hydroxy acids (such as glycolic acid) or beta hydroxy acids (such as salicylic acid) can improve the skin’s tone, smoothness, and texture while reducing breakouts and pores. Chemical peels done in an office more powerfully smooth and brighten the complexion, fade spots, correct blemishes and scars, ease dark patches called melasma, and reduce fine lines.

Explore light therapies. Your dermatologist may offer a blue light treatment called photodynamic therapy, a medical procedure that targets sun-damaged skin cells to prevent and treat precancers (actinic keratosis). Cosmetic lasers and lights can improve the appearance of sun-damaged skin, too. If you’re fair-skinned, intense pulsed light (IPL), also known as broad band light (BBL), is a time-tested therapy that can reliably improve the appearance of sun damage by fading tan spots and visible blood vessels. If you have richly pigmented skin, a laser with a long wavelength (1064 nanometers) is a safe way to rejuvenate the complexion and reverse signs of sun damage.

Discuss medicated creams with your dermatologist. For anyone with a history of skin precancers (actinic keratosis) or skin cancers, prescription creams or gels may help to undo sun damage in a powerful way. Ingenol mebutate gel (Picato, derived from the milkweed plant), 5-fluorouracil cream (Efudex), and diclofenac gel (Solaraze, an anti-inflammatory) target and remove rapidly dividing precancerous cells when applied to the skin. Imiquimod cream (Aldara) harnesses the body’s immune system to help remove precancerous cells. These medicines can cause redness, irritation, and other side effects, so you should only use them under the guidance of a dermatologist.

In conclusion, start using SPF when you are a 'baby' and even if did not, do not despair and use it starting today, every day!

Written by Dr. Liia

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How to Reverse Sun Damage

The Risks of Catching Rays

Suntan

Sunburn (First-Degree Burns)

Sunburn (Second Degree)

Wrinkles

Uneven Skin Tone

Freckles

Melasma

Age Spots (Solar Lentigines)

Actinic Keratosis (Solar Keratosis)

Actinic Cheilitis (Farmer’s Lip)

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Bowen Disease

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Melanoma

Cataract

Shun the Sun

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