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.
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!