Is It Possible To Reverse Sun Damage
, by Infinite Exchange, 3 min reading time
All our summertime necessities, such as beach umbrellas, pool floats, and barbecue grills, have been returned to their storage shed until next year. Even though summer is over, the sun damage you got from lounging around the pool or beach without protection will not go away until next season. However careful you may have been this summer; it is possible that you nonetheless sustained some sort of injury. The dark spots, fine wrinkles, and other indicators of sun damage you may have incurred during the warmest months of this year (and every summer before) can be reduced or eliminated altogether.
However, it can be challenging to sort through the many anti-aging creams, serums, and therapies available. So, which ones are worthwhile? How can you know which method will work best for you? I sought the advice of David Bank, MD, a dermatologist in Westchester, New York, to better understand the various methods available for revitalizing worn, sun-damaged skin.
Laser Away
Dr. Bank believes there are several ways to use lasers to address the visible effects of solar damage. Some lasers, he says, "target the pigment melanin," making them ideal for eliminating sunspots. According to Dr. Bank, tiny broken blood vessels around the nose and in the center of the face are another less well-known result of UV damage that can be treated with lasers. The sun causes apparent redness on the skin by degrading the collagen that supports these veins, leading to cracking.
Use Vitamin A
Dr. Bank recommends retinol as the best ingredient to search for if you skipped out on sunscreen this summer and are now trying to repair the damage. 'It's the benchmark,' he says. Anybody who is not pregnant can benefit from using retinol.
Retinol, a form of vitamin A, can help restore damaged skin cells by promoting cell turnover and stimulating collagen formation. In both its OTC and prescription forms, retinol is effective against the sun's damaging effects.
Dr. Bank claims it can improve "color, tone, and texture." It can help dark spots vanish and skin tone become more even. As a result, the skin can become suppler and smoother, and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles can be reduced.
If you have sensitive skin, you may experience irritation, redness, or dryness from using this product. If taking retinol twice weekly does not cause irritation, increase the frequency. According to Dr. Bank, there is a wide variety of retinol products available, each with its own formulation (such as gels and creams) and potency (usually stronger retinols obtained with a prescription).
Even while retinol is the most widely suggested topical treatment for anti-aging, there are other options with promised scientific backing. Products containing DNA repair enzymes are one such type of over-the-counter medicine. The ability to stop collagen breakdown and brown patches have been demonstrated in several research.
Damage Control
If you want to avoid skin cancer, what does Dr. Bank advise more than anything else? Applying sunscreen is necessary. The data supports him; a study from 2013 indicated that daily sunscreen use (with an SPF of 15 or higher) reduced skin aging by 24% compared to never using sunscreen. However, sunscreen should be considered only one component of an overall sun safety routine. Extra precautions against sunburn include wearing protective clothing, using sunscreen, and staying in the shade, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Dr. Bank says that "beginning to be attentive with sun protection alone will help reverse solar damage." The skin, like other bodily organs, has an innate desire to mend damaged areas.
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