The Best Treatments for Sun-Damaged Skin

November 7, 2016

Excessive exposure to the sun early in life can make you look older — plain and simple. This premature wrinkling and skin damage from sun exposure is called “photoaging.”

Photoaging, unlike natural aging, results in coarse, dry skin, freckling and skin discoloration, leathery skin, and deep wrinkles. The best way to minimize the effects of photoaging depends on several factors.

  • Your age, overall health and medical history
  • Severity of the skin damage
  • Type of skin damage
  • Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures or therapies

No one can avoid the natural process of aging. Moles, scars and birthmarks also tend to change as we age. In addition, sun damage over the course of a lifetime worsens aging skin. Although there are many anti-aging creams on the market, advanced signs of aging and sun damage usually require more extensive dermatological procedures that could include the following:

  • Botulinum toxin type A
    An injection of botulinum toxin (a complex type of protein) into specific muscles will immobilize those muscles, preventing them from forming wrinkles and furrows. The use of botulinum will also soften existing wrinkles.
  • Chemical peels
    Chemical peels are often used to minimize sun-damaged skin, irregular pigment and superficial scars. The top layer of skin is removed with a chemical application to the skin. By removing the top layer, the skin regenerates, often improving its appearance.
  • Soft tissue augmentation or filler injections
    Soft tissue filler is injected beneath the skin to replace the body’s natural collagen that has been lost. There are multiple different kinds of fillers available. Filler is generally used to treat wrinkles, scars and facial lines.
  • Fractional CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing
    This procedure uses high-energy light to burn away sun damaged skin. Laser resurfacing may be used to minimize wrinkles and fine scars.

Protecting your skin from the sun is vital. It’s also important to examine your skin on a regular basis. Skin cancer accounts for nearly half of all cancer cases. Become familiar with moles or other skin conditions in order to better identify changes.

Looking to Treat Sun Damaged Skin?

If you or your family has a history of skin cancer, visit your dermatologist regularly for routine skin checkups. We have multiple locations throughout the country, so fill out our simple online form to get in touch with us. One of our local team members will reach out to you shortly to answer your questions or schedule an appointment for you to visit us soon.

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