Recovering from Over-Tanned Skin

By Nasrin Mani, M.D.

While logging hours in a tanning bed or spending long days sunbathing on the beach may help jumpstart your summer tan, they are not a formula for maintaining healthy, youthful looking skin. In fact, nothing is worse for the health of your skin than sun exposure, not even smoking.

Yet in spite of well documented research, many people continue to expose their skin to dangerous levels of sunlight and UV rays each year. Long term health risks such as skin cancer are by far the most concerning. However, you may also do short term damage that can actually detract from your appearance.

Too much sun exposure or excessive time in a tanning bed can lead to over-tanned skin which appears dark, dry, and leathery. These are not exactly attributes which give off the impression of health and vitality.

Fortunately, there are ways to restore over-tanned skin to a healthier, more vibrant appearance. At La Jolla Cosmetic Laser Clinic, we offer several treatment options for people who have spent a little too much time in the sun or the tanning booth. Depending on the condition of your over-tanned skin, Dr. Mani may recommend:

• Chemical peels
• ActiveFX/DeepFX CO2 Laser treatments

Of course, the best way to avoid over-tanned skin is to always wear sunscreen with SPF 50 or higher whenever you are outside. This will help block a significant portion of the UV rays which damage your skin, reducing the likelihood that you will actually need these treatments.

Please contact La Jolla Cosmetic Laser Clinic today to schedule your free skin care consultation. We serve patients in La Jolla, California.