By Nasrin Mani, M.D.
Did you know that overexposure to the sun is very dangerous for your skin and speeds up the aging process? When you’re outdoors for long periods of time, the sun’s ultraviolet rays penetrate deep into your skin and heat it up, damaging cells and producing wrinkles, uneven skin tone, dryness, and other signs of aging. The sun can also cause brown spots to appear on your face, neck, chest, and hands.
Here are some tips to help you stop or reverse sun damage to your skin:
Avoid sun exposure: The sun is your skin’s worst enemy. Stay out of the sun as much as possible, and when you go out, wear a hat or use a parasol.
Use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. When you do have to go out into the sun, sunscreen will reduce the damage your skin suffers. Daily use may even lower your long-term risk of skin cancer.
Exfoliate. Your skin may appear blotchy and uneven when the outermost layer of dead skin cells build up. Remnants of self-tanning products can also collect in dry areas, causing the skin to appear ‘dirty’ and lose its luster. Loofahs, scrubs, and alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) cleansers help get rid of dull, flaky skin. Exfoliants and skin-repair creams can also help slow the clock on aging.
Hydrate. Summer exposure to dry air, sun, chlorine, and salt water can dry out your skin. Try a moisturizing hand and body cream. A moisturizer with AHA or facial serum with hyaluronic acid can not only restore moisture but may cause the skin to appear less wrinkled.
Seek professional help. If you’re thinking about medical skin care, you may want to consider these cosmetic skin treatments:
- Laser skin resurfacing/rejuvenation procedures
- Microdermabrasion
- Chemical peels
- Dermal fillers
For residents in the La Jolla and San Diego areas that are in need of repairing their sun damaged skin, please contact us to schedule a personal consultation.
