Whether you spent a lot of time in the sun as a child or you spend considerable time outdoors in adulthood, UV rays can do some serious damage to your skin. At Derma Dolce, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to take great care of their skin. Since most people have some level of UV damage, high-quality skincare is critical in the fight against aging, and that’s what we’re here to provide.
Below, we’ve outlined how UV rays cause long-term damage to your complexion, as well as how you can address that damage and improve the look and feel of your skin.
Prolonged UV Exposure: How the Sun Harms Your Skin
These days, having tan, glowing skin is all rage, but getting that tan from the sun isn’t the best or safest option. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, prolonged exposure to UVA and UVB rays (without sun protection) damages the DNA contained within your skin cells. And over time, that DNA damage can trigger genetic mutations that ultimately increase your risk for skin cancer development.
Though not as serious as skin cancer, excessive sun exposure can also prompt premature skin aging, resulting in glaringly obvious issues, such as:
● Fine lines and wrinkles
● Sunspots
● Hyperpigmentation
● Loss of skin elasticity, also known as skin laxity
● Liver spots
● Excessive freckling and capillary dilation
Experts have also found that photoaged skin (skin that ages prematurely due to sun exposure) experiences more severe changes throughout the chronological aging process. Though everyone experiences complexion changes and irregularities as they age, excessive sun exposure dramatically accelerates the process. Fortunately, preventing premature, UV-related skin aging is relatively easy. And, with continually evolving innovations in skincare technology, treatments for damage that has already occurred have become incredibly effective.
So what can you do to address ultraviolet skin damage and prevent further harm? We’ve outlined tips and effective treatments below.
Preventing UV Skin Damage: 3 Things You Need to Know
The number one way to prevent skin damage due to ultraviolet radiation is to stay out of the sun! But here in the Twin Cities, warm weather doesn’t last long, and many people prefer to soak up all the outdoor time they can get during summer. We totally get it — who doesn’t love a lake day, right? But if you plan on spending substantial time outdoors, you need to protect your skin, and the best way to do that is to be diligent about applying sun protection.
Ideally, you should apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before venturing outdoors to allow the product to bind to your skin. To ensure your complexion is adequately protected against UV damage, you also need to reapply your sun protection every two hours. Beyond diligent sunscreen application, these helpful tips will also help protect your skin from UV-induced harm:
● Review any prescription medications you currently take. Certain types of anti-inflammatories, antifungals, antibiotics, blood pressure medications, and chemotherapy drugs can heighten your skin’s sensitivity to the sun. If you’re unsure whether your medications increase your risk for sunburn, consult with your medical care provider or a qualified skincare professional.
● Stay Hydrated. Your skin is approximately 65% water, and when you’re dehydrated, your skin dries out, which can exacerbate the effects of UV rays. And, if you do happen to develop a minor sunburn, dehydrated skin doesn’t heal nearly as well (or as quickly) as it should. Aim to drink at least half your body weight in ounces of water each day, and be sure to consume extra water when you’re outside perspiring.
● Wear light-colored clothing. Since UV rays easily penetrate fabric, simply covering up your bare skin isn’t a guarantee against sunburn. Because light colors naturally reflect a higher percentage of UV rays, try to wear light-colored clothing outdoors whenever you can.
Treatments for UV-Damaged Skin
Even if you’re super diligent about protecting your skin from excessive UV exposure now, there’s a good chance you spent plenty of time outdoors as a kid or teen. And according to researchers, the majority of sun-related skin damage doesn’t occur during your adult years; it happens during the first 18 years of your life — disappointing, right?
But just because the damage is already done, that doesn’t mean you have to live with it. At Derma Dolce, we truly believe that skin aging is a fact of life; it happens to everyone. But how you deal with that aging process? That’s up to you. So what can you do to improve the tone, texture, and overall health of photodamaged skin? The following treatments work wonders:
● Chemical Peels. Chemical peels come in a wide range of strengths and are designed to target a variety of skin issues. They work by harnessing the exfoliating power of a combination of skin-safe, medical-grade acids to remove buildup of dead and damaged skin cells, revealing the healthy, fresh layer of skin underneath.
● Microdermabrasion. Microdermabrasion is a fantastic treatment for a variety of photoaging complications, including fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and more. The treatment utilizes a unique combination of exfoliating micro-crystals and a specialized suction device to slough away dead and damaged cells and remove impurities from the skin.
● Regenerative Aesthetic Treatments. Regenerative aesthetic treatments are a truly unique, natural, and minimally invasive way to address the effects of photoaging. SkinPen microneedling, platelet-rich plasma, and exosomes work by harnessing the power of your body’s natural healing mechanisms (a.k.a. your immune system) to stimulate collagen production and increase natural skin cell turnover.
● Broadband Light Therapy. BBL laser is a type of phototherapy that’s designed to address a wide range of skin issues and is particularly effective for photoaged skin. In fact, researchers have found that people who partake in long-term BBL treatments appear an average of 11 years younger than their actual age! The treatment relies on the power of photo-thermal energy pulses to stimulate increased skin cell regeneration and collagen production while targeting excess melanin that contributes to hyperpigmentation.
● Skin Classic. Broken capillaries and hyperpigmentation are common signs of skin damage in people who overexpose their skin to the sun. Skin Classic treatments, which harness the power of radiofrequency waves to transmit heat energy into each treatment area, stimulate rapid evaporation of the moisture contained within damaged skin cells. As a result, the affected cells essentially vaporize, and as your skin recovers from the treatment, damaged cells slough off, revealing the smooth, healthy skin underneath.
Ready to Transform Your Sun-Damaged Skin? Contact Derma Dolce Today
Whether you’re trying to mitigate the negative effects of UV exposure or you’re ready to transform significantly sun-damaged skin, our team at Derma Dolce is here to help you do it! We specialize in a variety of high-quality, cutting-edge skincare treatments, and we strive to provide our services at a price point that won’t break the bank. To learn more about how we can help you get your glow back, feel free to give us a call today at 612-221-2514. You can also request a consultation or connect with us online, and a member of our team will be in touch with you promptly!