SUN DAMAGE
How to prevent and reverse sun damage
When you enjoy sun exposure without sun protection you cause damage to the deeper layers of the skin, the dermis. The dermis is the true living skin and provides support to the upper layers of the skin, the epidermis. UVA rays penetrate all the way into the dermis causing inflammation and the activation of certain enzymes (MMPs) which start to breakdown the structure and support of the skin. The skin being an amazing and intelligent organ, normally repairs most of this damage, however every small section that is not repaired adds up over time leaving you with a photo-aged skin. The typical visible signs of sun damage on the skin are:
[if !supportLists]- [endif]Sagging
[if !supportLists]- [endif]Wrinkles
[if !supportLists]- [endif]Fine lines
[if !supportLists]- [endif]Age spots
[if !supportLists]- [endif]Uneven pigmentation (skin colour)
[if !supportLists]- [endif]Leathery appearance
By using effective, active skincare products daily and having regular skin treatments you can help your skin repair this damage and preserve a youthful appearance.
Of course it is much easier to prevent sun damage than to fix it, but we have very effective treatments and products at our disposal today.
Preventing sun damage is as simple as applying a sunscreen daily and reapplying every one to two hours if you are in direct sunlight. This is the best anti-aging step you can add to your daily routine.
Invest in products containing antioxidants which will prevent damage to the deeper layers of the skin.
Now reversing sun damage is another story. Firstly we need to assess how long ago the damage was done and if any treatments or products were used to treat this damage. This will allow us to determine the best course of action, i.e. aggressive vs. a gentle approach.
The best treatments to help reverse this sun damage are; micro-needling, chemical peels, light therapy and laser. The two most cost effective treatments are micro-needling and chemical peels, such as Dermaceutic Milk Peel, Mela Peel and Cosmo Peel. Unfortunately you need a course of treatments as one treatment will not be able to remove all the damage. Depending on the type of peel or needling device you will need between 6-8 treatments at bi-weekly or monthly intervals.
Homecare is vital to support the action of the treatments and gives the skin all the vital nutrients it needs to facilitate renewal.
Invest in products containing the following ingredients:
Retinol: Fat soluble form of vitamin A which facilitates collagen and elastin stimulation. Retinol is also a very effective antioxidant. Clinical data shows by applying 1% Retinol collagen stimulation is activated within 48 hours. Try: Dermaceutic Activ Retinol 1%
Glycolic Acid: Alpha Hydroxy acid which stimulates collagen production and help with the removal of pigmentation. Such as Dermaceutic Light Ceutic
L-Ascorbic acid, Ascorbyl Silanol and Ascorbyl Ester: Different types of vitamin C which are essential for new collagen formation. These are all excellent antioxidants and will help reduce hyperpigmentation.
Ferulic Acid: Antioxidant, helping to prevent further damage. Dermaceutic Tri Vita C30 is very effective in targeting and preventing pigmentation.
So there is no excuse to walk around with a sun damaged skin and it is never too late to start treating it.
