Too Much Summer Fun: How to Reverse the Effects of Sun Damage As summer bids farewell, it’s time to evaluate the aftermath. While enjoying moments by the pool, leisurely walks by the shore, lake excursions, and outdoor festivals was a blast, it’s important to acknowledge that the effects of prolonged sun exposure may still be affecting your skin. Sun damage accumulates gradually after frequent or extended periods of basking in the sun, which is the essence of summer enjoyment!
Sun Damage Treatment Options When the skin has been damaged by the sun, treatment will depend on the kind and extent of the damage. Sometimes, a deep moisturizer can help to replenish the skin’s moisture after prolonged sun exposure. Avoiding hot baths and showers is also a good way to keep from drying out your skin. Sunburns can be treated with topical aloe vera gel and cool compresses to relieve pain. Long-term sun damage is more difficult to treat. Unfortunately, the damage caused to the collagen in the skin is permanent and can’t be reversed. However, there are several options to improve your skin’s overall appearance.
Laser skin resurfacing vaporizes the upper layer of skin, creating a wound that encourages the body to produce new collagen. As the skin heals, it tightens, thus eliminating wrinkles. After laser skin resurfacing, your skin will continue to rejuvenate for months. This procedure is ideal for removing fine lines or wrinkles around the mouth or eyes.
We recommend scheduling a Halo or Nano Peel every six months to a year. Another popular treatment is a Glass Skin Facial or Aqua Gold treatment which improves the skin’s appearance by generating skin cell turnover and new collagen production, making your skin more youthful and elastic. The treatments allow for new cells growth and reveal smoother and less wrinkled skin. These are also a popular treatments for reducing fine lines around the mouth and eyes and other wrinkles caused by sun damage. Ask about adding Exosomes to give your skin a healing reparative boost that multiplies the benefits for your skin by up to 300%.
Cryotherapy also known as cryosurgery (used only on benign, waxy keratin spots) uses liquid nitrogen to freeze and destroy growths on the surface of the skin. The liquid nitrogen destroys targeted skin cells at the cellular level, causing the treated area to blister and scab over before healing to reveal smoother skin underneath. This non-invasive procedure is often recommended for pre-cancerous lesions on the skin such as actinic keratosis. Cryotherapy is simple, affordable and has very few side effects and a low risk of infection.
Dermaplaning and Hydrafacials are other options for exfoliating dry or rough skin to trigger cell regeneration. Sun-damaged skin is replaced with new skin growth that enables better product absorption and that appears healthier and more vibrant. Many treatments to repair sun damage have very few side effects, are done in your doctor’s office on an outpatient basis and can be combined with other treatments and repeated for even better results.
Compounded Anti-Aging Prescriptions Compounded topical medications can be used to treat a wide range of different skin conditions and reduce the effects of aging on the skin that most people are familiar with: wrinkles, lines, a loss of elasticity, and spots. Compounded anti-aging medications and topical treatments are usually far more effective at treating aging effects compared to commercial medications because they are customized based on the patient’s needs, and dosage levels are carefully selected. No matter what your concerns might be, we have a customized prescriptive solution to all of your skin care needs. Let us get a plan together for the skin of your dreams!
Talk to your Body Tonic Provider today to get your customized skin care plan started! Stacey Francois | OwnerBody Tonic Medical Spa