Getting out in the sun feels great, and in most cases, it’s essential for your physical and mental wellbeing. But the harsh reality is that overexposure to sunlight can cause havoc on your skin. In fact, sun-damaged skin is one of the leading causes of premature ageing and skin cancer.

It’s important to know exactly how sun exposure can affect your skin, and how you can use cosmetic procedures to alleviate or reduce these effects. This is why we’re going to explain the three most damaging superficial effects that the sun can have on your skin.

Sun Damage

Wrinkles:  

When it comes to the sun’s effects on your skin, the first thought that probably comes to mind is wrinkles. Many of us are told at a young age to wear sunscreen whenever we’re in the sun for too long, or we’ll reach our 30s looking like we’re in our 50s!

While that may be an exaggeration, the effect of UV rays on your wrinkles and fine lines is not. According to the medical journal, Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology , UV (Ultraviolet) rays are responsible for around 80% of skin ageing, including wrinkles. 

Long-term sun exposure leads to an accelerated breakdown of collagen in the dermis, and collagen is the most important protein for keeping skin tight, strong, and elastic. As collagen deteriorates faster in the body, wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin occur prematurely. 

Age Spots:

Age spots , also known as liver spots, are dark, flat patches of skin that occur in areas that see prolonged sun exposure. You may not know it, but they are the direct result of sun damage.

These spots are caused by overactive pigment cells in the body, known as melanin. UV speeds up the production of melanin in the skin. Over years, melanin pigment will become highly concentrated in certain areas, which leads to sunspots.

Melasma:

Also known as chloasma, melasma is a skin condition that predominantly affects women and is similar to age spots . Melasma causes grey or brown patches to develop on the skin, and on the face in particular. 

It occurs when a person’s melanocytes, the cells which produce melanin, begin to malfunction and produce too much colour. Though the exact causes are unknown, it is believed to be exacerbated by prolonged sun exposure. 

Treatment Options

Thankfully, there are a variety of cosmetic options that can treat these skin conditions, essentially reversing the damaging effects of sun exposure. 

Mesotherapy for Wrinkles

This treatment uses ‘micro-injections,’ i.e tiny needles, to inject vitamins and peptides into your skin. Peptides are amino acid chains that form helpful proteins like collagen and elastin, two essential proteins that construct your firm, youthful skin and maintain elasticity. 

Over time, the production of these proteins begins to break down, resulting in sagging skin, fine lines, and wrinkles. Mesotherapy is becoming an increasingly popular treatment for skin rejuvenation, as it increases collagen production and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Limelight Laser for Age Spots

Limelight laser is a non-invasive, anti-redness laser treatment that uses medical-grade laser technology to reduce rosacea, broken capillaries, and irregular pigmentation. These lasers target hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells, to destroy blood vessels. 

It takes between one and three sessions to see a significant reduction in the appearance of your age spots , but the results will be dramatic and long-lasting.

Picosure Rejuvenation for Melasma

Here we have a multi-purpose, short-blast laser used to treat a variety of skin conditions including melasma, acne, wrinkles, and tattoo removal. Picosure rejuvenation triggers collagen and elastin production, which helps to heal, renew, and rejuvenate skin. It can also resolve skin discoloration and is one of the foremost melasma treatments on the market. 

Results will vary depending on each person’s condition. But within two or three Picosure treatment sessions you will see noticeable pigmentation reduction.

If you are suffering from any of these sun-damaged skin issues, you may want to consider one of these treatments. At Derm.ca, our certified laser specialists and dermatologists provide a wide range of reliable and effective cosmetic treatments for your skin woes. To find more information or book a consultation, call us at 403-202-4038 or visit our website .