Summer can be a great time to relax in the sun with family and friends, but it can also wreak havoc on your skin. All of our favorite summer activities also mean increased exposure to the sun. This in turn can lead to fine lines and wrinkles, uneven coloring, and sunspots. In the most serious cases, sun damage can even lead to both non-cancerous and cancerous skin lesions.
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to prevent further sun damage and repair and revitalize your skin. We’re happy to share the following practical guide on both natural at-home options, as well as therapeutic treatments we offer here at Innovations Medical to help you look and feel your best.
5 Ways to Repair and Restore Sun Damaged Skin
To keep having fun in the sun while giving yourself the healthiest skin possible, try the following options:
1. Practice Sun Safety and a Skin-Healthy Lifestyle
Skin care experts will tell you that before you start repairing sun damage, you should practice sun safety to prevent further damage. Two of the most practical things are reducing sun exposure, particularly during the summer, and wearing sunscreen. Limit any sunbathing to a short period of time, wear protective clothing including a hat, and make sure the sunscreen offers full ultraviolet (UV) protection.
The foods you eat and natural skin care remedies can also have a positive impact on your skin health, helping to prevent damage and offering potential restorative effects. For example, fruits and veggies rich in vitamins C and E, such as leafy greens, oranges, bell peppers, and carrots, can all help protect your skin from the sun. Aloe vera and apple cider vinegar are just two examples of natural remedies that can be great for your skin as well.
2. Topical Creams, Lotions, and Gels
There is a wide range of topical creams, gels, and lotions for the skin that can help address sun damage. Look for ingredients such as glycolic acid, hydroquinone, kojic acid, or deoxyarbutin as the active agents for products. Commonly used and effective options include:
- Exfoliants: These products are designed to remove dead cells from the surface of the skin. Because sun damage can slow the rate of cell turnover, using an exfoliant can help speed up this process.
- Retin A: This option and any derivatives are available by prescription only and can reduce sun spots and fine wrinkles. Side effects may include dryness.
- Retinol: Derived from vitamin A, retinol is used by many people to lighten sunspots and other blemishes.
Most skin care products must be used continually to retain the benefit. Always inform your physician or dermatologist about your skin care routine.
3. Radiofrequency Microneedling with Legend Skin Tightening
Radiofrequency microneedling with Legend is a great way to improve your skin’s texture, skin pigment, sun damage, scarring, and stretch marks. The procedure has minimal downtime, and you are in and out of the office in just a few minutes. During this procedure, the skin is rejuvenated through hundreds of tiny needle sticks. These small punctures stimulate the body to produce collagen, which in turn tightens the skin. Legend Skin Tightening is added to the procedure for powerful skin-tightening benefits that leave you looking youthful and smooth.
4. Fraxel Restore and Dual Treatment
Fraxel Restore and Dual Treatment is a non-invasive treatment with a quick recovery, which is not something found with other types of laser resurfacing treatments. Fraxel Restore uses fractional Photothermolysis to resurface the skin to eliminate acne scars, fine lines, large pores, dark spots, and sun damage. Photothermolysis is a targeted microsurgery technique used to treat damaged tissue in a specific area by heating that tissue and destroying it with a laser. The body then creates new, unblemished cells to replace the ones that were destroyed. The tissue surrounding the treatment area remains unaffected and undamaged, translating to faster recovery and less pain for you.
5. SmartXide DOT
SmartXide DOT Laser Treatment is one of the highest quality laser skin resurfacing tools and is preferred by many people over other types of CO2 skin resurfacing lasers. It also has less recovery time than traditional options. SmartXide works by creating thousands of microscopic perforations in the skin, resulting in immediate skin tightening and collagen production. This means improved skin texture and skin tone for you.
All of these procedures offer great benefits to individuals seeking to restore their skin after a summer, or many summers, of sun exposure.
Contact Innovations Medical to Learn About Your Options for Skin Restoration
If you’re looking to repair sun-damaged skin and improve the way you look, Innovations Medical is here for you. Our skilled professionals help you decide which treatment is best for you – keeping you informed and confident in the next steps. We’ve been helping our patients look and feel their best since 2005, and even our most advanced procedures are often minimally invasive.
To find out if any of our options for skin repair are right for you, and to learn how Innovations Medical can improve your life, call us at (214) 643-8665 or schedule an appointment.