Sun Damage - Symptoms & Treatment

Sun damage, also identified as photo damage, refers to how the sun alters the look and feel of the skin. Sun damage is a form of extrinsic ageing. Extrinsic ageing is the collective effect that exacerbates with repeated and unprotected contact to the sun. Sun spots, also known as liver spots or age spots, are the result of long-term exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. These flat, brownish patches appear on areas of the body most often exposed to the sun especially the face, hands, and arms. Though sun spots are benign, they are unsightly and are often accompanied by other types of sun damage such as rough skin and wrinkles. There are several types of skin cancer, the worst is called melanoma. Malignant Melanoma is the quickest growing and it spreads throughout the body. Melanoma, if found early, is treatable, however, it has the highest percentages of skin cancer deaths. There is also non-melanoma skin cancer. This cancer includes squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. This is the most common skin cancer but is much less fatal. It is so easy to avoid these potentially dangerous and deadly cancers. Stay out of the sun and the UV lights of tanning beds. When you have to be in the sun, make sure that you are covered up or have adequate UV protection on. Apply at least an SPF15 lotion.

Sun damaged skin becomes dry and wrinkled and may form rough, scaley scpots called solar (Actinic) keratoses.  These rough spots remain on the skin even though the crust or scale is picked off. Treatment removes these abnormal cells.  New skin then forms from the deeper skin cells that have escaped damage. Prevention is the best way to address sun spots and other types of sun damage. Swimming and any prolonged contact with water can wash off conventional sunscreen products, so anyone planning to be in the water should be sure to use a waterproof sunscreen lotion or cream.Avoiding excessive exposure to the sun is also a good way to avoid sun damage. Indoor and outdoor tanning both contribute to this process. It is important to limit exposure to UV radiation from any source. Using a sunscreen lotion or cream daily, especially on the face and hands, is a good way to avoid sun damage.

Causes of Sun Damage

Find common causes and risk factors of Sun Damage :

• Sun exposure.
• Sunburn.
• Metabolic Disorder .
• Smoking.

Treatment for Sun Damage

Treatment may include:

• Chemical peels are often used to minimize sun-damaged skin, irregular pigment, and superficial scars. The top layer of skin is removed with a chemical application to the skin. By removing the top layer, the skin regenerates, often improving the skin's appearance.
• Tretinoin treatment, a prescription topical cream, can reduce wrinkles, rough skin, and discolored skin.
• An injection of botulinum toxin (a complex type of protein) into specific muscles will immobilize those muscles, preventing them from forming wrinkles and furrows. The use of botulinum will also soften existing wrinkles.
• Laser skin resurfacing uses high-energy light to burn away damaged skin. Laser resurfacing may be used to minimize wrinkles and fine scars. A newer treatment option is called non-ablative resurfacing, which also uses a laser as well as electrical energy without damaging the top layers of skin.