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How To Repair Sun Damage & Sunburns

If you clicked on this article then it’s safe to assume that somebody spent a little too much time outside in the sun. But don’t worry we don’t judge here! The summer months are when most students are off from school and when people take time off from work. With that being said, having fun and enjoying the break is the number one priority.  And sometimes we have a little too much fun and fail to worry about sun damage.

The symptoms usually go unnoticed at first but after a while, the pain, swelling, and even change of color start to settle in. Before you even know it the effects of being out in the sun for too long start to settle in and become unbearable. But that’s just the beginning. After a prolonged amount of time spent out in the sun, sun damage can also develop and ruin the health of your skin.

Sometimes we can’t help be get a little forgetful about re-applying sunscreen when having too much fun. Ultraviolet UV rays are the last thing on our minds, and instead of panicking after realizing the condition of your skin, we have a solution for you!

Follow these tips to repair sun damage & sunburns and enjoy the rest of your summer!

Sun Damage Vs SunBurns

sun damage

You must be thinking ” what is the difference between sun damage and sunburns?”. Although they sound very similar, there is actually a big difference between the two.

Sun Damage

This refers to the long-term effect the sun leaves on the skin. When ultraviolet UV light hits the skin it causes changes at a cellular level in the deepest laters of the skin. Because of this, it can take much longer to notice any of the effects and damages won’t be visible for years. Some of the long-term effects of sun damage included pre-mature wrinkling ( signs of aging), changes in pigmentation, sunspots ( similar to freckles or brown spots), spider veins, and rough and uneven skin texture.

Sunburns

Sunburns are an inflammatory reaction to UV exposure. The effects of a sunburn occur much faster and the effects are more short-term. Sunburns affect the outermost layer of the skin, thus the effects can happen in as a little as 30 minutes for those with severe sensitivity to the sun. Aside from skin inflammation, other symptoms also include redness, blistering, and swelling.

Repairing Sun damage

Now treating sunburns is a little different than dealing with sun damage. Because sun damage takes time to appear it’s important to be aware when you start to realize differences in your skin. In some cases, sun damage can be repairable with consistency and patience! Always remember that it’s best to consult with a board-certified dermatologist to better assess your skin needs. These next few treatments can help repair damage on the face, however, if other parts of the body are affected it’s best to consult with a doctor.

sun damage

For example, ultraviolet rays can cause damage to the outermost walls of blood vessels in the skin causing them to thin out. This is what leads to spider veins. Treatment to repair this is slightly different than what we will mention below so please be aware of this. Another reason why it’s important to consult with a doctor is if you can’t tell whether or not your dealing with age spots or a type of skin cancer.

Although more common with people who are older and have possibly neglected proper sun protection, age spots are not cancerous. However, they can resemble skin cancer so it’s crucial that if you are not sure of the difference to go seek the opinion of a medical professional.

Chemical Peels

sun damage

This form of treatment helps treat irregular skin pigmentation. Because chemical peels remove the top layer of the skin, it removes areas affected by sun damage. Once the layer is removed the chemical composition is applied to the skin. Typically after a chemical peel, the skin is very sensitive and inflammation and redness might occur. But once this subsides new skin will surface And in the span of a few weeks the appearance of the skin will improve.

Dermabrasion

This is another treatment that targets the outer layer of the skin. This treatment will remove the top layers of the skin by scraping the skin. Similar to a chemical peel, however dermabrasion is ideal for those dealing with mild sun damage skin.

Repairing Sunburns

Suburbs are a little bit easier to treat than sun damage since most people immediately know when they’ve had too much sun exposure. Because the symptoms settle in within a few hours, it’s easier to treat the affected area and in some cases, completely heal the sunburn.

Tropical Treatments

These products are directly applied to the affected area for instant relief. The beginning stages of sunburns are typically uncomfortable and painful. Tropical treatments can be applied directly to the area to soothe and calm the irritated skin. An example of a great tropical treatment is aloe vera. Aloe vera is widely known to help to treat sunburns. The plant acts as a healing agent and helps repair the skin.

sun damage

Aloe ver contains anti-inflammatory compounds which will help reduce the swelling and soothe the itching and stinging feeling. Another great thing about aloe vera is that you can just purchase the plant itself and directly apply it to the affected area! This might not be an option for everyone, but if you happen to spot an aloe vera leaf at the store this summer then pick one up!

Final Thoughts

Summer isn’t over yet and there’s still plenty of time to have fun! Just remember the more work you put in protecting your skin now, the less work you have to do later. Nobody wanted premature fine lines and wrinkles so remember to keep that broad-spectrum sunscreen close by while out on the beach. Now that you know how to repair sun damage and sunburns this summer, click here to get the best summer skin care tips for your skin type!

 

 

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