Sun Damaged Skin

Most of us enjoy spending time in the sun and our skin needs it to produce Vitamin D, which helps to build and maintain strong bones. Unfortunately, in recent years we have become more aware of the price we pay to worship the sun. From wrinkles to uneven pigmentation & even skin cancer, sun damage is very possibly our skin’s worst enemy.

Sun exposure makes the cells that produce melanin pigment (the tan of the skin) multiply and produce more tanning pigment within the skin. Although this generally causes even pigmentation, patchy brown spots, called sun spots or solar lentigines, typically appear on the areas most exposed to the sun, like your face, chest and hands.

Normally sun spots aren’t dangerous, but there’s a chance they can develop into skin cancer. Known as lentigo maligna melanoma, this cancer can begin with a freckle that has black pigmentation or irregular borders. If you notice any changes to your mole, you should see a dermatologist.

Sun exposure is the main factor, but pigmentation can also be aggravated by other factors, including hormones such as during pregnancy or the contraceptive pill, certain medications and also inflammation following trauma.
How much you can reduce the appearance of pigmentation depends on what is causing the problem and also how deep into the skin the pigmentation extends.

Treatments:

Medical peels can significantly help by causing the layer of skin to separate and peel off. The new regenerated skin underneath is usually smoother and more even in both tone & colour than the old skin.

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) can also be effective in reducing unwanted pigmentation.

Microdermabrasion and Microneedle Therapy have become very popular and effective, non-surgical way to help reduce hyperpigmentation.

Skin brighteners are a safer approach for brightening the skin, and are as effective when used consistently in a professional brightening regime.