Skin Care: Sun Damage
An Overview Of Sun
Damage
Sun damage of the skin, also known as photo damage can be either
acute, as in a sunburn or more commonly, chronic, seen as gradual changes
in the skin caused by an accumulation of sun exposure throughout one's
life. Chronic photo damage results in either a cosmetic change in the
skin's appearance called photo aging, or changes that are of medical and
health concerns such as pre-cancerous lesions and skin cancers. The evidence
is very strong that ultra-violet light is the cause of most of the changes
that we consider to be associated with aging of the skin.
What Does Sun Damaged Skin
Look Like?
Fine and coarse wrinkles are seen on sun damaged skin. There is a roughness
to the skin and a laxity or looseness in advanced damage, patchy or mottled
darker patches of increased pigmentation are seen also. Sometimes these
patches become irregular and produce what are known as lentigos. In areas
around the back of the neck a leathery texture and coarseness with deep
lines is frequently seen, the skin may feel dry and scaly. Chronic sun
exposure will in many produce a thickened layer in the upper dermis known
as solar elastosis, which gives a yellowish chicken skin look.
Protecting Your Skin From
Sun Damage
Sun avoidance and regular sunscreen use are widely promoted by organizations
and individuals interested in skin cancer prevention. A sunburn is caused
by exposing your skin to too much ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun,
that is, lightwaves that measure approximately 200-400nm.
Questions answered about how much sunscreen to apply and how often, what
is SPF?, the sun and cancer as well as sunscreen use for childdren and
the elderly.
Sun damage or photo damage produces both skin cancers as well as photo-aging
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Treatment For Sun Damaged
Skin
There are a number of products and treatments available to try to reverse
some of the signs of sun damage. The use of products containing alpha
hydroxy acids such as glycolic acid and lactic acid may have a smoothing
effect on the skin. We also know that vitamin C preparations will also
have modest effects on reversing the appearance of sun damage
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