The sun’s powerful rays may feel great on your skin, but they also do a lot of damage. UV rays can speed up the skin’s aging process, increase the risk of developing wrinkles and fine lines, and zap away much-needed collagen that makes your skin look firm and youthful. Even though staying out of the sun for extended periods of time is your best strategy for protecting skin tissues, there are ways to improve the health of your skin after sun damage.
Here are some of the best skin rejuvenation treatments that can help you achieve a more youthful look:
Chemical Peels: Chemical peels are designed to stimulate collagen production and promote skin cell turnover. The skin undergoes its recovery and restoration process after it senses damage from the powerful chemical peel solution. These peels are administered directly onto the skin after a brief facial, and are left there to absorb for a few minutes. A few days after the treatment, the skin begins to ‘shed’ it’s top layer, and freckles and sun damaged disappear. There are various strengths of chemical peels available, but not all types may be suitable for your skin type.
Vi Peel: One of the more powerful yet gentle treatments for sun-damaged skin is the Vi Peel. This peel does not sting or cause discomfort like other peels, and involves very little downtime. The peel is designed to repair the skin and restore it after severe acne or sun damage. It’s considered to be a ‘next generation’ peel that is proven to be safe for all skin types and ethnicities. Key ingredients include Trichloroacetic Acid, Retin-A, Vitamin C, phenol and salicylic acid.
Microdermabrasion: This exfoliating treatment works by buffing away dead skin cells to reveal the healthier layer of cells underneath. Microdermabrasion is a mild form of ‘sandblasting’ the skin to buff away fine lines and wrinkles. This treatment can also get rid of acne scars and patches of sun damaged skin that may be causing skin discoloration. Most people need a series of at least five treatments to see any noticeable results, but this can be combined with a chemical peel for even better results.
FotoFacials: Photodynamic therapy, or FotoFacials, can help to brighten up pigmented skin, reduce the appearance of fine lines and give your skin a healthier, more youthful appearance. FotoFacials work by emitting light energy deep into the skin’s layers and breaking up damaged cells. The result is a significant reduction of pigmented skin (including freckles), and a more youthful, smoother appearance. FotoFacials do not cause any discomfort and can be used in conjunction with other skin rejuvenation treatments.
There are several ways to reduce the effects of sun damaged skin and restore your skin to a more youthful state. While the effects of the sun cannot restore lost collagen and elastin, these compounds can grow back with the help of a skin rejuvenation treatment, or even collagen fillers if necessary.
Check with an
anti-aging specialist in your area to find out which of these treatments may be right for you, or learn more in our skin rejuvenation guide.
Published: 06/05/2009, Last Updated: 06/05/2009
By LocateADoc.com Medical Staff Writers
Our writers strive to present an objective, upfront and open view of the medical procedures you're interested in. We present you with both the good and bad, and work to represent both doctors' and patients' points of view. Our articles contain facts and statistics obtained from medical associations, medical and surgical journals, and through doctor and patient interviews.