Can You Repair Sun Damaged Skin?

We should all wear sunscreen to prevent sun damaged skin on days ending in Y, why?
Despite abroad holiday’s being put on pause during the pandemic, this has led many people to soak up the rays anyway they can, whether that’s outside in the British sun or from a visit to a tanning bed. Either way, whilst it may be great to feel the warmth on our skin after the winter months, have you really thought about the damage these UV rays can cause to our skin for that golden glow.
Sun damaged skin is known as photoaging and uneven pigmentation is often one of the first visible signs to appear, so a good sunscreen for your skin and a sensible attitude to UVA and UVB exposure can help to prevent further damage.

Get To Know The Skin You’re In
Sun damage is caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation, not temperature. Whilst the sun may not be visible, UV rays definitely are. Even on a cool and overcast day, UV levels can mirror those present on a sunny day.
We may think we know what works best for our skin when it comes to our daily skincare regime, but do we really know what’s best when it comes to preventing sun damaged skin. No matter what your skin type may be, UV radiation can cause sun damaged skin from high exposure to rays, but by understanding your skin type, this safeguards against factors like skin cancer and premature ageing.

Can You Repair Sun Damaged Skin
“Sunlight consists of two types of radiation, which we can call UVA and UVB. UVA causes signs of ageing and UVB really causes tanning, but it is heavily associated with skin cancers.” – Dr Tapan Patel
Sun damage caused by UVA rays can cause concerns like sagging skin from a loss of skin elasticity, wrinkles, broken capillaries and rough and dry skin, commonly referred to as ‘the leather look’. Whilst we recommend patients visit their GP before treatment, there are a number of treatments available here at PHI that address visible signs of ageing from anti-wrinkle injections to skin rejuvenation with the Secret RF.

Addressing Visible Signs Of Ageing
Botox® and Dermal Filler
As an anti wrinkle treatment, Botox® should be considered more of a preventative than a restorative solution. It essentially freezes the facial muscles to keep you from contracting them in ways that will deepen lines and wrinkles. However, if you have static lines that are present at rest, then they are unlikely to disappear with Botox but can be treated with the help of dermal filler.
Skincare
Using a sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher is an essential part of any daily skincare regime, as the first protective layer against UV rays throughout the day. A long list of conditions can be treated using a variety of Obagi® products including acne, wrinkles, fine lines, age spots, redness and some pigmentation. The Obagi® sun shield protects the skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays whilst 360 brightens the skin and includes retinol to reduce signs of ageing.

PHI Clinic London
Please note that PHI Clinic advises all patients should speak to their GP and inform them of any treatments that they are having, especially treatments related to sun damaged skin. To book a consultation with one of our highly trained and skilled practitioners, get in touch or follow us on social media.
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