How To Prevent And Treat Sun-Damaged Skin
Sun damage can occur when the skin is exposed to excessive UV light from the sun for extended periods of time. Over time, this can cause a range of skin issues including dark spots and discolouration, wrinkles and fine lines and even an increased risk of skin cancer.
There are many ways to prevent and minimise the risk of sun damage and most are very good at protecting the skin from harmful UV rays. There are also several ways to treat existing sun damage and prevent it from worsening.
The most important step in preventing sun-damaged skin is to apply an SPF. Using at least a factor 30 organic SPF moisturiser, protects your skin from UVA and UVB rays and blocks them from causing any damage to your skin.
SPF should be applied every time you head outdoors for longer stretches of time. Short exposure of up to 20 minutes without sun protection is recommended to catch up on your vitamin D production.
Another way to prevent sun damage is to cover your skin with protective clothing. This includes wearing hats and sunglasses, covering your skin with light layers during the summer as well as seeking shade in particularly bright sunshine.
Your eyes have very delicate skin surrounding them so protecting them is essential. Sunglasses are a great option when in bright sunlight and can not only improve your vision but protect your eyes from the harmful sun rays which can cause damage to your skin and vision.
If you have experienced sunburn, you can soothe and treat this by using an after-sun product. These often have cooling properties and contain ingredients such as aloe vera which help to heal and moisturise the skin, as sunburn can cause it to become very dry and cracked.
Using a moisturiser which contains hyaluronic acid or glycerin is a great way to further protect against sun damage as it will restore some much-needed moisture and hydration to the skin after it has been dried out in the sun and heat.
If you notice any new or unusual changes in your skin, such as dark spots, new or changing moles or freckles or persistent irritation or redness, you may wish to seek the help of a doctor or dermatologist.
They will be able to determine the reason why these issues have occurred, advise you on how best to treat them as well as identify any worrying or concerning signs of skin damage.
Remember that protection is the best treatment. If you protect your skin well against the sun you should have no reason to worry about skin damage.
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