Two main factors that contribute to early aging are sun damage and uneven skin texture. As we age, our skin may reflect the cumulative effects of ultraviolet radiation from years of sun exposure. This sun damage may show up on our skin as age spots, brown spots, melasma, freckles, or hyperpigmentation.
In addition to pigment changes, sun damage can make our skin age prematurely and increases our risk of developing certain types of skin cancer. Going out in the sun is a natural part of life but even on cloudy days, the sun can continue to wreak havoc on our skin. Our team at Nashville Skin utilizes the latest anti-aging techniques and treatments to restore your skin tone and help you protect your skin in order to put your best face forward.
What Causes Sun Damage & Uneven Skin Tone?
After years of sun exposure, dark, pigmented areas or spots may appear on the skin. These freckles and sunspots are caused by the dangerous UV rays that penetrate the skin. As a result, the skin produces more melanin to protect itself. Melanin is what creates our skin’s pigmentation and when excess melanin is produced, it can cause dark spots. The appearance of spots on the skin is gradual with age and can continue to worsen without necessary sun protection. In addition to spots, excessive sun exposure can also cause uneven skin tone, which can make a person look older than they are.
While most sunspots are usually not dangerous, unusual or atypically shaped spots should be evaluated by one of our board-certified dermatologists at Nashville Skin to make sure they haven’t developed into skin cancer.
In addition to dark spots and freckles caused by sun exposure, there can also be pigmentation problems present at birth, in the form of birthmarks.
Melasma is another pigmentation problem that shows up as dark patches, usually on the face, which can occur with pregnancy, birth control pills or sun exposure.
Treatments for Sun Damaged Skin
There are a number of innovative skin treatments available that can help to reduce the appearance of sun spots and improve uneven skin tone or pigmentation problems. Our team at Nashville Skin will listen to your needs and work to develop an individualized treatment plan and long-term skin care regimen to help restore your complexion. We offer a wide range of laser treatments and chemical peels, which will rejuvenate your skin and keep it looking smooth and beautiful.
Laser Therapy
Laser resurfacing is an advanced, non-invasive treatment for pigmentation problems and uneven skin tone that offers patients a complete beauty treatment that restores and revitalizes the skin. Laser skin resurfacing uses high energy light to reduce sun damaged skin, improve fine lines or wrinkles, and restore an even skin tone.
Broad Band Light
A broad band light (BBL) treatment is a multi-tasking cosmetic dermatolgy treatment that can be used for overall facial rejuvenation and to improve sun damage and uneven skin tone. A BBL treatment uses visible, broad-spectrum light that heats tissues and can be used to target and destroy sun spots, while at the same time it evens and brightens the complexion.
Chemical Peels
At Nashville Skin, we use medical grade chemical peels to help give improvement to pigment issues and premature aging. Chemical peels are a wonderful skin treatment that can improve the appearance of sun damaged skin by using a chemical solution to remove the outer layer of old skin. Once the outer layer peels away, the new skin that is revealed is smoother, less wrinkled and has a brighter tone.
FAQ
Q. Will a light tan help protect me from sun damage?
A. Having a light tan can’t protect the skin from UV damage. Skin damage, as a result of sun exposure or tanning beds, begins within a few minutes. Even a light tan can damage the skin. The best way to protect the skin is by wearing protective clothing, hats, and sunscreen on a daily basis and never using a tanning bed or light.
Q. Do I need to use sunscreen every day?
A. Yes, skin damage can start after just a few unprotected minutes in the sun, even with short tasks like picking up the mail. Using sun protection every day, regardless of the weather or season (even winter) is essential. Sunscreen is even important for activities like driving and partial exposure due to work environments.
Q. What type of sunscreen should I use?
A. At Nashville Skin, our practitioners recommend using a broadspectrum (UVA-UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher every day. It’s important to use extra protection when you’re swimming or exercising and reapply it every two hours.
Turn Back Sun Damage with Nashville Skin
It’s important to have annual skin checks with one of our practitioners to ensure you aren’t suffering from sun spots that are pre-cancerous or have developed into skin cancer. Not only that, but reducing sun spots and evening your skin tone can take years off your appearance. Our team of dermatologists, nurses, and aestheticians at Nashville Skin have wide-ranging expertise in the most advanced and innovative skin treatments for improving pigment problems and skin tone.
If you have skin damage or uneven skin tone, contact us today at one of our convenient Nashville locations (21st Avenue S., Southern Hills Medical Center, Centennial Medical Center and St. Thomas Medical Center – Lennox Village), or our Clarksville office to schedule a formal evaluation and help you turn back the clock on sun damage.
Learn More About Our Cosmetic Dermatology Treatments