One of the hallmarks of young, vibrant skin is clarity and uniformity of color — no matter what your skin type or shade. The enemies of clear, radiant skin are the UVA and UVB rays from the sun that cause photo-damage, leading to hyper- or hypopigmentation, wrinkles, sagging, and even potentially fatal skin cancer.
If you want your skin to look as good as possible for as long as possible, and avoid the liver spots, sun spots, melasma, actinic keratoses and other skin lesions that plague grandma and grandpa, plus minimize your risk for skin cancer, then this is the list for you.
The following are some tried-and-true methods for staving off sun damage according to the board-certified dermatologists and skin specialists at Nashville Skin. If you’ve already begun showing the signs of photo-aging, don’t worry: There are remedies below, too.
7 Great Ways to Prevent Photo-aging
1. Sunscreen
Did you realize that you should be using sunscreen every day, no matter what the weather? Or that you need it not only when outdoors but also when driving or working near windows? Wear a zinc-oxide sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day and reapply every few hours. Layer the sunscreen on your face with a foundation that also contains sunscreen. Zinc-oxide powders give your complexion a finishing touch … and help keep it flawless in the future. Don’t forget your lips: wear a balm and/or lipstick with SPF of 30-50.
2. Don’t tan and never even look at a tanning bed
Both natural sunlight and the highly damaging UV rays in tanning beds not only age your skin at an alarming rate, they also drastically increase your risk of skin cancer. If you can’t live without some summer “color,†get it as a spray or other temporary cosmetic option.
3. Get passionate about hats
You may like the feeling of your locks blowing free in the breeze, but a hat-less head allows the sun to beat down on your face and decolletage. If you want to rock the red carpet at 70 like Helen Mirren does, throw some shade on your face, neck, and chest with wide-brimmed hats for every season.
4. Twirl a parasol
You can nix the hat if you shade yourself like Mary Poppins with a parasol. A sunlight reflecting umbrella can work just as well.
5. Head for the shade
On sunny days, park yourself under a shady tree or use an umbrella when spending the day in the great outdoors. (Are you seeing a pattern here?)
6. Cover up your body, too
Yes, even on hot days! If you’re serious about sun protection, you’ll need to wear long-sleeved shirts and button your collar — even when it’s hot. There are special high SPF shirts you can order that let in the breeze. Think you’d be cooler in a tank top? The Bedouins would disagree. The right clothing will not only protect your skin but keep the heat off it, too.
7. Stay indoors when the sun is out
Avoid the sun’s rays between 10 am and 4 pm when they’re strongest.
Top 4 Ways to Revive Your Skin
Even if you’ve been diligent with sun avoidance and sunscreen as an adult, if you tanned or burned as a kid or teen, you may be seeing the consequences in your mirror today. Luckily, Nashville Skin has more ways than ever to help you undo the damage that sun exposure and other unhealthy lifestyle choices have wreaked on your skin. Some of the best cosmetic skin treatments are:
1. Laser resurfacing
Not only can lasers even out your skin tone, they remove hyperpigmentation, smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, and even improve the quality and health of your skin. Laser energy reaches deep into the dermis, where it stimulates your skin to produce new collagen and elastin — the building blocks of healthy skin. Your skin will look smoother and clearer, plus become thicker, plumper, and more elastic.
2. Chemical peels
If your sun damage is minimal or you want the results from your laser treatments to last an extra long time, regular chemical peels can help your skin renew and rid itself of hyperpigmented layers.
3. Broadband light therapy
This light-based therapy treats the surface of the skin, targeting areas of dense pigment. Whether you’re looking to remove sun spots, rosacea, or just even out your skin tone, BBL is a quick and painless solution.
4. Hydroquinone and retinoids
Topical medications prescribed by your dermatologist can gradually fade age spots when used regularly.
When it comes to photo-damage, prevention is still the best cure of all. The sooner you partner with a dermatologist who can prescribe medical-grade skin care, remove lesions when they appear, and keep your skin looking and acting young, the less damage control you’ll need to do later.
If you notice a mark or mole that grows or changes, seek medical attention right away. The dermatologists at Nashville Skin are ready to help. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our skin care specialists at one of our five locations.