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The ideal sun damaged skin treatment depends on the extent of the damage, your goals, and your level of commitment. Steele Creek Dermatology offers many different solutions and treatments for sunspots, fine lines, and other signs of sun damage. Dr. Jennifer Helton, a board-certified dermatologist with more than 20 years of experience, can help patients determine their best course of treatment.
Use of Potent Sunscreens
A 2013 study has suggested that 80 percent of facial aging such as fine wrinkles, leathery and dry skin, to various pigmented spots - is caused by the sun's UV rays that break down the collagen. Collagen is your skin's main building block or protein. Hence, the best skin care regimen should always include sun protection, which you must use even on cloudy days. Take note that not all sunscreens are created equal. When choosing a brand, make sure it offers protection both from UVA and UVB rays, such as the Sunshield Matte Broad Spectrum SPF50 and the EltaMD line of sunscreens that are non-comedogenic, meaning they won't clog your pores or cause breakouts. Another notable line of sunscreens is made by SkinCeuticals; each of them is designed for specific skin type and lifestyle.
Medical Grade Chemical Peels
There are different types of chemical peels. Chemical peels are a great sun damaged skin treatment. The solutions remove the sun damaged outer layers of skin, making way for new skin, resulting in improved texture and more even skin tone. Light chemical peels suit people with mild wrinkles, sunspots, and other signs of photoaging, whereas the medium and deep chemical peels are reserved for patients who need more correction--i.e., they have coarse wrinkles and extensive skin pigment problems. With the proliferation of different chemical peels in the market, the Obagi Blue Peel and the Blue Peel RADIANCE remain the most sought-after products since they provide instant improvement for most skin types.
Antioxidant-Infused Products
Aside from sunscreen, make sure that your daily skin care regimen also includes nourishing your skin with antioxidant-infused creams or moisturizers. Antioxidant products such as Phloretin CF and VitaminC/E/Ferulic can improve skin tone and elasticity by stimulating collagen production, neutralizing unstable molecules called free radicals, and hydrating the skin. D.E.J. face cream is another notable antioxidant product geared towards people with sun-damaged skin. It has a formulation that reduces fine lines and wrinkles, keeps skin well hydrated, and improves the strength and elasticity of the skin.
Prescription Topical Creams
The Obagi Nu-Derm System is a line of anti-aging topical products, some of which require a prescription such as the Clear and Blender that are equally potent in erasing age spots, freckles, and other types of skin discoloration. With prescription topical creams, the use of sunscreen becomes more important than ever because your skin is extra sensitive to the sun.
Sun Damaged Skin Treatment in Charlotte NC
To learn more about sun damaged skin treatment options, please contact Steele Creek Dermatology in Charlotte, NC. The clinic also provides a number of other facial rejuvenation procedures such as dermal fillers and Botox.