Rejuvenate Sun Damaged Skin

After years of fun-filled days in the sun or even casual days spent without sunscreen, it's very likely you've found yourself with sun-damaged skin. Sun-damaged skin is apparent in the form of wrinkles, loss of elasticity & areas of rough/thickened skin. The most well-known skin affliction by the sun is "sun spots," which appear as areas or spots of darker pigmentation.Fortunately, although it takes time and patience, you can rejuvenate & repair sun-damaged skin.

                   Instructions

1. Prevent future damage. Because more sun will damage skin further, preventing future damage is the most important step you can take. Use sunscreen that protects from both UVA and UVB rays. Wear a daily facial moisturizer that contains an SPF of 25 or higher. Wear your SPF-laden moisturizer during spring, summer, fall and winter. Wear it on cloudy days, rainy days and sunny days. Wear it no matter what your ethnicity or tolerance to sun exposure may be.

2. Shield your skin from the sun as often as possible. Wear a hat, sit under a beach umbrella or stay in the shade of a tree while doing outdoor activities. Wear sunglasses as much as possible; they protect not only the sensitive skin around eyes but prevent squinting and subsequent fine lines around the eye area as well.


3. Rejuvenate your skin with vitamin A creams. Vitamin A creams remain the gold standard for repair of sun-damaged and aging skin. See a dermatologist to receive a prescription for these creams. Use a cream such as Renova, Retin-A or Retin-A Micro. Alternatively, use a Retinol product, which is a weaker vitamin A and doesn't require a prescription.

4. Apply an exfoliating facial scrub. Exfoliating is a valuable skin-care practice. It encourages skin to grow new cells more quickly by shedding off the old ones. Exfoliate your skin at least once each day.

5. Apply an antioxidant serum (such as vitamin C serum) underneath sunscreen. Antioxidants are able to reverse sun damage, according to Macrene Alexiades-Armenakas, a dermatologist quoted in a CNN.com article.

6. Consult a licensed dermatologist for treatment procedure options. Many treatments are designed to rejuvenate sun-damaged skin, including chemical peels and microdermabrasion.