What Can be done About Extensive Sun Damage to my Skin?

The first and most important thing you can is help prevent it from progressing by using a good sunblock as part of your skincare regimen.  

As part of treating the sun damage, there are a range of different treatments that you might consider, depending on the degree of damage and the amount of recovery time you can tolerate. This range extends from a more conservative approach with a series of chemical peels to improve fine lines and skin discoloration, to a more aggressive chemical peel for more extensive changes in skin pigment, texture and tone. For wrinkles associated with sun damage, chemical peels have only a minimal effect. 

A more aggressive treatment using laser or dermabrasion for resurfacing would be required in this case. A more gradual approach to resolving this kind of sun damage could involve a fractionated laser resurfacing such as the  Sciton ProFractional.  A more aggressive approach would be to use a resurfacing tool such as an Erbium YAG laser, such as the Sciton tunable laser or the CO2 laser for resurfacing of the damaged skin. Although there is  a more extensive recovery time for this more aggressive procedure, the results are dramatic in terms of the improvement in extensively sun damaged skin.

Step 1: reduce exposure; improve sun/uv protectingStep 2: implement reparative skin care and add adequate doses of vitamins A,C and EStep 3: identify specific specific treatments for specific signs of sun damage ( thinness, laxity of skin, pigmentary changes and vascular changes are all likely to be present to varying severity).The usual management plan involves multi modal treatments and lifestyle changes.

The first thing you should do is to protect your skin from the sun before your complexion gets worse. Wear a minimum 35SPF when you go out, cover up with clothing/hat and try to stay out of the sun at the peak hours of 10-4. Photofacial IPL is a great way to address sun damaged skin by correcting blemishes, rough textures, redness and fine lines. Chemical peels are also good, while filler and Botox can help serious wrinkles.

Besides prevention with sunscreen daily and moisturizers, Retin-A is helpful as are treatments with some of the more impressive lasers such as the Sciton BBL/SkinTyte and certain Fractionated lasers. As you age, skin cells lose their ability to make collagen and progressively die off rather than reproducing themselves (“DNA programmed cell death with age”).The Sciton Laser Platform allows multiple laser types and wavelengths to achieve both dramatic improvements of your skin but also maintaining its youthful appearance by reversing this process. See below for more information.

 There are SO many excellent treatments available to reverse the effects of sun damage. A lot depends upon your skin type, degree of sun damage, willingness to accept recovery time, and, your budget. The most important factor is to have your skin care regimen supervised by a qualified individual such as a facial plastic surgeon, dermatologist or aesthetician under direct physician supervision. That way, your progress can be monitored properly ensuring good results and minimizing the risk of problems.  In any case, the first key is a good sunblock -- one that you wear every day. In general, makeup that contains sunscreen is not adequate. You really should apply daily a separate sunblock wit SPF of 30. The next key is to ask your skin care professional can guide you through the array of non-surgical options such as glycolic acids, topical anitoxidants and vitamin C based products. Retin A tends to sensitize your skin to the sun and, over time, loses its effectiveness at improving lines and wrinkles.  Best of luck!  Dr. Clevens