Sun Damage: How to Reverse the Look of Sun Damaged Skin

Do you have overexposed, sun damaged skin? Luckily, it can be reversed.

Start by protecting your skin from the sun year round. Use a facial moisturizer with SPF 15 or higher. Be sure to cover your face, neck and chest. Use a little extra to work into the back of your hands. Our hands are a dead giveaway for age. Keep them protected and you’ll look younger. Using sunscreen daily reduces your risk of further sun damage as well as skin cancer.

But you want to lay on the beach… Wear big dark sunglasses to protect the eyes, and the sensitive wrinkle prone skin around the eyes. Wear a stylish sunhat. Sunburns are no longer popular, so more people are wearing these. Slather on the sunscreen, then re-apply. Be sure to use SPF 30 or higher. Anything below that won’t protect your skin from burning. Obviously if you are in the sun longer than a few hours, re-apply your sunscreen.

In the winter, be sure to make it a habit to wear gloves and a scarf to protect your hands and neck from sunrays. Any added protection helps the skin.

Exfoliate at least once a week. Exfoliation removes the top layer of dry, dead skin cells that can make skin appear blotchy on the surface. It clears the way for smoother, fresher skin. Use a microdermabrasion product for the face with superfine beads so your skin isn’t scratched, but buffed. Use textured gloves with a natural soap or body wash to scrub down your skin in the shower. Be sure to use a moisturizer afterward to lock in the moisture of newly revealed skin.

Stay hydrated in the heat as well as the cold. We sometimes forget to drink water in the winter because our bodies don’t work up as much of a sweat as in summer. Keeping your body hydrated keeps your skin hydrated, soft and free of flaking and dryness. Hydrating foods help your skin, too. Try melons, berries and salad greens. Again, to lock in the water you’re ingesting, use a moisturizer for the face and a lotion for the body.

For the really tough discoloration of sun-damaged skin, laser treatments or skin bleaching are two recommended methods. These can be expensive or irritating to skin. The other option is to find a topical skin cream or lotion that has ingredients to reverse the discoloration and look of sun damage.

Know what to look for.

Aloe Vera is known to repair skin. It is a cactus plant that belongs to the Liliaceae family and has been used medicinally for centuries. It’s also one of the top choices to relieve sunburn. Because of its antioxidant properties, it heals, protects and moisturizes the skin.

Collagen and Elastin help keep the skin elastic and supple. Either of these ingredients is a plus.

Oleander Extract is a recently discovered benefit for the skin. It has also been used medicinally for centuries, and now scientists are using it in skin cancer research because of its antioxidant properties. These properties are what reverse the signs of sun damage, age spots and even smooth wrinkles. Oleander can be dangerous in large doses, so be sure your product has the medical and safety research to back it up.

Sara McGill