Summer and sunlight exposure brings plenty of benefits to your body, from giving you a much-needed dose of vitamin D to regulating your melatonin levels. One day spent in the sun can greatly improve your mood. The problem is that a sunny day also exposes you to UV rays, potentially damaging the skin. 

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As the summer break ends, you might notice some blemishes on your skin that were not there before. Your skin may be duller, with imperfections that make you look older than you are. Read this blog and learn what advice Dr. Ostad offers when treating sun damage!

How the Sun Damages Your Skin?

When sunlight hits your skin, it damages it on a cellular level using two types of UV rays: UVA and UVB. UVA rays reach deep into the outer layers of the skin, breaking collagen bonds and leading to an effect called “photoaging.” On the other hand, UVB rays affect the top skin layer (the epidermis), causing sunburns and playing a key role in skin cancer. 

Exposure to these types of UV rays causes enough mutations to the skin that it can no longer recover, which leads to wrinkles, fine lines, excess pigmentation, and even an increase in acne breakouts.

Sun damage can be avoided by regularly applying sunblock and wearing protective clothing, but it can also be reduced by opting for the right skincare treatments. For instance, skincare with brightening agents can reduce hyperpigmentation and a laser treatment can give collagen production a boost.

Top Procedures to Reduce Sun Damage

Sun damage is often diminished through mixed techniques, from increasing collagen production to starting a skin cell resurfacing process. The treatment chosen usually depends on the type of skin damage that you have and what needs to be corrected. Dr. Ariel Ostad recommends the following treatments to minimize sun damage after summer break: 

1. Fraxel® Laser

Fraxel Restore is a non ablative laser treatment that targets the deeper layers of the skin to promote collagen production, while also taking years off of sun-damaged skin by improving texture and dark spots. This activates the body’s healing response, which starts a cell turnover process. The new collagen production can also reduce wrinkles, which are a byproduct of excessive sunlight exposure. 

2. Chemical Peels

Chemical peels are a reliable treatment to decrease sun damage, as they prompt the outermost layer to peel off. During this process, the body naturally removes the pigment cells, bringing the healthy, non-blemished cells to the surface. Exfoliation creates a controlled injury effect, stimulating new collagen production and reducing skin laxity issues, fine lines, and wrinkles. Dr. Ariel Ostad offers different chemical peels for skin damage reduction, from the TCA peels to the Luma II or Glow peels. A personalized consultation will determine which peel is best for your skin and goals.

3. Medical-Grade Skincare

Skincare is widely available, whether you are browsing the supermarket shelves or looking up cosmetics online. However, you should look into medical-grade skincare instead, as it is approved by dermatologists and backed by research. Products like the Advanced Luma Cream have brightening agents meant to treat in the long term rather than conceal the effects on the spot. The concentration of active agents is also higher, making it a recommended choice for those who deal with more severe issues.

Reduce Sun Damage with Our Innovative Treatments

Sun damage can make your skin look dull and aged, but that does not mean these issues have to be permanent. Finding the proper treatment to address the problem is essential, and we can help you. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Ariel Ostad to get access to sun damage treatment!

For more information about sun damage and how to get it treated, contact Dr. Ariel Ostad at 212-517-7900. He can offer all the details you need to improve your skin barrier. You can also fill out our online contact form, and we will be in touch with you shortly.