The effects of sun damage

Environmental stressors strip the skin of its protective lipids, leading to dehydration, increased fine lines, loss of elasticity, and hyperpigmentation. The sun emits ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which penetrates the skin and triggers changes at a cellular level. UVB rays primarily affect the skin’s surface, causing sunburn, while UVA rays penetrate deeper, accelerating collagen breakdown and premature ageing. Depleting the skin’s protective lipids leads to dehydration, loss of elasticity, and hyperpigmentation.

Professional treatments to treat common sun damage effects

Without proper sun protection, your skin will be damaged over time. As the damage builds up, you will start noticing changes to your skin, which will result in you looking older than you are. Below, we have highlighted the visible signs of sun damage and what treatments you can get to reduce the signs of sun damage.

“As signs of ageing are the most common effect of sun damage, in order to treat it, I would often use more than one type of treatment as it will help to target the different signs of aging. The goal is also to give you a natural and healthy appearance,” says Dr Alek Nikolic renowned aesthetic medicine specialist and owner of the Dr Alek Nikolic practice.

Wrinkles and fine lines

There are a number of ways to treat wrinkles and fine lines, depending on how severe they are. One can consider injectables such as fillers, botulinum toxin, skin boosters, and microneedling devices such as Dermapen.

Microneedling is a versatile treatment that can improve skin texture, tone, and elasticity while addressing concerns such as fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven pigmentation. This treatment stimulates collagen and elastin production, promoting natural healing and improving skin texture, tone, and elasticity.

Dark spots and age spots

“Dark spots develop due to the skin producing an excess of melanin or pigment and most dark spots are the result of sun exposure. Age spots are like dark spots but appear because of long-term sun exposure. Although anyone can develop dark and age spots, those with fair skin are more at risk. Those with darker skin may be more likely to experience post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

"Sun damage can leave behind stubborn pigmentation and uneven texture, but IPL photo facial treatments offer a precise way to address these concerns. With the targeted pulses of light, we can break down excess melanin while stimulating collagen production for a smoother, more even complexion,” explains Dr Nikolic.