Sun Damage

What is sun damage?

Sun damage describes premature aging of the skin and skin cancer, due to exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. There are two types of UV rays that cause sun damaged skin: UVA and UVB. UVA are longer-wave rays that activate the skin in an unhealthy way and will give you a tan. These rays are not responsible for sunburns. They penetrate the skin deeper than UVB rays and trigger premature aging and skin cancer. UVB, on the other hand, are shorter-wave rays that are responsible for sunburns, but they can also accelerate early signs of aging. UVB rays are considered the most common cause of skin cancers.

What are the consequences?

Sun damage hurts the skin’s ability to maintain essential components, such as antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, vitamins, ceramides and important fatty acids. All of these components keep our skin looking youthful and healthy. In addition to potentially life-threatening skin cancer, the long-term consequences of unprotected sun exposure includes wrinkles and fine lines, brown spots and dull, congested skin. UVA sun damage can be sneaky. Often, you won’t feel any pain or discomfort from it, but your skin is being damaged. As time passes, skin abnormalities can become more pronounced and you run the risk of skin cancer.

How can I protect myself?

The best way to protect yourself from sun damage is prevention. We recommend wearing sunscreen that is rated as SPF 30 or higher, regardless of the weather. If you are going to be outside for long periods of time and run the possibility of sweating, you will need to reapply sunscreen regularly to ensure optimal protection. Your lips can also sustain damage from the sun. Lip balm with SPF should be applied regularly since eating and drinking can cause it to fade.

What are the available treatment options?

At Pellé Medical Spa in Manchester, New Hampshire, we offer a variety of services to treat sun damaged skin. HydraFacial can effectively reduce the different signs and symptoms associated with this condition.* Hydrafacials involve zero injections, do not damage the skin tissue and provide fast results!* The Pellé Plasma Facelift, chemical peels, the DermaSound Facial and microneedling can all improve the tone and texture of your skin without the use of plastic surgery!* When you schedule a consultation at our medical spa, we can determine which treatment option is right for you.

Schedule treatments in Manchester, New Hampshire

Sun damage is a very serious condition, and we specialize in repairing the skin and restoring a healthy glow. To get a custom treatment plan, give us a call at (603) 627-7000 or fill out the request form on our site.