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Sun Damage

Have the years of sun bathing with baby oil and iodine caught up with you? Or maybe you haven’t been a sun worshipper, and you wonder why those brown spots keep popping up? We all accumulate the damaging effects of the sun’s ultraviolet rays. “But I don’t lay out in the sun.” “But I have been so careful about wearing sunscreen for years.” We commonly here these comments when telling a patient that they have sun spots or photodamage. Well, the truth is, a lot of the damage is done in our younger years. Also, if you walk to and from your car during the day, ride in a car during the day, sit near a window at work, or participate in outdoor activities, then you are at risk!

A few myths about sun damage…

• It’s too late to start protecting my skin because all the damage has been done
• I am not at risk because I am not a sun worshipper
• There is nothing to do about it except major cosmetic surgery, and I’m not interested
• Worrying about sun damage is vain
• I wear SPF 15 in my makeup every day, so I should be adequately protected

The facts about sun damage…

• It is never too late to start protecting your skin! Effective sunscreens and skin care products can make a big difference in not only preventing further damage, but reversing the signs of sun damage.
• You are at risk if you live on Earth! Even small amounts of UV accumulate over time to cause sun damage.
• There are so many options for treating sun damaged skin. From products to chemical peels to lasers to injectables like Botox and facial fillers, there are options for everyone. At Village Dermatology, we offer one-on-one consultations to help you develop a plan that will fit your budget and lifestyle. IPL, Active FX laser resurfacing, and Blue Light Photodynamic Therapy are great options.
• If you have sun damage, you need to be examined by a board-certified dermatologist to ensure that you are free from pre-cancerous lesions and skin cancers. We often find worrisome lesions on patients that are in for a cosmetic consultation.
• Sunscreens are not created equally. Most people are not properly educated on sunscreen. Click here for Sunscreen 101.

“How do I know if I have sun damage?”

Sun damage can present in many ways. Most commonly brown spots, uneven skin tones, redness, broken capillaries, rough skin texture, fine lines/wrinkles, lax skin.

Please call our office at 205.877.9773 for more information on this service.