While there’s nothing we love more than sunny weather and a post-summer sun-kissed glow, in five or ten years, we probably won’t love what the sun has done to us. UV rays from the sun are the major cause of sun spots, pigmentation, wrinkles, the worsening of skin texture, and the reduction of skin elasticity. The effects of sun exposure build up over time, putting our skin at risk of looking much older than it really is. No thank you.
WHAT THE STUDIES SHOW
To find out exactly how much older sun damage makes you look, we hit the books. One study by the World Health Organisation found out how much sun exposure influences the age you appear, as opposed to other factors like smoking, poor diet, illness and stress. 298 women who fell into the category of either sun-seekers or sun-phobic were measured against four signs of ageing – wrinkles, lack of firmness, vascular disorders, and pigmentation. The study found that 80% of visible ageing signs were thanks to sun exposure. Ouch.
This same study also compared two 61 year old twins, in which one twin had been exposed to 10 more hours of sunlight per week than the other. Given that 10 hours per week is less than 1.5 hours of sun exposure per day, you wouldn’t think there’d be a big difference in the appearance of these twins. But shockingly, the twin who had experienced more sun exposure appeared 11 years older than the other to research participants. It’s fair to say we’re taking sun damage much more seriously now.
CAN YOU FIX SUN DAMAGED SKIN?
The best way to prevent further sun damage to your skin is to reduce your levels of sun exposure. But we get it, there are too many beach days, afternoon picnics and Summer bike rides to enjoy in life. So staying out of the sun isn’t always possible. Luckily, there are some brilliant products on the market to protect your skin from sun damage, which we cover in the next section of this article.
If the damage has already been done, anti-ageing products can be used in your daily skincare routine to reduce the appearance of fine lines and pigmentation. If you need a more effective solution, scroll down to read about sun damage treatments.
IMAGE SKINCARE
Here at Simply Laser, we can’t get enough of IMAGE Skincare. IMAGE’s philosophy is ‘age later’, incorporating all sorts of skin-nourishing ingredients that leave your skin looking healthy and balanced. For sun protection, their prevention range does wonders. And for skin that has already suffered from sun damage, their ageless range will help to rejuvenate pigmented, dull skin.
Image Skincare is an evidence-based clinical skin care company, providing only the highest quality professional skincare products. While there aren’t many places to get your hands on IMAGE products in Australia, we’re proud to be a stockist of this sought-after range. Get in touch to find out how you can buy it.
SUN DAMAGE TREATMENTS
If you’ve got sun spots, freckles or pigmentation you’d like to get rid of – laser pigmentation removal can help. These treatments use pulses of laser light to reach deeply into the support structures of the skin. This then causes them to regenerate with new collagen and elastin that minimises the appearance of pigmentation.
Depending on the size of the area you’re treating, a laser pigmentation removal treatment usually takes 20-30 minutes. For optimal results, we recommend 2-3 treatments spaced over a few weeks. However, this will depend entirely on the results you’re wanting to achieve. Some people notice a 50% reduction in their pigmentation after just one treatment – which might be plenty for you!
Some people also opt to remove sun damage with a chemical peel. Chemical peels remove surface skin cells and stimulate cell turnover to leave you with youthful, radiant skin. While we wouldn’t recommend treating areas of the body with a chemical peel, it’s an effective facial treatment.
START YOUR JOURNEY TOWARDS YOUTHFUL SKIN
To figure out the most effective way of rejuvenating your skin and preventing future sun damage, we offer in-clinic skin assessments. If you have any questions about particular treatments or products, our experienced technicians are happy to answer any questions. Get in touch with the Simply Laser team, or book an appointment online.