Spending time out in the sun and fresh air can do wonders for your mental health, but if you aren’t careful to protect yourself you could wind up with sun damaged skin. Thankfully, there are ways to help your skin recover and grow healthy, new cells. At Dr. Park Avenue, we offer multiple treatments to help support the health of your skin, and we have locations in both Brick and Franklin Lakes, NJ
How Can You Fix Sun-Damaged Skin?
Dermaplaning
Professional exfoliation methods such as dermaplaning can help your skin boost up its collagen production and shed old, sun damaged skin cells. The outermost layer of your damaged skin will be removed by our talented and experienced team. We use a tiny, sterile scalpel to do this, which will also remove your peach fuzz hairs in the process.
The skin responds to this treatment by making more collagen to support your skin health, and producing a new layer of healthy tissue. This should encourage smoother texture, a healthier glow, and more even skin tone throughout the treated area. All this without any down time.
What To Expect
The first thing you can expect is to set up a consultation with us, so we can personalize your treatment plan for your unique needs. Once your appointment is set up, the treatment begins with cleaning your face to remove any extra skin care products or makeup that could be left on the skin.
After that, we’ll use the sterile scalpel and guide it across your skin for gentle and thorough exfoliation. That’s it! The treatment itself is very quick and non-invasive, so you can carry on with the rest of your day after you’re finished. This is a great way to press “restart” on your skin and set a healthy baseline for your face.
Microneedling
In addition to addressing skin discoloration, blemishes, fine lines, and acne scars, microneedling can be a helpful way to improve the signs of sun damage on your face. Microneedling can be used on all skin types and tones.
We are dedicated to providing each of our clients the best possible care, which is why our team uses the only FDA-approved microneedling device for treatment. This treatment is very versatile, so we can adjust it to fit your needs. If you want more than just your face treated, this is a great choice as we can also treat your neck, arms, abdomen and legs with microneedling.
What To Expect
It takes about 30 minutes, and as with dermaplaning you won’t have to worry about downtime after your treatment. In this treatment, a small device is used across the face to encourage collagen production.
Some patients may notice immediate improvements, but the real benefits will show up over several weeks as your skin continues the rejuvenation process. Your results should be at their best around three to six months after treatment.
How Many Treatments Will I Need?
For many patients, a series of treatments can be especially helpful in getting the results they’re after. Three treatments spaced about a month apart is the norm, but individual needs vary. Based on your needs we will give you our recommendation on what we feel will offer the best results, but we’re also willing to make adjustments and work with you and your schedule as much as possible.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is another exfoliation method. This treatment uses an instrument to carefully sand your skin, which will remove the unhealthy skin layer and encourage regeneration. It’s used to treat sun damage as well as light scarring, stretch marks, and discoloration.
It can also improve blackheads and age spots, as well as enlarged pores, and uneven skin tone. Patients dealing with visible blood vessels and rosacea may also find this a perfect treatment for their needs. Once the congested skin cells are cleared out, patients should note an improvement with skin tone and health regardless of what they’re having treated.
IPL Photofacials
As the skin ages, it loses its ability to produce appropriate levels of elastin and collagen, which are crucial to maintaining firm, smooth skin. This can cause the face to sag and become more dull, and can usher in fine lines and wrinkles. This process can be expedited by sun damage. The good news is, IPL photofacials can help treat all of those concerns.
This cutting-edge treatment option is used with the goal of restoring an even complexion and improving signs of aging across the face. It uses multiple wavelengths of pulsed light, which both target and correct a wide range of skin imperfections from the inside out. This light can be delivered to the surface of the skin as well as below the surface to get a multi-layered treatment all in one.
What To Expect
Our team will use a handpiece for this process, and will guide it over areas of your skin that you want addressed. The handpiece filters light from the color spectrum; these wavelengths of color are absorbed like heat by the skin’s pigments. This will basically destroy the damage affecting the skin, and encourage a healthy glow across the treated area.
Personalized Results
Before we start, we’ll select the best wavelength to treat your unique skin needs. Once the right wavelength has been identified, we’ll deliver treatment with our specialized handpiece to the affected skin layers. The hemoglobin and melanin will interpret these wavelengths as heat, and your face’s natural healing process will begin throughout the treated portions of the face.
This will help clear out irregularities across the skin as the body naturally removes them. Each session, you should see more and more improvement until you’re left with a glowing complexion.
FAQ for Sun Damaged Skin
1. After Treatment, How Do I Continue To Protect My Skin?
Protective Facials
Our vitamin F facial can help protect your skin from solar radiation. It can also help prevent premature aging in the skin, and sooth skin that’s rough, chapped, dry, or coarsely textured. We offer a range of facials for a range of needs, and would be happy to walk you through your options so you have tools to support the long-term health of your skin.
Wear Sunscreen
We may sound like a broken record, but wearing sunscreen is an important part of protecting your skin. It may be helpful to make it a regular part of your routine by setting your sunscreen next to your toothpaste or shampoo, just don’t mix them up!
Sunscreen is sometimes even added to makeup, so if you’re afraid you may forget to put on your sunscreen, investing in some SPF makeup may be worth your while.
Avoid the Sun at Its Strongest
The sun’s ultraviolet rays are usually at their strongest between 10am to 3pm, and those rays are the ones responsible for sunburn. If you enjoy activities like jogging, going for your jog before or after that time can help protect you from sun damage.
Protect Yourself in the Winter Too
All too often sunscreen is just associated with the beach and warm weather. It can be hard to remember the sun can still dish out damage during the cold months too. Bundling up with protective clothing is easier in the winter, but if your face isn’t covered you may want to still apply that sunscreen.
2. Why Is Preventing Sun Damaged Skin So Important?
Other than the fact that sun damage can harm your skin and expedite signs of aging, there are other important reasons to avoid sun damage. One of the primary threats of sun damage is skin cancer. Skin cancer is extremely common, and preventing sun damage can help prevent skin cancer.
One of the first signs of sun damage is sunburn, which can affect the blood vessels and cells of the damaged skin. When skin is repeatedly sunburned it can cause the skin to begin looking discolored, irritated, or take on a leathery texture. This may give the skin a tougher appearance, but the truth is the skin has been weakened and may even bruise more easily.
3. Doesn’t the Sun Have Health Benefits?
Sunlight is a source of vitamin D, which isn’t naturally found in most foods. However, during manufacturing many foods are now fortified with this crucial vitamin. If you’re eating foods fortified with vitamin D, you may not need as much sunlight anymore.
That said, just because vitamin D is now available elsewhere doesn’t mean you should avoid enjoying time outside. Spending time outdoors, especially to exercise, is important for the health of your body. Just be mindful of protecting your skin when you hit the great outdoors.
Discover Our Soothing Skin Treatments
If you’re ready to help your skin recover, reach out to us at Dr. Park Avenue in Brick and Franklin Lakes, NJ, today and set up your consultation.
