Years of prolonged exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays will result in skin damage, wrinkles, and a prematurely aged appearance. Without consistent sunscreen use, the skin’s texture, pigment and thickening is affected over time. But is there any way to undo the damage the sun has caused to your skin? Some very successful anti-wrinkle, facial filler and chemical peel treatments are now being made available.
What Causes Sun Damage?
The primary cause for wrinkles, age spots and mole changes is sun exposure. The sun’s UV light changes the elastin in the skin causing it to break down. When this occurs, skin loses its elasticity and begins to sag, wrinkle and age.
How Can Sun Damage Be Treated?
• ViPeel-Chemical Peel. Sun damage can be directly treated with a specialized chemical peel called ViPeel. Using a synergistic blend of Retin-A, concentrated vitamins, and minerals, the skin is detoxified at a deeper level than traditional peels, resulting in firmer, tighter, rejuvenated skin.
• Fraxel Laser. Using a specialized laser which pinpoints very precise areas of the skin, deep layers of sun damaged skin can be reached and treated. As the skin begins to heal from this treatment, significant collagen regeneration occurs giving the patient smoother, younger looking skin within one week’s time.
• Microdermabrasion with Ultrasound. This water-based microdermabrasion process works well to treat hyperpigmentation, a darkened area of skin usually caused by sun exposure. The SonoPeel™ and SonoFacial™ processes are used in combination to exfoliate, rehydrate and nutrify sun damaged skin.
• Radiesse. Patients looking to smooth, contour and lift their forehead without surgical enhancement should consider Radiesse. Using a specially formulated biocompatible substance (identical to what is found in our bones and teeth), a dermal scaffold is created through which your body’s own collagen grows to restore a healthy, youthful appearance.
• Juvederm. To add more plumpness and hydration into deeply sun damaged and wrinkled skin, gel fillers made of hyaluronic acid (a naturally occurring substance in skin) are injected into the mid to deep dermis of the face. Results can last up to a year.
• Sculptra. While longer lasting but not permanent, this dermal filler and collagen regeneration product is used for restoring volume and improving facial contours caused by sun damaged skin. Results can last as long as 2-3 years.
• Artefill. This injectable treatment is considered more permanent as it visibly lifts and smoothes deeply wrinkled sun damaged skin. Artefill lasts at least five years and can be permanent.
• Botox. To smooth sun damaged skin, some patients use Botox. A purified protein produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium dramatically reduces specific muscle activity that causes wrinkles to form. Botox can keep facial lines relaxed for up to four months.
