Sun Damage

UV Rays Are Bad News For Our Skin

That “healthy glow” from being in the sun is really just a precursor to a wide variety of skin problems our bodies experience later in life. Sun exposure, particularly the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light, is responsible for the skin changes we see as we age. UV rays damage our skin’s elastin, the fibers that help our skin retain its elasticity and shape. Without it, skin stretches and sags, and may also take longer to heal.

In addition to causing aesthetic changes, exposure to UV light can cause skin cancer, a serious condition that can disfigure you and potentially be deadly.

Symptoms

Sun damage is primarily responsible for the fine or deep wrinkles that appear around the eyes, mouth and forehead and the sagging that comes from the destruction of elastic and collagen tissue (elastosis). Many patients also experience freckles and discolored areas of the skin (mottled pigmentation), or a yellow discoloration of the skin. Sun damage can also cause telangiectasias (small blood vessels that dilate under the skin) and even benign tumors.

More severe symptoms experienced with actinic keratosis (pre-cancer), basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma skin cancers include skin lesions that appear when the skin’s immune function decreases and cancerous cells develop. Read more about skin cancer screening here »

Treatment Options

Treatment options: We offer a variety of cosmetic services such as Pearl Fractional, Laser Genesis and light therapy, TCA peels and micro-needling that can diminish or eliminate skin discoloration and boost collagen production in your skin. Fillers, such as BOTOX® and JUVÉDERM® can fill wrinkles and restore your skin’s volume, lifting sagging features.

If you’re unhappy with your skin’s appearance, contact us to make an appointment with our team for a free consultation about options available to reverse the signs of sun damage.

Learn More

For more information on our dermatology services, please call (530) 528-4456 or contact us. Or click here to Find a Doctor.