The sun’s powerful UV rays can penetrate your skin and cause changes that affect your skin’s health and appearance. When you’re not using high-quality sunscreen every time you go outside, or you’re not using your sunscreen properly, exposure to the UV rays can lead to:
Too much sun exposure can cause the loss of moisture in your skin, leading to chronic dryness and flakiness. Not only can you lose water content from your skin, but too much time in the sun can reduce the quantity of essential oils in your skin.
Sunburn can result if you spend too much time outside without proper sunscreen. While a mild sunburn can cause dryness, irritation, and redness that will go away within a few days, a major sunburn can damage your skin and lead to blisters, fluid-filled bumps, and even scarring.
Repeated sunburns can also increase your risk of developing skin cancer.
Collagen is an essential protein that’s needed for healthy skin. When your skin’s collagen is damaged, it can result in sagging, fine lines, and wrinkles, all of which can prematurely age you.
The sun's rays can penetrate deep into the skin, causing cumulative and long-lasting changes to collagen's normal structure. The sun-damaged collagen causes the skin to be weak and thin. This fragile, thin skin appears saggy and wrinkled and can even lead to easy bruising on the arms and hands.
The sun’s rays also turn on increased production of melanin or pigment. Tanned skin is a sign of sun damage. With continued sun exposure, the skin will respond by making more splotchy brown spots as well.
Every time the sun's rays hit your skin, they also cause mutations in the DNA of your skin cells that then have to be repaired by your body. When your body doesn't repair the mutations correctly, this leads to skin cancer.
To address sun damage without further harming your skin, board-certified dermatologist David A. Bushore, MD, uses chemical peels. These safe and effective treatments can not only reverse visible signs of premature aging, they can also revitalize your overall skin health and help you look more refreshed and vibrant.
Essentially, a chemical peel involves applying a special chemical agent that exfoliates layers of your skin. At Balcones Dermatology & Aesthetics, a variety of chemical peels are available, including the following:
Superficial chemical peels focus on exfoliating only the outermost layer of your skin to address uneven or rough texture, dull skin, and redness. Superficial peels don’t usually require anesthesia or downtime.
During a medium peel, the chemicals used address both the middle and outer layers of your skin. At this depth, you can address fine lines and skin discolorations, such as age spots and sunspots. Medium peels may require a pain medication and some downtime.
During a deep chemical peel, the strongest agents are used to tackle signs of aging by exfoliating several layers of your skin. Board-certified dermatologist David A. Bushore, MD, uses croton oil during a deep chemical peel, which is the most efficient way to reverse the signs of aging and restore the natural beauty of your skin.
Deep peels are more invasive than the other types of peels, and they require both anesthesia and a recovery period. You can expect to need several weeks of healing before your skin shows the true benefits of a croton oil peel.
Following your peel, you can continue to care for your skin with the high-quality products that Dr. Bushore suggests to promote healing. You’ll also need to be diligent about using sunscreen that’s SPF 30 or higher any time you’re outside.
If you’re ready to bring your skin back to life and reverse the signs of sun damage, book an appointment online or over the phone with Balcones Dermatology & Aesthetics today.
