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Sun damage can lead to visible spots on the skin and premature aging, but it doesn’t always mark the skin. Sometimes the effects of damaged skin can be more difficult to spot but can nevertheless impact your immune system and future health and wellbeing.

Over time, ultraviolet light from the sun can damage your skin, leading to sunburn, dark spots, wrinkles, and sometimes even cancer. UVA and UVB rays work together to cause deeply penetrating damage that may go unnoticed. That is why it is essential to take preventative measures to protect your skin every day. You can also strive to reverse existing damage.

According to research, UV exposure is responsible for 80% of your skin’s aging. A deep tan may look attractive, but it is an outward sign of injured skin. Today, we will cover some practical steps you can take to care for your skin after sun exposure.

Key Takeaways

• Knowing your skin type and choosing the right ingredients to repair and protect it can empower you to find the best products available to add to your skincare routine.
• The sun can feel good on your skin, but too much exposure can lead to dangerous damage that may or may not be permanent.
• Sunburn is an outward (often painful) sign of DNA damage in your skin.
• To prevent early signs of aging, use quality products that contain age-fighting ingredients.
• To treat dry skin, drink lots of water, exfoliate, and moisturize.

How to Repair Common Types of Skin Damage from the Sun

The sun can feel good on the skin, but excess exposure can quickly lead to damage that may or may not be permanent. Here are some tips for reversing some early signs of skin damage and preventing more severe problems in the future.

Sunburn

Sunburn is an outward (often painful) sign of DNA damage to your skin. Recurring sunburn can eventually lead to premature aging and skin cancer. The best way to combat sunburn is to wear broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect against UVA and UVB rays. Make sure it has an SPF of 30 or higher and reapply at least every 80 minutes – whether you are spending the day outdoors or inside.

When you are outside, opt for the shade as much as possible to give your sunburn a chance to heal and, hopefully, repair damaged DNA. Also wear a hat and sunglasses. Do not use tanning beds, which place you at a much higher risk for developing skin cancer.

Here are a few more tips to help ease painful sunburn and allow your skin to heal naturally:

• Drink lots of water.
• Allow blisters to heal on their own (without picking at them).
• Take cool baths or showers.
• Use a moisturizer containing aloe vera or sugar beet root.
• Use a product containing Canadian willowherb extract, which possesses anti-irritant properties and can help soothe sensitive skin and reduce inflammation.

Wrinkles and Premature Aging

When UV rays break down the elastin and collagen in your skin, you can start to develop wrinkles. To prevent early signs of aging and make your skin look firmer, identify quality products that contain some of these age-fighting ingredients:

• Elix-IR, a knotgrass extract, is rich in flavonoids and antioxidants that can fight signs of aging. Elix-ER can help protect your skin from UV and infrared-induced sun damage to preserve your skin’s elasticity and firmness.
• Beta-carotene (found in many fruits and vegetables) is an antioxidant that can make your skin more flexible and reduce wrinkles caused by the sun.
• Exo-P, ferment filtrate from French Polynesia naturally protects the skin against UV-induced skin damage to limit premature aging. It increases skin lipids to prevent moisture loss.

Dry Skin

You may notice dry, rough patches on your skin after sun exposure. You may want to try gently exfoliating your skin (only if you don’t have sunburn) to remove dead skin cells and reveal healthy, soft skin underneath. Remember to drink a lot of water and moisturize as well. Here are several products that can help revitalize dry skin:

• Vegetable source glycerin from palm and coconut oil can help lock water into your skin to make it more supple and smooth.
• Purified sugar beetroot helps balance the moisture level in your cells to provide lasting hydration and strengthen the skin barrier. It can act as both a short-term and long-term moisturizer.
• French Polynesia Ferment Filtrate is a skincare ingredient that can help shed dead skin cells while promoting cell renewal to help even out your complexion.
• Alteromonas Ferment Filtrate (synthesized by Kopara Microorganism) can help limit excess water loss and hydrate the skin by inducing lipids, filaggrin, and hyaluronic acid.

Sunspots

Dark spots may appear on your skin to protect you against UV rays. To fight these marks (often called sunspots, age spots, or dark spots), consider trying a product containing an encapsulated peptide (Oligopeptide 68), which can reduce melanin production. Encapsulated peptide(Oligopeptide 68)  is a gentle whitening agent that can effectively brighten the skin and rapidly improve skin tone.

Melasma

Melasma can appear as grey or brown patches on the skin. These spots can develop as sun exposure leads to increased levels of melanin production. To repair melasma, follow the same recommendations as you would for sunspots. Ultimately, the best way to avoid melasma is to stay out of the sun and apply sunscreen whenever you expose your skin to UV light.

Improve Your Skincare Routine to Combat the Effects of Sun Exposure

Do you want glowing skin without the damage the sun can cause? snowperk® can help you build a personalized skincare routine customized for your specific skin type. We can create a plan filled with healthy, quality ingredients clinically proven to benefit your skin.

To begin building your unique skincare routine, start with snowperk iD™ – our skin analysis tool. You will quickly learn your skin type and condition and receive personalized recommendations to optimize your skincare routine. Learn how to get fast and visible results by incorporating suitable actives and avoiding ingredients that lead to inflammation. Before you know it, you’ll have healthier, more youthful-looking skin.

Check your skin ID today!