Sunburn! Oh no, now what?

So you thought you had it covered, but missed a few spots, didn't reapply or simply ignored the advice to wear sunscreen...and you look like this!  Help is on the way!

First, get out of the sun pronto! For relief, you can apply cool compresses  to reduce heat and inflammation.  Apply cooling aloe gel to sooth and hydrate skin.  Schedule a facial ASAP with a licensed esthetician, who can do the following:

• Cleanse skin with a calming, hydrating cleanser.
• Use a GENTLE enzyme to exfoliate the damaged skin off the surface with no irritation
• Use massage techniques to help soothing, hydrating serums penetrate deep into skin to reduce inflammation and promote healing
• Vitamin C serum helps protect skin and reverse pigmentation
• Hydrate with a soothing moisturizer with SPF

Your skin will look immediately better, will not be irritated, and will feel cooler and soothed!  This could also help reduce future peeling.  Check out Jodi Braun at JS Medspa on Facebook for more information on this treatment! 

Sun damage.  UV rays damage skin by breaking down collagen and elastin, causing wrinkles and sagging.  UV rays also ramp up the production of melanin, the substance that produces the 'tan' color.  The melanin is trying to protect the nucleus of the cell from damage.  The more melanin, the more tan, and also the more damage!  Uneven spots of melanin overproduction will eventually make their way to the surface of the skin in the form of brown spots.

Can sun damage be reversed?  Absolutely!  Sun damage happens deep in our skin and some of it may not work it's way to the surface for years.  A lot of the damage we do to our skin won't surface until during or after menopause.  But there are steps you can take to keep this damage from ever coming to the surface as well as reduce visible damage!

 

• Use a Vitamin C serum twice daily immediately after cleansing.  Serums have smaller molecules and penetrate faster and deeper.  Vitamin C lightens and brightens damage already showing on the surface.  It also can help speed up the skin's natural repair system, thus repairing the underlying damage before it can surface.
• Use Vitamin A in a night cream.  Vitamin A is the powerhouse of anti-aging.  It speeds up cell turnover, which will help your skin exfoliate surface damage hyperpigmentation (freckles or brown spots).  It also increases collagen production, helping keep skin firm and smooth, reducing wrinkles  brought about by sun damage. 
• Hydroquinone is found in alot of 'lightening' creams and can be effective at reversing sun damage, but should be used with caution.  Hydroquinone works by stopping the melanin production in the cell, which naturally will stop any brown spots from surfacing.  The problem is, it can be irritating and can cause 'white' spots of hypopigmentation.  Discontinuing use will not fix that issue, as once the melanin production is turned off, it will not start again.  The products I use do not use this ingredient, but you may see it on shelves, at other spas, and even in some stores.  Proceed with caution!
• Regular facials will help with all of this!  Regular professional strength exfoliation will  remove some surface damage. Professional strength serums massaged deeply into skin will go to work immediately to 'attack' below the surface damage and being the repair process.  Regular hydration in the form of masks helps keep skin soft and supple. Microcurrent treatments will increase collagen and elastin production, thus reducing wrinkles.
• Regular daily use (365 days a year) of SPF 30 is essential for reducing sun damage.  All of the above will be a waste of time if you do not remove the trigger (UV rays) by protecting your skin daily! 

 

Follow the above advice and you can stop the sun damage.  Remember, what you do to your skin in your 20s may not surface until your 40s or 50s!  Keep your skin beautiful for your whole life!