Sun Damage

What can a dermatologist do for sun-damaged skin?

If you’re wondering how to repair sun-damaged skin, seeing a board-certified dermatologist is the first step. From laser treatments and chemical peels to microdermabrasion and topical treatments, our Forefront dermatologists can help you reduce the signs of photoaging.

Topical Treatments: Topical treatments containing retinol are a sun exposure damage treatment that can help you even out your skin tone, smooth fine lines, and fade dark spots. Retinol is a derivative of vitamin A. It works by stimulating collagen production and encouraging cell turnover, which can help you achieve smoother and softer skin. You can buy less potent forms of retinol over-the-counter, but your Forefront dermatologist can give you a sun-damaged skin prescription for creams or serums with retinol.

Chemical Peels: Chemical peels remove damaged skin cells from the top layers of your skin. Although they vary in type and intensity, most chemical peels can remove brown spots and dramatically improve the texture and tone of photodamaged skin.

Microdermabrasion: Microdermabrasion can improve sun-damaged skin by gently exfoliating the top layer of skin. It’s a non-invasive treatment that uses diamond microparticles or crystals to encourage the growth of collagen and smooth and brighten your skin.

Laser Resurfacing: Laser resurfacing is a dermatologist treatment to reverse sun-damaged skin that uses short, concentrated light beams to remove damaged layers of skin. Laser treatment reveals fresh, new skin underneath, helping improve the appearance of dark spots, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone and texture.

Intense Pulsed Light: Intense pulsed light is a photoaging treatment that can improve the appearance of age spots, broken blood vessels, and a blotchy or ruddy complexion. The treatment delivers a series of pulses to heat to destroy brown spots, sun spots, and broken capillaries.

Injectable Treatments: Injectables can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and restore lost volume caused by sun damage. BOTOX® Cosmetic is an injectable treatment that smooths wrinkles by relaxing your facial muscles. Dermal fillers, such as Restylane® and Juvederm®, are made of hyaluronic acid. This is a natural substance that hydrates your skin and increases its volume.

Photodynamic Therapy: Photodynamic therapy can minimize the effects of sun damage and treat actinic keratoses. During treatment, specific wavelengths of light are applied to activate a topical medicine. This selectively destroys abnormal skin cells, including potentially cancerous skin cells. After treatment, the damaged skin cells flake off, revealing healthier, younger-looking skin.