Dealing with Sun Damage – Seen and Unseen
Lucky to live in the sunny South, most of us enjoy the pleasures that come from that. Everything from morning coffee to sundown supper can and does take place outdoors. For many of us, our work – and for practically all of us, our recreation – are pursuits we carry on under the sun. The skin tone and texture that comes with that was once a badge of the well-to-do, yet for many years the trend has been in favor of a gentler, more refined look.
The penalties we pay for sun exposure are many. Some are simply inconvenient or unsightly, and all-too easy to see. Others are more dangerous. At Dermatology Consultants, we see that our patients who pay attention to one are often protected from the other. The awareness that comes from staying on top of visible sun damage can lead to early detection, the key factor for success when and if sun exposure leads to skin cancer.
The Outward Indicators
Age spots and sun spots are concentrations of the skin’s natural pigments that are prompted, in part, by exposure to the sun. Appearing on hands, face, and anyplace else that stays out when you are outdoors, they are not dangerous in and of themselves, and yet most people regard them as signals of aging that they would rather not advertise. Dispersing sun spots through chemical peels or BBL and IPL light therapies can bring the added benefits of erasing or easing lines, folds, and wrinkles.
The Many Options
From light therapies to chemical peels, we offer a range of options for dealing with sun damage, depending on your own situation and goals. The Beta Peel exfoliates and supports cell turnover on the skin’s surface, making it an excellent choice for uneven skin tone, fine lines, or even rosacea. Enzyme Delight uses natural fruit acids – cherry-berry, pumpkin, and orange – to brighten and nourish the skin. The mandelic acid peel adheres gently to the skin and peels away to allow new skin growth, fading the effects of sun damage, dark spots, and uneven skin tone.
A peel enriched with vitamin A, Retin-A, removes dry skin and permits better absorption of topical nutrients and medications. Our Smoothing Body Peel gets to hard-to-reach places such as the back, and areas that see lots of wear and tear, like the hands and feet, to exfoliate, nourish, soften, and hydrate the skin. The Vi Peel goes to work at the cellular level, building elastin and collagen to smooth and tighten the skin, shrink enlarged pores, and address fine lines and wrinkles. Vi is particularly effective with pigmentation issues and acne.
Light therapies offer the chance to fade age and sun spots – and in the process, rejuvenate your skin in some fundamental ways that most people find very welcome. Broadband light and intense pulsed light therapy (BBL and IPL) penetrate the skin’s layers, reaching the darker pigment of damaged cells and prompting them to rise to the surface and disappear. At the same time, the deep application of light energy stimulates the skin’s own production of collagen and elastin, increasing fullness and suppleness.
The Lifesaving Awareness
Because few of us would choose to bet our lives on our own ability to see the difference between a mole or a freckle and the beginnings of skin cancer, the attention of a board-certified dermatologist can make the difference in early detection, the greatest indicator of dealing with skin cancer successfully. Because one in five Americans will develop skin cancer at some point of their lives, this awareness should be a priority for us all.
At Dermatology Consultants, you’ll meet professionals dedicated to helping you look the way you want to look – and protecting your health on the way to reaching your goals. Just contact us to get started.