Men's Health

How to reverse facial sun damage

Excessive amount of exposure to sunlight can lead to discoloration of your face, and other forms of facial skin damage such as the appearance of wrinkles. Lighter skinned people are generally slightly more at risk of sun damage because their skin type has less melanin to absorb the ultra-violet rays that sun emits. The melanin is the first from of defence.

However, if you happened to have slight or even excessive damage then there some solutions that are still available to you to lessen the effects of the damage or even totally reverse withthe use of either Retin A or Glycol acid.

Retin A

Retin A (the medical name is tretinoin) is a derivative of vitamin A. Scientific research has shown that it is great at helping renew skin cells by getting rid of dead skin cells at the uppermost layer. This is done through a process of exfoliation.

Retin A makes the skin sensitive to sunlight and therefore use of sunscreen with at least SPF of 15 is critical. SPF of 30 is recommended. Without use of sunscreen, the problem will get worse.

You should see great improvement with a couple of months. It also has other positive side effects such as reducing stretch marks.

There are some side effects such as dryness and redness of skin, but that is expected considering it is a very effective at exfoliating the skin. However, if it causes unbearable redness and itchiness then you should stop immediately and consult a physician.

Glycolic Acid

Glycolic acid is a type of alpha-hydroxy acids, it has been shown also to be a great at removing dead skin cells and exfoliating the skin. It is also good at producing collagen, which is needed to renew the skin. Like Retin A, it is highly recommended that you use a sunscreen during the day to provide protection because Glycol acid too can make the skin sensitive to the sunlight.

Its strength is weaker than Retin A and is unlikely to produce results as quickly as Glycol acid. It is great for those who are very sensitive to Retin A and produces less itchiness, redness and stinging sensations.

When you are trying reverse sun damage, you must make sure you provide yourself with adequate sun protection at all times.