Sun damaged skin

Medical terms

Solar lentigo, actinic keratosis, actinic cheilitis, telangiectasia

Common terms

Sun induced freckle, sunspots, age spots, liver spots, broken capillaries

Overview

Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun accounts for most premature skin ageing and damage. The UV light damages skin structures and is carcinogenic.

Symptoms and signs

Formation of coarse wrinkles, thinning of the skin causing fine wrinkles and skin colour changes of the skin including brown spots (liver spots), freckles, small white spots, red areas and broken capilllaries. Excessive sun exposure can result in melanoma and skin cancer.

Treatment

Prevention is the best cure, so action should be taken to minimise future sun exposure including the daily use of sunscreen, avoiding the sun at the most intense times of the day, and wearing protective clothing. Post damage treatment includes a customised skin care regime designed by a Dermatologist, and IPL, PDT therapy, chemical peels and laser resurfacing.

Very little sun exposure is required to maintain vitamin D levels and so this can be gained by exposing other areas of the body to the sun apart from the face which gets daily exposure.