How to Reverse Skin Damage

Exposure to the sun over time can lead to skin damage

Signs of sun damage to the skin include wrinkles, brown spots, an uneven complexion and a tough, leathery skin texture. Sun-damaged skin is the result of overexposure to ultraviolet, or UV, sunlight, which also can cause skin cancer. If you have signs of sun-damaged skin, there are some things you can do to repair and even reverse the effects of too much sun. Does this Spark an idea?

Things You'll Need

• Daily cleanser
• Exfoliating scrub
• Sunscreen
• Skin lightening cream
• Multivitamin
• Lotion

Instructions

1. Cleanse skin daily with a gentle cleaner and exfoliate at least twice a week with a gentle skin scrub. Removing the dead cells on the outermost layer of the skin on a regular basis lets the skin underneath regenerate itself.

2. Use sunscreen daily with an SPF of at least 15. According to Skin Cancer.org, daily use of sunscreen can lower your long-term risk of skin cancer. Using sunscreen prevents additional sun damage, while it allows your skin to repair and reverse some of the damage that's already been done.

3. Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water to moisturize skin from within. Use a moisturizer on the outside of your skin to hydrate, plump up skin cells and stimulate the production of collagen.

4. Use a skin lightener on brown spots caused by the sun. Find a product that uses kojic acid with hydroquinone and retinol-A and a mild steroid to lighten discoloration.

5. See a dermatologist for treatments like photodynamic therapy, which uses light to remove patches of skin damaged by the sun, or microdermabrasion and other treatments that resurface the skin.

6. Take vitamins E, C and selenium and use lotions and skin creams that contain these vitamins. According to the website MedScape.com, they all reduce and repair sun damage to the skin. Consider taking a multivitamin that contains all three vitamins and look for creams that list the vitamins among their ingredients.

References

• Skin Cancer.org: Repair (and even reverse) signs of sun damage
• MedScape.com: Few Vitamins Effectively Prevent or Reverse Skin Damage