Sun Damage

Too much sun exposure can cause significant damage to human skin, even though most people enjoy the warmth and light it provides. When exposed to direct sunlight, skin loses its natural ability to retain lubricating oils, which causes areas of exposed skin to become dry and cracked. UV radiation from the sun can also cause burning and long-term changes to the structure of the skin.

Sun damage can appear on the skin in various ways, but dark spots and freckles are the most common. Most people want to look and feel their best for as long as possible. However, this is a difficult task because of the ageing effects of the sun and the decreased collagen production that occurs with age.

Symptoms

Overexposure to the sun can cause a variety of long-term problems for your skin. The presence of age spots on the skin is one of the most noticeable effects of sun damage. 

These skin pigment concentrations are essentially an uneven tan. It appears on areas of the body that are frequently exposed to sunlight, such as your face, neck, hands, arms and chest.

It’s also possible that your skin will become drier, rougher, and less elastic over time. 

The ability of your skin to produce collagen, which aids in your skin’s ability to bounce back after stretching and folding, can be reduced by sun damage. 

Wrinkles, particularly fine ones, will become more apparent as a result of sun damage.

Causes

UV radiation is a part of the light spectrum that the sun sends to the earth. UVA and UVB rays have wavelengths that are shorter than visible light. 

However, the effects of exposure to either type of radiation on the skin will be different. 

Burnt, red skin is caused by ultraviolet B (shortwave) rays, while DNA damage can be caused by ultraviolet A (longwave) rays penetrating deeper into the skin.

The effects of sun damage can have both short- and long-term effects. Sunburn is a prominent symptom of sun damage. It appears as red, swollen skin that is slightly warmer than usual in the mildest form. 

Blisters, nausea, and dizziness are common side effects in more severe cases. Sunburn, in other words, can be extremely painful and debilitating.

Unprotected sun exposure can cause dryness, dullness, and an uneven skin tone over time. As a result of the sun’s drying effects and depletion of the skin’s supply of essential fatty acids, it can appear and feel rough, flaky, and dry. 

Sun damage also reduces the rate of skin cell renewal, resulting in a build-up of old, dead skin cells and dull, clogged skin.

Unmistakable signs of sun damage include discolourations such as dark spots or hyperpigmentation caused by excessive sun exposure. 

For protection against sun damage, the skin produces too much melanin when broad-spectrum sunscreen is not used. 

Melanin is produced unevenly and concentrated in localized areas, resulting in unsightly pigmentation marks for many people.

The collagen and elastin in your skin can also be damaged by the sun’s rays and be lost. Premature signs of skin ageing like wrinkles and fine lines can result from collagen and elastin degradation in the deeper layers of your skin.

 Furthermore, unprotected sun exposure reduces the hyaluronic acid content of the skin, causing it to become thinner and more fragile.

Treatment

Cryotherapy can aid in the maintenance of a youthful and vibrant appearance. 

It improves the texture of your skin and removes age spots and visible blood vessels to give your face a more youthful appearance. 

In addition, the appearance of redness and discolouration are lessened. 

Applying makeup has become less of a hassle for many women.

Even though facials are the most popular, there are treatments for every part of the body.

Post Treatment

At first, the skin will feel a bit like stinging nettles. After the procedure, there may be some stinging and itching in the treated area for about 10 minutes. 

This is to be expected. Extremely low temperatures have an anaesthetic effect on most patients.

The treated area may swell and resemble a bee sting in appearance. 

However, this is normal and will go down after a few hours.

After treatment, avoid picking at the treated area at all costs, as it will prolong the time it takes to heal. 

If you accidentally knock a scab or wheel off, it will take longer to heal, but you should still have the same result as a successful treatment.

Prevention of further Sun Damage:

It’s much easier to prevent sun damage than it is to repair it. Wearing protective clothing, using a good quality sunscreen with SPF 30 or above, and staying away from tanning beds are all good precautions.

Those with fair skin or a family history of skin cancer should be extra careful regarding sun protection.

Even if you use a high-quality sunblock, you should still try to limit your time in the sun whenever possible. Of course, we all love the sun, but try to do outdoor activities in the early morning or later in the day to reduce sun exposure and the risk of skin cancer and photoaging.