How to Repair & Prevent Sun-Damaged Skin

Now that summer is coming to an end and our sun-soaked adventures are fading away, you might be shocked to notice some sun damage left behind in its place: fine lines that weren’t there at the beginning of the season; dark sunspots beginning to spackle your forehead; a red, blotchy complexion that just won’t quit.

If you see any of these signs, don’t panic just yet. Make sure you step up your SPF game and start learning the best treatments for sun damaged skin. Use the links below to learn more about how to heal your skin from the sun and restore its vitality back to a radiant glow.

• What is sun-damaged skin?
• What causes sun-damaged skin?
• 7 signs of sun-damaged skin
• How to treat sun-damaged skin
• Tips to protect your skin from sun damage
• Our favorite products for sun-damaged skin
• Help your skin heal after sun damage

What Is Sun-Damaged Skin?

The term sun damage is often used interchangeably with “photoaging”, or premature aging that’s caused by exposure to ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) light. This change in skin quality  is different from “chronological” aging—such as sagging cheeks induced by gravity, a lack of skin elasticity, and the loss of voluminous fat from the lips—which occurs naturally over time.

By contrast, 90% of aging is caused by the sun, which, unlike natural aging, can be controlled and minimized. Some signs of photoaging are the same as those caused by nature’s clock, namely fine lines and wrinkles. That’s because sun damage occurs slowly and gradually, compounding on itself with every exposure.

What Causes Sun-Damaged Skin?

Sun damage to the skin occurs primarily due to unprotected exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. While we all love the warmth of sunshine, those rays can silently damage our skin cells, leading to immediate and long-term effects. Understanding what causes sun-damaged skin is the first step toward protecting and treating it. 

The primary causes of sun-related skin damage include: 

• Unprotected UV exposure: When your skin isn't shielded by sunscreen, protective clothing, or shade, UV rays penetrate deep into skin layers, causing cellular damage. Even brief periods of unprotected exposure can contribute to cumulative harm. 

• Skipping daily sunscreen: The effects of not wearing sunscreen may not be immediately apparent, but they can result in sun damage on the skin. Many people only apply sunscreen during beach days or outdoor activities, not realizing that incidental exposure during everyday tasks like driving or walking to lunch adds up significantly over time. Wearing sunscreen daily can protect your skin year-round.

• Tanning beds and artificial UV sources: These devices emit concentrated UV radiation that can be even more damaging than natural sunlight, accelerating the development of sun damage on the face and other exposed areas.

The sun produces two primary types of ultraviolet rays that affect your skin differently. UVA rays (the "aging" rays) penetrate deep into your skin's dermis layer. They're present year-round, even on cloudy days, and can pass through window glass. UVA rays are responsible for premature aging signs like wrinkles and dark spots. 

UVB rays mainly affect your skin's outer layer, causing sunburn and potentially contributing to skin cancer. UVB rays are stronger during summer months and at peak daylight hours. 

One of the most important things to understand about skin damage from the sun is its cumulative nature. Each exposure to UV radiation adds up over your lifetime. However, the damage isn't always immediately visible.

This is why sun protection isn't just important during beach vacations or outdoor activities—it's essential every day, even when it's cloudy or you're primarily indoors. Consistent, year-round protection is the only way to minimize the accumulation of sun damage that will eventually manifest as visible signs of aging.

7 Signs of Sun-Damaged Skin

Many people don’t realize that signs of sun damage on the face and body can appear as early as your teens or twenties. Identifying these signs early allows for more effective intervention and prevention.

Signs that indicate you have sun-damaged skin include:

• Premature wrinkles and fine lines. UV rays break down collagen, causing wrinkles to develop years earlier than they would from natural aging alone. 

• Sagging skin. Repeated sun exposure weakens the skin, leading to the loss of firmness and elasticity. 

• Sunspots, liver spots, and freckles. These flat brown marks appear when UV exposure causes melanocytes to produce excess pigment in concentrated areas. 

• Broken capillaries, redness, and rosacea. UV damages blood vessels, causing them to dilate permanently or burst, creating visible red lines and patches of persistent redness. 

• Uneven skin tone and melasma. Sun exposure can trigger irregular pigmentation, resulting in patchy discoloration and brown patches often seen with melasma. 

• Rough and dry skin texture. UV damage disrupts the skin’s moisture barrier, leading to chronic dryness, flaking, and a rough, leathery texture.

• Actinic keratosis (AK). These rough patches are precancerous growths caused by years of sun exposure.

How to Treat Sun-Damaged Skin

UV rays cause permanent changes to your DNA and cellular structure. Once damage occurs, it’s impossible to undo it completely. While you can’t go back in time, you can reduce and repair some of the sun damage you’ve accumulated over the years.

The best treatment for sun-damaged skin will depend on the type of damage you’re trying to reverse. Once we know the problem at hand, we can suggest the best way to heal sun damage from your face. Here’s how to repair sun-damaged skin:

Treatments for wrinkles

Peptides are essential for combating wrinkles and visible signs of aging. They can support collagen production and improve skin elasticity, which may soften fine lines and help your skin appear more firm and plump.

Antioxidants can also help soften wrinkles and fine lines by neutralizing free radicals—byproducts of environmental stressors, such as pollution and UV rays. To target wrinkles, look for skincare formulas that include peptides and antioxidants. Our Pep Up® Collagen Boost Face & Neck Serum is formulated with 10 potent peptides and antioxidants to diminish the appearance of wrinkles and promote healthier, more youthful-looking skin.

Treatments for sagging skin

Sagging skin typically requires treatments that reach deep beneath the surface where collagen and elastin reside. Radiofrequency and ultrasound therapy procedures deliver energy to these deeper layers. This triggers natural collagen production, gradually tightening loose skin along the jawline and neck.

Treatments for hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone

Vitamin C serums are essential for battling the causes of hyperpigmentation and sun spots because they brighten existing discoloration while preventing new spots from forming. Alpha hydroxy acids complement this approach through gentle exfoliation, removing dull surface cells to reveal fresher skin.

Treatment for dry skin

Repairing dry, sun-damaged skin focuses primarily on restoring your skin's protective barrier. Look for moisturizers with ceramides that rebuild what sun exposure has broken down. 

Treatments for actinic keratosis 

Unfortunately, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by age 70. However, if you detect an AK early on, you have an opportunity to treat the lesion before it develops into squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). An AK is a rough, scaly patch of skin that develops from years and years of sun exposure. They typically affect people over 40 and may appear like hard, wart-like surfaces typically found on the face, lips, ears, hands, forearms, and necks.

It’s difficult to determine a noncancerous AK from a cancerous one, so it’s always best to receive a doctor’s medical diagnosis and treatment suggestions, which generally involve freezing and tissue scraping.