The sun brings amazing benefits to your health.  Facilitating the production of vitamin D, it aids in keeping your immune system healthy, apart from clearing up many skin problems.  Spending too much time under the sun’s rays, however, can lead to many problems, from ones as benign as age spots to serious ailments like skin cancer.  For the majority of people, prolonged exposure to the sun will cause sun damaged skin, otherwise known as melasma.  Characterized by excessive dryness and redness, it’s one of the most unsightly conditions you can experience.

While you can’t command the clouds to cover the sun every time you’re out, there are plenty of things you can do to avoid sun damaged skin.

Stay Out Of The Sun During Afternoons

The times between noon until around 3PM are usually the worst points of the day to stay under the sun.  With the sun’s light as close as it can be to the earth’s surface, there’s little natural protection to shield you from its damaging ultraviolet rays.  Conversely, morning sun is wonderful on the skin and is what you should aim to get if you’re hoping to enjoy its benefits.

Wear Protective Clothing

If you must be outdoors during inopportune times, wearing clothing fitted with UVA and UVB protection should help you avoid incurring sun damaged skin.  Long sleeves, pants and hats can provide a sufficient obstacle, especially during hot summer months.

Use A Sunscreen

Sunscreen lotions that you can apply all over your body should help block ultraviolet light from penetrating exposed areas of skin.  If you prefer light clothing during a hot day outside, make sure to use one of these light-repelling lotions to keep away sun damaged skin.

Many moisturizers and make up in the market today also contain natural sun-blocking ingredients.  Applied to your face and neck, they can help keep the ravages of sun and environment away.

Prolonged exposure to the sun can result in melasma, otherwise known as sun-damaged skin.  If your skin is experiencing such a condition, it is advisable to seek the opinion of a dermatologist as they are likely able to prescribe the most appropriate treatment for sun damaged skin.  With different levels of damage and a variety of corresponding treatments you can use for each one, self-medicating may prove more expensive in the end than just going in for a consultation.

A dermatologist will likely prescribe an over the counter medication as treatment for sun damaged skin that isn’t too severe.  Most of the time, light melasma sufferers can expect a regimen of creams and serums containing either retinol, copper peptides, alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) and antioxidants.  Some types of treatment for sun damaged skin will contain one or more of these components along with other ingredients that ease both dryness and irritation.

Moderate sun damage might require harsher ingredients like tretinoin and hydroquinone.  These can’t be bought over the counter and will need a prescription to acquire.  Tretinoin is a medication derived from vitamin A and works at the cellular level, helping repair skin, while hydroquinone is a treatment for sun damaged skin that is expected to intended to improve overall skin tone.

For serious sun damage, cosmetic procedures are often resorted to.  Depending on the diagnosis of your dermatologist, the ideal treatment for sun damaged skin in your case can be any one of microdermabrasion, chemical peels, laser resurfacing, collagen injections or botox.   Whichever one you end up undergoing, it’s most important to make sure it’s done under the watchful supervision of a skilled professional.