After a hot summer abroad it is important to think carefully about the damage that may have been done to our skin as a result of exposure to the sun, and to think about what might be done about this. Sun can easily damage our faces, and it doesn't take much. We may be damaging our skin just going for a quick walk, or eating lunch out in the midday sun. Sunbathing with sunscreen can still be extremely damaging, where many of us forget to reapply the sunscreen often enough to keep our skin constantly protected.

However, there are now plenty of ways to help reverse the damage caused by the sun. there have been great advancements in skin care products as well as cosmetic surgery techniques to minimize most of the sun's effects. Our face really shows up much of the damage, and this is the best way to assess whether your skin is suffering as a result of the sun. if you feel the damage is not too severe then over the counter remedies may help reverse this.

Firstly, you might consider an acid peel kit, which can be easily purchased from beauty stores. Ingredients contained in these kits such as salicylic acid help to remove the top layers of skin, thus removing any noticeable damage that was caused by the sun.

If your skin is more severely damaged then you will probably need to go a little further and visit a cosmetic surgeon to perform a stronger version of this acid peel. This peel has been claimed to take up to 10 years of noticeable damage away from your skin. It helps to reduce the look of fine lines on your face and will remove most of the sun damage. However, you can go further still and find a cosmetic surgeon who can perform laser resurfacing to remove the top few layers for the highest levels of damage.

One reason why sun damage can accelerate the aging process is due to the fact that it reduces the ability of the skin to retain moisture, and this is down to lower levels of collagen as well as Hyaluronic acid that are naturally contained within the skin. When our skin loses its ability to retain moisture its elasticity will be reduced, leading to a sagging of the features on the face. To help this problem in particular, a surgical face lift alongside an acid peel will result in more youthful looking skin, as well as minimizing the damage caused by the sun.

If you think that any of these cosmetic options might be for you, you should make sure to seek advice from an experienced surgeon before going through with the process. It is easy to find reputable practices in the UK by carrying out a quick internet search - just get in contact with them and arrange a meeting to discuss your options.

As you can see, many corrective options are available to rectify the problems of sun damage. However, prevention is still extremely important and you should always protect your face and skin from the sun to ensure that the results of these procedures do not reverse in time. Sunscreen is recommended for all times of the year, as the skin is sensitive and may still be damaged even in the winter months. The minimum recommended SPF is 15, though this should be increased to a minimum of 30 during the summer months. If you sunbathe a lot you may also consider choosing higher protection.

Copyright (c) 2008 John Nolan