We all know the dangers that the sun can bring, but if we are honest, most of us tend to ignore them. We think that the skin conditions which can occur through sun damage such as skin cancer will never happen to us and so we simply carry on regardless. We know exactly how to prevent these conditions from happening, but we do not know how to treat them once they do occur. So how exactly do you treat an existing skin condition?



Treating Sun Damaged Skin

Sun damaged skin can come in a variety of forms. Whether the damage done is serious, or whether it has just made the skin look a little bit older than it is, there is a way to reduce the damage to some extent. It all depends upon how serious the damage is in regards to what treatment you will use.

Non prescription treatments are readily available for quite mild sun damage conditions. You can buy these kinds of treatments at your local drugstore including:



Soy. Soybeans offer effective components which are mild enough, yet efficient enough to help with a number of different skin conditions. It soothes and moisturizers the skin, and it delays the appearance of hair regrowth.

Alpha Hydroxin Acids. These treatments help to remove dead skin cells from the outer layers of the skin, which in turn increases the production of new skin cells. This helps to control moisture levels, and create a smooth, healthy skin tone.

Copper/Copper Peptides. Copper is responsible for power and flexibility of the skin. Copper is often added to anti-ageing products in order to help better the elasticity of the skin.

Antioxidants Vitamin C and E. Vitamins C and E help to mend any mild damage caused by the sun. When treatments with Vitamin C and E are applied to the skin, they can help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and skin discoloration.

Retinol. Retinol is basically pure Vitamin A and it helps to form and maintain healthy skin. It encourages skin cells to be produced more efficiently and it renews Keratinocytes which are basically cells which synthesize Keratin. Keratin is the protein which makes up the skin, hair and nails and the effects of Retinol also cause softer skin and a decrease in the appearance of fine lines.

Knowing what to dress your children in can also keep them protected during the summer months. Hats for example, help to protect the head and scalp from burning as the scalp is the first thing that the sun touches. Also, a hat helps to protect a child from heat stroke so it is definitely a good piece of protective clothing to have in! Try and keep the clothing as baggy as possible and always change their clothing after they have been swimming or playing in the water.

So those are the main non prescription medications you can get for minor sun damage. As mentioned, you can find them in your local drugstore and they should not be too expensive.

If your sun damage is a little more severe then you may need prescription medication. These include:

Hydroquinone. These are topical treatments which are applied directly to the skin. They inhibit melanin production and they remove over-pigmented cells in order to enhance skin tone and clarity. They are extremely effective and are often used to lighten the skin in severe cases of Hyperpigmentation.

Tretinoin. Derived from Vitamin A, Tretinoin works at the cellular level. Topical Tretinoin increases collagen production in order to enhance the skins inner arrangement. It successfully decreases the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as fading any brown spots. It also protects the overall skin texture.

There are also some cosmetic procedures you can have done in order to improve sun damaged skin, however they should only really be used if non prescription and prescription drugs have not worked.

Overall sun damaged skin can take time to repair, though it can be done with the right treatment. It is always better to try and prevent the damage from occurring in the first place, but if it is too late you should see your Dermatologist to see which treatments would be most effective for you.