Problems with photodamaged skin

The consequences  to the skin of sun exposure are readily apparent if you compare the exposed skin of your face, hands or neck to the unexposed skin of your inner arm or buttock. Some experts estimate that 80% of facial ageing is attributable to sun exposure.

Pigmentation

Sun damage can cause local areas of altered pigment resulting in brown spots ranging from freckles to sunspots.

For more information see Brown Spots.

Sun damage can also cause more generalised damage to pigment cells resulting in patchy areas of pigment loss (hypopigmentation) or of increased pigment (hyperpigmentation).

For more information see Pigmentation.

Redness

A combination of skin type and sun exposure can contribute to generalised redness of the face (rosacea) or neck (poikiloderma) as well as broken capillaries (telangiectasia).

For more information see Facial Capillaries.

Wrinkling

Sun damage is one of the primary factors in premature ageing of the skin and the early development of lines, wrinkles and furrows.

For more information see Wrinkle Treatments.

Texture

The surface texture and appearance of the skin changes with sun damage and results in changes ranging from rough and dry skin through thickened areas of the skin (solar keratoses) to skin cancers. An exciting new advance is Photodynamic Therapy which can treat sun damaged skin before it becomes cancerous.

For more information see Photodynamic Therapy Sun Damaged Skin.

Photorejuvenation

Photorejuvenation is a term used to indicate laser or light based treatments that remove or diminish the visible effects of sun damage on the skin.

For more information see Photorejuvenation.

Related Items

• Sun Effects On Skin
• Solar Keratoses
• Skin Cancer