32 The Green, Firs Court
Hardingstone, Northampton, NN4 6TB

Sun Damaged Skin

The feel of the sun on your skin can undeniably make us feel good. In the short term, a healthy glow of a tan is seen as attractive, it makes us look good.

While prevention is better than cure, most of us have been over-exposed to the sun at some time in our lives.

However, the cumulative effects of sun exposure are not healthy at all. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays are the main cause of skin damage. These rays penetrate the skin and cause a range of harmful effects, including:

  1. Sunburn: The most immediate and visible effect of sun damage is sunburn. This occurs when the skin is exposed to excessive amounts of UV radiation, causing damage to the exposed and underprotected skin. Most sunburns result in redness, heat to the touch, and mild pain, affecting only the outer layer of skin (first degree burns). Sunburn usually appears within hours after sun exposure and may take several days to weeks to fade. However, even after the redness, soreness and peeling have healed, the damage to the skin can be long-lasting; so while sunburn is seen as a short term issue, it can be a precursor to longer term issues
  2. Skin Cancer: Prolonged and repeated exposure to the sun’s UV rays can damage the DNA in skin cells, increasing the risk of skin cancer, a highly dangerous condition and a known risk of sun exposure
  3. Premature Ageing: UV rays cause damage to the collagen and elastin fibres in the skin, fundamentally changing its internal structure. This leads to loss of firmness within the skin, causing issues such as wrinkles and sagging. The skin can appear looser, losing its more youthful tightness
  4. Poor Skin Texture: Sun-weathered skin also often appears to lose its texture and radiance. It can seem dry, dehydrated or even leathery in appearance. It may be flaky or just ‘rough’ looking, rather than smooth and healthy
  5. Discolouration: Sun damage can cause changes in the skin’s pigmentation, resulting in uneven complexion. You might notice dark spots, freckles that ‘merge’, age spots, melasma, patchy pigmentation, hyperpigmentation and other discolouration concerns. These are all related to sun exposure
  6. Spider Veins: Issues such as broken capillaries, thread veins and general redness may all relate to sun damage. Spider veins, broken capillaries and thread veins are tiny, dilated blood vessels that appear just beneath the skin’s surface. They are often seen on the nose, cheeks, and chin. Prolonged exposure to the sun can cause these facial veins to become more prominent and noticeable.
  7. Rosacea: This is a chronic skin condition that causes redness and flushing, as well as small, dilated blood vessels on the face. Sun exposure is a common trigger for rosacea flare-ups.

Overall, exposure to the sun’s UV rays can have a significant impact on the overall health and appearance of the skin, making it important to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful effects. This means using sunscreen all year round, wearing protective clothing and avoiding prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.

Mulberry House Clinic offer treatments that directly tackle lines and wrinkles, poor skin texture and pigmentation; restoring a clearer and more even skin tone.

Treatments to Consider:

Consultation:

Mulberry House offer comprehensive consultations with our highly experienced cosmetic treatments practitioner Dr John Tanqueray. It’s the ideal opportunity to get a professional opinion on what treatments would be best, yet there’s no obligation to proceed.