Sun Damaged Skin: How to Spot the Signs and Symptoms

Everyone starts life with smooth, unmarked, and even-toned skin. However, blemishes appear on our birthday suits, making them change color and texture every passing year. Spots, wrinkles, and imperfections showing up over time are signs of sun damage on your skin. Do not consider a suntan for improving the appearance of your skin because it also represents sun damage.

Damage from the sun’s beams brings out your body’s chemical associated with melanin to darken your skin to protect it. Unfortunately, other signs of sun damage are challenging to detect and require help from the best med spa in Fairfax. The professionals at the facility can examine you from head to toe, looking for clues. This article details some of the most common signs of sun damage and information on how to spot them.

Most Common Signs of Sun Damage

Sunburn

Sunburn often lasts for a few days but adds to skin issues later. When you are affected by mild sunburn, you experience redness, discomfort, and warmth in your skin. In addition, your skin might begin peeling or feel itchy. If you have blisters, it indicates severe sunburn. You must see your dermatologist if you experience severe pain or fever of 101° Fahrenheit or higher for over 48 hours.

Actinic Keratosis

If you have scaly, rough patches on your skin besides raised bumps appearing like warts or horns, you might be affected by actinic keratosis. The effects of this condition generally show up on your face, scalp, ears, arms, and hands. Unfortunately, approximately 10% of patients with this issue also develop skin cancer. Actinic keratosis develops dark tan, pink, and red patches on your skin and makes their presence felt and disappear. They are also itchy, and your doctor will want to observe changes in the spots or perhaps remove them.

Actinic Cheilitis

If you develop actinic keratosis on your skin, actinic cheilitis develops on your lips. You must discuss the problem with your doctor if the development has white scaly spots on your lower lip and it is always dry.

Age Spots

If you have extra large freckles, alternatively called liver spots or lentigines, you might have age spots on your skin. The spots can be significant as a quarter and tend to become darker. Age spots often appear as you get older and can worsen with age turning dark brown in your 40s and 50s when they were tan when first noticed in your 30s. You must keep an eye on these spots and inform your doctor if you notice changes like a raised surface or multiple colors within the area.

Rosacea

Rosacea is also a condition caused by the sun. Women between the ages of 30 and 60 are commonly affected by rosacea. Rosacea can force women to think they can get a facial near me in Fairfax to reduce the red blotches and bumps on the face. However, when women start leaking fluids out of the spots, they must consider talking to their medical professional for further advice.

Atypical Moles

A common occurrence on the skin is atypical moles making it essential to watch for changes. If you have one growing, as an irregular border or uneven surface that changes color, bleeds, or has uneven pigmentation is time for you to visit your doctor.

Wrinkles

Wrinkles are not just a sign of aging but also indicate sun damage. You may think laser skin rejuvenation will help eliminate laugh lines, crow’s feet, or others. Unfortunately, exposure to sunlight would have frayed the fibers propping up firm to speed the wrinkling process giving you sagging skin and drooping beyond your years.

Poikiloderma of Civatte

Alternatively called sun aging is an issue that discolors your skin around the neck and cheeks and causes burning, itching, and severe sensitivity. If you suspect a problem with the condition, have your doctor look at it.

Sun damage can leave you with damaged cells and wondering whether you must seek sun spot treatment or schedule an appointment with your dermatologist to get to the root cause of the problem. While you have the discretion to decide for yourself, getting advice from your medical practitioner proves beneficial to avoid further complications with your skin.

If you think you have sun-damaged skin, kindly do not hesitate to contact Contours LaserSpa. Experienced professionals can help determine the condition affecting you while also providing appropriate treatments you need to conceal the signs of sun damage.