Sunburned skin is permanent, but there are a few things you can do to reduce its appearance. Skincare products that can treat sun-damaged skin include retinol and vitamin C serums. Dermatologists say sunscreens with an SPF of at least 30 are essential to prevent the effects of photoaging or sun damage.
Excessive unprotected sun exposure may increase the risk of health problems such as skin cancer. Learn how to treat and prevent skin damage caused by the sun and how the sun can harm your health.
What Is Sun Damage (Photoaging)?
The sun emits ultraviolet (UV) rays. UV rays are very important because they provide your body with vitamin D, which is necessary for strong bones. UV rays can lead to health risks if you don’t properly protect your skin. For example, ultraviolet rays may burn the skin and reduce its elasticity, leading to premature aging, known as “photoaging”
If UV rays penetrate deep into the inner layers of your skin, they can damage your skin cells. 3 Sun damage may increase the risk of skin cancer over time.
What Sun Damage Looks Like
If you’ve ever sat in the sun for too long without applying or reapplying sunscreen, then you may experience sunburned skin.
Signs of photoaging include:
- Age spots
- Freckles
- Loose skin
- Melasma, which causes dark patches of skin
- Skin hyperplasia
- Spider veins, or red veins that appear like branches or spider webs under the skin
- Hyperpigmentation or uneven skin tone
- Wrinkles
You may develop actinic keratoses (AKs), deep striaes, and dry patches of scaly skin. AKs are precancerous growths that can turn into squamous cell carcinoma (a type of skin cancer).
The use of tanning beds that use artificial ultraviolet light may accelerate photoaging. Some people may see noticeable skin changes within a year.
Who Is at Risk?
Anyone can get sunburned skin because everyone is exposed to the sun. Some people may be at higher risk of developing health problems due to sun damage than others.
People at higher risk of sunburn include:
- Over 50 years old
- A family member has a history of skin cancer
- Who has ever been sunburned
- People who spend a lot of time outdoors
- People who take certain medications, such as antibiotics and birth control pills, or use products that contain benzoyl peroxide
- Have light-colored eyes, hair, and skin
How to Prevent Sun Damage
Sun exposure is unavoidable. Still, there are many ways you can protect yourself from harmful UV rays and stop photoaging.
Apply Sunscreen
Sunscreen provides the necessary sun protection. Make sure your sunscreen has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. SPF determines the sunscreen’s ability to block UV rays. The higher the number, the stronger your protection against UV rays.
Over time, sunscreen loses its protective effect. When you’re outdoors or after sweating or swimming, you’ll need to reapply every two hours.
Cover Your Skin and Eyes
You can reduce the risk of sunburn by covering your skin. Wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt to protect your skin as much as possible. Look for shade, such as in a tree, or use an umbrella outdoors if it’s too hot to wear long sleeves. Try wearing light-colored clothing, which will also help protect you from the sun.
A hat protects your face, head, and neck, providing greater coverage. Choose a wide-brimmed hat made of canvas or other tightly woven fabric.
Sunlight can also damage your eyes. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes and surrounding skin from UV rays.
Avoid Tanning
UV rays can come from artificial sources, such as lasers and tanning beds. Avoid indoor tanning, especially for teens who are at high risk of melanoma, the most harmful type of skin cancer.
About 10% of people with melanoma have a close relative with the disease. People with a family history of melanoma have a higher risk of developing melanoma than others, which may be due to common characteristics such as genetic changes, light-colored eyes, hair and skin, and frequent exposure to the sun.
Skincare Products for Sunburned Skin
Dermatologists say sunscreen is one of the most important products to add to your skincare regimen to prevent photoaging.
American Academy of Dermatology. Skin care techniques used by dermatologists.
Use a broad-spectrum, waterproof sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 daily. Make sure to apply sunscreen to all parts of the skin that are not covered by the skin and reapply every two hours or as needed.
Avoid using too many anti-aging skincare products, which may irritate the skin. Instead, stick to a gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen.
The skincare routine for sunburned skin is as follows:
- Wash your face with a gentle cleanser and pat dry.
- Use of any medications and treatments, such as retinoids or vitamin C serum.
- Apply moisturizer followed by sunscreen. Using a moisturizer with SPF may save time.
- Use a lip balm with an SPF of 30 or higher to protect your lips from skin cancer.
The Best Over-the-Counter Medications for Sunburn
You may consider looking for over-the-counter (OTC) ingredients to treat sun-damaged skin. For example, retinoids are vitamin A derivatives that help accelerate the production of skin cells, which can improve the appearance of photoaging, such as uneven skin tone and wrinkles.
Retinoids make your skin more sensitive to the sun than usual. Using retinoids at night minimizes sun damage and protects the skin from sun exposure during the day.
Niacinamide is a vitamin B3 derivative that can prevent photoaging by promoting the repair of UV-induced cell damage. Some evidence suggests that niacinamide may reduce the risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that protects against sun damage. Studies have found that topical vitamin C can help reduce signs of aging and improve uneven skin tone.
If you have signs of aging or uneven pigmentation, consider adding a vitamin C serum to your skincare routine.
Other ingredients that may help even out skin tone by reducing dark spots include:
- Azelaic acid
- Glycolic acid
- Kojic acid
When to Contact a Dermatologist
Long-term excessive, unprotected sun exposure is a major cause of skin cancer. Frequently checking the skin for changes and suspicious growths is one of the best ways to detect and treat skin cancer early.
Consult your healthcare provider if you notice the following:
- Changes in the color, shape, or size of the mole
- The mole becomes scaly, bleeding, crusted, painful, or oozing
- Sores that take two weeks or more to heal
- Shiny bumps appear pearly white, pink, red, or translucent
A health care provider can perform a skin biopsy to determine if a skin change or growth is skin cancer. They will remove a sample of the suspicious area and look at the cancer cells under a microscope. Keep in mind that not all skin changes or growths mean skin cancer.
Summary
UV rays can cause sunburn to the skin and accelerate the photoaging process. Over time, excessive unprotected sun exposure can lead to health problems such as skin cancer. Sunburned skin is permanent, but there are ways to reduce it. Treatment options include chemical peels, lasers, retinoids, and vitamin C serums.
Cover your skin as much as possible outdoors to protect your skin from sun damage. Use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day. If you notice any changes in the color, shape, or size of your mole or any suspicious skin growths, consult a dermatologist.
