Sunny days may lift our spirits, but there’s no denying that those same rays can seriously damage our skin over time. This damage is called photoaging, a not-so-sweet side effect of spending your days soaking up the sun.

Photoaging is the culprit behind many of the most telling signs of skin damage, including wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. But you don’t have to spend your days indoors with the curtains drawn to protect yourself from further damage. In fact, with the help of a dermatologist and the proper anti-aging skincare routine, you can turn back time on photoaging and renew a more youthful complexion!

The Basics: What Is Photoaging?

Put in layperson’s terms, photoaging is skin aging caused by exposure to ultraviolet rays, and it’s one of the primary reasons why our skin can look much older than our years. You’ve likely heard that the sun emits two forms of UV radiation– UVA and UVB.

  • UVA rays are the source of photoaging, penetrating deeper into your skin and cause damage at the cellular level. They can also contribute to the formation of skin cancer.
  • UVB rays cause sunburns and are more likely to cause skin cancer, including malignant melanoma.

So, how can you tell if your skin shows signs of photoaging? The most common indicators include:

  • Fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes and mouth
  • Sunspots, aka hyperpigmentation, in areas frequently exposed to the sun
  • Loss of elasticity, especially around the jawline and neck
  • Developing a rough, leathery skin texture

However, photoaging doesn’t affect everyone equally, and factors like skin color, genetics, environment, and lifestyle choices also determine how quickly or noticeably your skin ages.

Preventing Photoaging

Even if your skin looks radiant and youthful today, or you’re just starting to notice the signs of sun damage, it’s never too early to prevent the long-term consequences of photoaging. Remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

Sunscreen Is Your Best Friend

Choose a sunscreen that offers broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays with sunscreen offering 30 SPF or more for daily use, like CeraVe’s Facial Lotion SPF 30 and Nu-Derm Healthy Skin Protection SPF 35. Applying your sunscreen should be absolutely non-negotiable, even on cloudy days or during the winter.

Stay in the Shade During Peak Hours

The sun’s UV rays are strongest from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M., so when possible, spend those hours indoors and do outdoor activities early in the morning or later into the afternoon. If you must be outside during peak hours, spend as much time as possible under canopies or umbrellas to block out the bulk of radiation.

Wear Protective Clothing

Long-sleeved shirts, pants, and Wallaroo Hats create a physical barrier against the sun when you can’t sit in the shade. Wallaroo offers up to 50 SPF and a wide brim to protect your scalp, ears, face, and neck. You should also always have a pair of sunglasses with 100% UV protection to safeguard your eyes and the extremely thin, delicate skin around them.

Perform Regular Skin Checks

While you should already have annual appointments scheduled with your dermatologist, you should still perform regular self-checks to ensure there aren’t any concerning changes that could indicate skin cancer.

The Skin Cancer Foundation has an excellent resource to walk you through the process, or you can schedule an appointment with Dr. Elizabeth Briden for a professional examination and tips for conducting checks at home.

Building an Anti-Aging Skincare Routine

Once you’ve noticed the signs of photoaging on your skin, many practical strategies and treatment options can help restore your radiance. While the best approach is working with a skincare expert who can offer a more customized regimen catered to your particular concerns and skin type, here are options to help you minimize signs of aging:

Retinoids

Retinoids, including over-the-counter retinol and prescription-strength tretinoin, are a top-pick in anti-aging skincare because they’re excellent at promoting cell turnover and stimulating collagen protection to erase fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, and rough texture.

This derivative of vitamin A is incredibly potent, so go slow and watch how your skin responds. If you notice inflammation and sensitivity, it’s a sign that you need to use a lower percentage product.

Dermatologist-Trusted Recommendations

Alpha Hydroxy Acids and Beta Hydroxy Acids

AHAs and BHA provide chemical exfoliation that removes dead skin cells and encourages new skin cell growth for a smoother, more even-toned complexion. Regular exfoliation also helps clear your pores, allowing other skincare products to penetrate deeper and providing more effective treatment.

Dermatologist-Trusted Recommendations

Laser Therapy

For more dramatic results, Advanced Dermatology & Cosmetic Institute offers both ablative and non-ablative laser treatments to closely hone in on the signs of photoaging without affecting the surrounding skin. Let’s briefly review the differences and what they can do for you:

Ablative lasers remove epidermal layers and penetrate the dermis to stimulate new collagen growth. As your skin heals, the new skin cells are firmer, and stronger, thanks to the increase in collagen protein fibers. This option is best for significant sun damage and deeper wrinkles but has a longer recovery time.

Non-ablative lasers don’t remove epidermis layers but heat the dermis to stimulate collagen production and promote cell growth. While non-ablative treatments do have less recovery time than ablative options, they often require multiple treatments to achieve the results you’re looking for. We recommend non-ablative lasers for milder signs of photoaging, like fine lines and uneven tone.

Chemical Peels

Professional chemical peels are incredibly versatile for targeting the signs of aging you hope to diminish. There are three strength levels, each of which varies in the types and ratios of acids used. For example, light peels use alpha-hydroxy acids to encourage surface-level cell turnover for hyperpigmentation and fine lines. In contrast, deep peels with phenols can reduce the severity of wrinkles, scarring, and a leathery texture but with a much longer recovery time.

At Advanced Dermatology & Cosmetic Institute, we pride ourselves on delivering healthy, glowing, and rejuvenated skin with little to no downtime with our glycolic peels, also known as “lunchtime peels” for the quick service and little to no down time. Glycolic chemical peels, available in 35%, 50% and 70%, are excellent for a more even tone and smother texture to the skin. It also addresses rosacea, melasma, hyperpigmentation, acne and photoaging. The recommended time between peels is 4-6 weeks and it takes 4-5 peels to see results.

We also offer retinol peels, which are great for acne, hyperpigmentation and photoaging. The retinol peel is applied and left on for 20-24 hours. It is meant to make your skin peel. The recommended time between peels is one month.

Our skincare professionals will work with you to design a treatment program that includes a series of peels coupled with other treatments to give you the best possible results.

Fillers

To combat collagen loss that leads to wrinkles and sagging, dermal fillers offer instant plumping and smoothing by restoring lost volume. We offer options from two of the most highly renowned providers in skincare aesthetics: JUVÉDERM®.

You can learn more in our article How to Take Years Off Your Face with Injectables, but to give a brief recap:

JUVÉDERM® is a line of humectant hyaluronic-acid fillers that use different ingredient ratios to adjust the firmness of that particular formula. VOLUMA XC, VOLLURE XC, and VOLBELLA XC also use VYcross Technology, which pairs heavier and lighter acid molecules for a more natural and consistent finish.

Work Closely With a Dermatologist

These results work best when paired with the expert advice of a Board-certified dermatologist and skincare experts who care about your skin’s health and happiness.

If you’re ready to turn back the hands of time on photodamage and reveal a more youthful complexion, contact Advanced Dermatology & Cosmetic Institute today!