How to Treat Precancerous Sun Damage to Skin

Sun damage to skin causes dreaded wrinkles--signs of early aging--and increases the risk of skin cancer. Sun exposure doesn't just occur while laying on a beach, it affects the skin every day. If you've been exposed to too much sun and your skin is starting to show it, you can start to repair the damage with over-the-counter supplements and a trip to the dermatologist.

Things You'll Need

• Alpha hydroxy acid facial peel
• Salicylic acid pads
• Face lotion with vitamin A (Retinol)
• Antioxidants (vitamins E and C)
• Facial sunblock in high SPF (+15 or greater) with soy and copper

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Instructions

Undo skin damage

• 1

  Stay out of the sun. This is the most important way to minimize skin damage caused by the sun's harmful UVA and UVB rays. Once skin damage has occurred, it is important to curtail exposure until the skin has a chance to recover.

• 2

  Treat uneven skin tone and dry patches of skin with an alpha hydroxy-based facial peel and salicylic acid pads. This acid will gently exfoliate and slough off the top layer of dead skin cells, leaving the fresh layer below exposed.

• 3

  Maintain a high level of antioxidants in the body. Most antioxidants are found in fruits and vegetables; now there are concentrated creams and serums on the market that use antioxidants to slow down skin cell damage caused by free radicals and UV rays.

• 4

  Cover your skin, even in the winter. When sun exposure is unavoidable, use sunscreen, wear a large-brimmed hat, a long- sleeved shirt and long pants to cover and protect as much of the skin surface as possible. Be generous in sunscreen applications and reapply every two hours--sooner if you've been sweating or swimming or around reflective surfaces such as snow and water.