7 Ways to Fade Sun Damage – Recommended by Dermatologist Dr Dray

Ultraviolet radiation from the sun not only cause sunburn, but it also penetrates deeper into the skin and destroys collagen, which is what ultimately forms wrinkles and fine lines. Ultraviolet radiation also damages the DNA within our skin cells which not only causes sun damage but can also lead to skin cancer.

Dr. Dray reminds us that it is extremely difficult to correct sun damage and get rid of it but there are few things you can do that will help fade sun damage on the face and body.

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Here is Dr. Dray’s original video on this topic.

1. Wear a Sunscreen

If you are a regular on my website, or watch Dr. Dray’s videos, this should come as no surprise. Sunscreen is non-negotiable. If you have not started wearing an SPF yet start now. It does not matter what your age is. I discovered the importance of wearing a sunscreen just two years ago, and trust me, it has saved my skin.

Wearing sunscreen lowers the number of sun-damaging skin cells in the skin. It can reduce the formation of wrinkles, fine lines, visible signs of skin aging and reduces the risk of forming skin cancer. It is never too late to start protecting your skin from the Sun.

Do not forget to apply sunscreen to your eyelids, lips, back of your legs, arms, and other body parts that we often tend to overlook.

Click here for some of the best sunscreen recommendations by dermatologist Dr. Dray.

Sun protection does not stop at wearing an SPF on your face, Sun protective clothing is also a good idea to consider. Here is one recommended by Dr. Dray.

2. Include an Antioxidant Serum

Antioxidants help to reduce oxidative stress. UV exposure lowers the antioxidants that we naturally have in our skin, so it is good practice to include antioxidants in our skin care routines to help reduce some of that oxidative stress from Sun’s ultraviolet and infrared radiation. Sunscreen fails to block the Infrared radiation from the sun, which is where an antioxidant comes to the rescue.

Vitamin C is the most popular antioxidant. Vitamin C can be highly unstable and oxidize quickly which is why dermatologist Dr. Dray recommends the more expensive brands when it comes to incorporating Vitamin C in your skincare routine. One that dermatologists recommend is by Vichy, the Vichy LiftActive Vitamin C. This product has shown to not only reduce damage from the ultraviolet radiation but also reduces damage from the infrared radiation. Dr. Dray typically recommends inexpensive products, so if she recommends one that is expensive, it is guaranteed a fantastic one.

Use a little bit of the antioxidant serum in the morning, once it is absorbed into your skin, apply sunscreen. The combination of two is a great one to fight and fade sun damage.

Here are some affordable options of antioxidants that dermatologist Dr Dray recommends –

3. Retinol / Retinoid

Sunscreen during the day and retinoids at night. Now that we have Vitamin C covered, lets get into the importance of Vitamin A, aka Retinol or Retinoids.

Retinoids are the most evidence-based ingredient for improving visible signs of photoaging and help the skin handle the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation much better. They remove sun damaged skin cells, smooth out the surface of the skin, they help reduce sunspots, age spots, retinoids help the skin recover from DNA damage and help boost up collagen production.

I have a post about some of the best retinols and retinoids recommended by dermatologist Dr. Dray, click here for that.

4. At-Home Peel

These products combine chemical exfoliants that exfoliate the surface layer of the skin and remove some of that sun damage, smooth out the skin in doing so, and ultimately give you bright, healthy looking skin. If used on a consistent weekly basis, they also help improving the moisture content of the skin.

Remember not to use these products too frequently, as they will cause irritation to the skin. Dr. Dray recommends slowly introducing these peels slowly to your skin, use two or three times a week. Make sure you are really good with your sun protection when using these products. The results are subtle so do not expect overnight miracles with them.

Some other Dr. Dray recommended peels to try at home are below:

Click here for the best THE ORDINARY recommendations by dermatologist Dr. Dray.

The above-mentioned steps are things you can do by yourself to help fade sun damage. If you are looking to dive deeper into this and open to getting a procedure from a professional, seeking a dermatologist is a good idea. Let’s look at some procedures recommended by dermatologist Dr. Dray.

5. In Office Peel

There are some peels that you can get done in a dermatologist’s office. Getting a professional peel is definitely an upgrade to an at-home peel, because a dermatologist will know which ingredients to add or remove from a peel according to your specific skin type and requirement. Dr. Dray recommends a glycolic acid peel for fading sun damage.

Benefits of a glycolic Acid Peel:

Exfoliates the skin more intensely.
Improves the look of sun damage.
Helps boost collagen production.

Click here for some of the best Cleansers and Cleansing Oils that dermatologist Dr. Dray recommends.

6. Radiofrequency Microneedling

This is another procedure you can get done to help with sun damage. This is an amazing technique that will improve skin texture, reduce hyperpigmentation, remove some of those sun damage skin cells. It stimulates cell renewal and collagen production. This procedure improves the look of fine lines and can diminish the appearance of pores. Sun damage will enlarge your pores, this is something a lot of people do not know.

Radiofrequency Microneedling is also a great procedure to consider if you want to reduce skin scars. It is safe on any skin tone. At least three sessions of this procedure are recommended for the best results.

7. Fraxel

Fraxel is a lazer treatment that stimulates healing response of the skin, it helps increase collagen production, improves skin texture, great for scars. It has a skin tightening effect and reduces the look of large pores. It helps create firmer, smoother, even-toned skin.

Click here for 5 best skincare products from 2020, as recommended by Dr. Dray.

Wrapping Up

We all want amazing skin, we all want to look younger, but do not forget to see the bigger picture here. These recommendations, and others on my website are not just for beautification. Yes, that is great, and I will not sit here and act like I do not care about beauty, but it is important to remember that sun damage is a major cause for skin cancer, and skin cancer causing cells. It is never too late to protect your skin from the sun.

Cheers to a calmer mind and skin!