Sun Damage
What is sun damage?
Long-term overexposure to the sun can cause changes in the texture of the skin that make skin look older such as wrinkles, freckles, age spots, dilated blood vessels and skin cancers. Using sun protection will help prevent skin damage, wrinkles, and reduce the risk of cancer.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that you avoid deliberate sunbathing, wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and protective clothing. If you must be in the sun, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 even on cloudy days.
At Shideler Dermatology, we carry a wide variety of excellent sunscreens available in our Product Center.
Sun damage symptoms
It’s hard to ignore sunburn when it happens: red, painful skin that feels hot to the touch. Sunburn will appear within a few hours after sun exposure and may take several days to several weeks to fade. Some flaking of the skin usually accompanies a sunburn.
Excessive sun exposure that results in sunburn increases your risk of certain complications and related skin diseases such as dry, wrinkled skin, liver spots and skin cancer.
Sun damage prevention
Sun protection at any age is important to prevent short-term and long-term damaging effects of sunlight. Sunscreens are an important part of a sun protection regime and should be used in conjunction with other sun safety steps for optimal sun protection.
Overexposure to sunlight can result in painful, red, sunburned skin. A bad burn can cause serious consequences like skin cancer later in life. You can prevent sunburn and the related skin conditions by protecting your skin whenever you’re outdoors on cloudy or sunny days.
Sun damage treatment
In case you do get a sunburn, there are several home remedies and treatments can relieve your pain and speed the healing of your skin. These include taking a nonprescription anti-inflammatory medication, applying a cool compress (wrapped in a clean, soft cloth) and applying an aloe vera lotion to the affected area.
Sunburn typically resolves on its own within several days, depending on the severity of the burn. Sunburn treatments will not heal your skin or prevent damage to your skin, but they can reduce pain, swelling and discomfort.
If home care treatments don’t help or your sunburn is very severe, Dr. Shideler may be able to prescribe medication to help reduce any discomfort associated with sun damage. These include Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and Corticosteroid medication.
Call Carmel, Indiana area Shideler Dermatology and Skin Care Center today at 317.846.2396 today to set-up an appointment for a consultation to discuss what treatments available to help you get relief from damage.