Sun Damage

Sun damage adds years to the appearance of your skin, damaging its health. At Cleaver Medical Group Dermatology in Alpharetta, Canton, Cumming, Dahlonega, Dawsonville, Gainesville, Lavonia, Johns Creek and Toccoa, GA, the dermatologists use state-of-the-art treatments like laser therapy on sun-damaged skin to improve its health. Call Cleaver Medical Group Dermatology today or schedule an appointment online to learn more.

What is sun damage?

The skin endures years of ultraviolet (UV) light damage. UV rays damage your skin at the cellular level, deep within the dermis. As a result, it can take several years before this damage reaches the skin’s surface. Sun damage, also called photodamage, ages the appearance of your skin and raises your risk of skin cancer.

What does sun damage look like?

Sun damage isn’t only a cosmetic problem that causes photoaging. It also harms the skin’s health. Signs of sun damage include:

• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Hyperpigmentation
• Brown spots
• Dry skin
• Uneven skin texture
• Redness
• Blotchy patches
• Skin laxity
• Broken capillaries

Cancerous lesions, like basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), also damage the skin.

What causes sun damage?

The cause of sun damage is exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light. The two common types that affect the skin are:

UVA light

UVA light penetrates deeply into the skin, affecting the epidermis (the skin’s surface) and the dermis (the layer beneath). UVA light bursts capillaries, the tiny veins in the surface layer of skin, and reduces your skin’s elasticity.

UVB light

UVB light damages the epidermis and is more likely to damage the skin’s DNA than UVA light. Signs of UVB damage include fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation abnormalities, and precancerous lesions like actinic keratosis.

How is sun damage treated?

Cleaver Medical Group Dermatology offers many treatments for sun damage, including:

Topical medications

Topical treatments, like retinoids, can address fine lines, uneven skin texture, and minor pigmentation.

Chemical peels

A chemical peel is a nonsurgical treatment that involves removing the top layer of your skin with a topical solution. When the skin heals, it appears fresher, brighter, and clearer.

Laser therapy

Laser therapy uses a focused beam of light to treat sun damage. At Cleaver Medical Dermatology, your dermatologist could recommend the CO2RE® ablative fractional laser from Candela® Medical to minimize signs of sun damage.

Photodynamic therapy

Photodynamic therapy uses red or blue light to destroy precancerous lesions.

Call Cleaver Medical Group Dermatology today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about sun-damaged skin and how the team can treat it.