After a summer filled with boating, beaching, and pool days, you may be seeing changes in your skin such as sun spots, fine lines, and rough texture. From BroadBand Light treatments to microneedling, our full-service day and medical spa in Vero Beach suggests 8 ways to help combat summer sun damage on the face!
1. Chemical Peels
Treats: Fine lines and wrinkles, rough texture, uneven tone, discoloration
If you’re wondering how to reverse sun damage, chemical peels are an excellent place to start. We offer two types of peels here at White Orchid Spa.
The first peel is the VI Peel, which is designed to soften fine lines, wrinkles, even out skin tone, and smooth away rough skin texture. It is a wonderful universal peel that can provide results within 7 to 14 days.
The second peel we offer is the Complexion Correction Peel. This peel is much more aggressive toward pigmentation and is reserved mainly for those who suffer from melasma or significant hyperpigmentation such as freckles, age spots, or other areas of discoloration. Due to this peel’s powerful nature and two-step process, the healing time is longer, but the results are incredibly worth it if you suffer from hyperpigmentation concerns. Take a look at one of our guest’s stellar results below:
2. BroadBand Light
Treats: Age and sun spots, hyperpigmentation, uneven tone, rosacea, dull complexion
BBL™ treatment is the next generation of IPL therapy (intense pulsed light) from the makers of our beloved Halo® laser, Sciton. As the name implies, it is a treatment that uses short pulses of high-intensity light to target skin issues.
This quick and relatively painless treatment allows you to start seeing results within a week, though it can take a few treatments to achieve its full effect. Just remember, this treatment works best on light, untanned skin.
Laser and light treatments are some of the best skin treatments for sun-damaged skin, given their ability to refresh and rejuvenate the skin while eliminating visible signs of aging and damage. In addition to BBL, we are proud to offer a wide range of energy-based therapies to suit your unique needs.
3. Microneedling
Treats: Fine lines and wrinkles, acne scars, lax skin, uneven tone, enlarged pores, hyperpigmentation
The microneedling punctures the skin with very fine needles at a rapid speed. Each puncture is a controlled mechanical “microinjury” that stimulates your body to grow new collagen and elastin—the building blocks of healthy, supple skin. At White Orchid Spa, we enhance microneedling with platelet-rich fibrin.
Microneedling with PRF is great for improving a variety of skin conditions. It is safe for all skin types but may require multiple treatments to achieve your goal. You can learn more about microneedling and all the skin concerns it treats in this related blog post.
4. NeoSkin® Laser
Treats: Melasma and other hyperpigmentation, dull complexion, uneven tone
The Aerolase NeoSkin laser is a cutting-edge device designed to address many skin concerns—most notably, the discoloration caused by sun damage. Utilizing a unique 650-microsecond laser technology, the NeoSkin laser effectively targets melanin within sun spots and areas of hyperpigmentation. This rejuvenates the skin’s natural tone and texture for a brighter, more evenly toned, and revitalized complexion, making it an excellent choice for those looking to reverse the signs of prolonged sun exposure.
NeoSkin treatments can also be enhanced with a VI Peel during the same treatment session.
5. Vitamin C
Treats: Dull skin, dark spots and other discoloration, free radicals, textural issues
Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that reduces damage to our cells, including sun damage. Additionally, vitamin C contains properties that inhibit your skin’s melanin production, which is what can cause skin discoloration like sun spots. Therefore, using vitamin C not only improves the quality of your skin but also helps improve the appearance of pigmentation from the sun. Allure magazine breaks down additional details about how vitamin C benefits the skin. Look for products that contain L-ascorbic acid, as that is the most effective and stable form of vitamin C in skincare. We love Image Skincare’s Vital C line here at the Spa.
6. Sunscreen
Prevents: Ultraviolet radiation damage to the skin
Even though the long hot days of summer are winding down, remember that sunscreen is equally important throughout the fall and winter months—especially here in Florida. Sunscreen not only helps keep your skin looking younger, but it also helps decrease your risk of developing skin cancers.
7. Hydroquinone
Treats: Melasma, freckles, sun spots, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
This prescriptive is a topical skin-lightening ingredient that is used to help lighten the appearance of dark spots. Hydroquinone works by inhibiting color-producing cells (melanocytes) to decrease the formation of melanin (pigment) in the skin.
Historically, hydroquinone has had some back-and-forth regarding safety, but for over 30 years, the FDA has recognized this ingredient as safe and effective; in fact, it is safely sold over the counter in lower concentrations and can be prescribed to those who would benefit from a higher concentration. Hydroquinone can make you sun-sensitive, so it is recommended to use sunscreen and wait until summer is over before using it.
8. Retinol
Helps: Skin cell turnover, dull complexion, acne, inhibits collagen breakdown
Retinol is an over-the-counter derivative of Vitamin A, which is one of our body’s key nutrients that boosts cell turnover. Skin cells naturally make their way to the skin surface over two weeks and then begin the shedding process. As our skin ages, cells are often retained in the top layers leaving skin dull and clogged. Topical retinols ensure that the skin cells go through the shedding process as they’re supposed to. When retinols are used, we see improvement in skin tone, reduction in acne, and the promotion of collagen. Essentially, retinols leave us with more youthful, healthy, smoother, and even-toned skin.
Ready to give your skin a little TLC after a long, hot summer? We would love to discuss how to repair your skin from sun damage and help you find the best treatment regimen for you. Use our online contact form to request an appointment at our day and medical spa serving men and women from Vero Beach, Melbourne, and Sebastian, FL. You can also give us a call at (772) 231-1133 to schedule your rejuvenating and refreshing treatment.
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