Tag Archives: sun damage

How to Identify Signs of Sun Damage on Your Skin

Blog, Chemical Peels, Cosmetic Treatments,

We provide skin resurfacing at our Albuquerque, NM-based practice as a way of improving the health and appearance of skin that has been damaged by overexposure to sunlight or other stressors, such as smoking. Prolonged, unprotected sun exposure is a sure-fire way to cause lasting damage to one’s skin. This is because the sun’s rays penetrate beneath the surface and can reach the deepest parts of the skin to warp the DNA itself.

That doesn’t mean sun damage is always easy to detect, however. Your complexion might look quite clear and almost flawless in the mirror, but there can still be damage. Remember that sun damage occurs in different forms, and even if you don’t get sunburned in a noticeable way, your skin could still be being damaged in other ways. Not to mention, many signs of sun damage take time—sometimes many years—before they can be seen on the surface because UV rays are damaging it at such a deep level. 

Some of the most common signs and symptoms associated with UV damage include:

Uneven Pigmentation

An increased production of melanin (the pigment that gives color to your skin) occurs as the skin attempts to protect itself against UV rays. This can give your skin isolated spots, freckles, or a mottled and blotchy appearance if the excess pigment forms in an uneven way. 

Tan

Dermatologists often stress that there’s no such thing as a “healthy” tan or a “base tan.” Whenever your skin’s natural color changes, this is a symptom of some type of skin damage. 

Worsening Melasma

Melasma is a condition that causes patches of skin on the forehead and cheeks to turn brown. It can also cause blue-gray patches or spots that look like freckles. Melasma is made worse by sun exposure because the UV rays increase the activity of cells that produce pigment. 

Liver Spots

Flat spots with a tan, brown, or dark brown color that are a deeper shade than freckles may occur on sun-exposed areas. They are typically round or oval in shape and form in different sizes. They are non-cancerous, but you can choose to lighten them for cosmetic reasons. 

Remember that sun damage can also cause cancers to develop, so be sure to watch for more obvious signs, such as awkward-looking or evolving moles, crusty patches that bleed or never heal, and areas that are sensitive or painful to the touch.

Get a clearer, healthier, more flawless skin tone by taking steps to prevent sun damage—and by choosing skin resurfacing from The Spa @ Western Dermatology Consultants. Call us at 505-855-9267 or submit a contact form to get started. 

Top 4 Non-Obvious Ways You Can Get Sunburned

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Aside from normal aging, a major cause of wrinkles, hollows, discolorations, and textural changes to your skin is exposure to UV radiation. Once the collagen breaks down and the DNA of the skin cells themselves is warped by this external stressor, people begin to notice static wrinkles appear on areas like the cheeks and the lips. Injectable fillers from our Albuquerque-based practice are ideal for adding subtle volume to minimize these wrinkles. Nevertheless, the best defense against these signs of aging is preventing them from occurring in the first place.

As this generation is more knowledgeable on sun protection than previous ones, more people are taking steps to guard their skin against skin cancer and premature aging than ever before. Even a mild sunburn can cause lasting damage to your skin.

Many people don’t realize, however, that you don’t have to spend hours sunbathing at the beach, exposing your skin to harsh summer sun rays, or use tanning beds constantly to end up with skin damage. Even some of the small things you do every day could be increasing your risk of skin damage. Here are four surprising ways you could be baking your skin without knowing it:

  1. Sitting inside by a window or driving in your car without protecting your skin can be causing skin damage. Although you might think your skin is safer when you’re not outside, UV radiation penetrates through glass, so you may need to wear broad-spectrum sunscreen and install window films or special tinting on your car or home windows.  
  2. Be aware of medications, acne creams, skin care treatments, and foods that increase your sun sensitivity. Take extra precautions about going outside if you know you’re at a higher risk of harming your skin.
  3. Looking at an iPhone, iPad, or similar tablet or device could increase your sun exposure significantly due to the reflected glare.
  4. Wearing the wrong sunscreen or not using it correctly may be almost as bad as not applying it at all. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that’s water resistant and high-SPF. Re-apply it every few hours.

Get more information from The Spa @ Western Dermatology Consultants. Call us at 505-855-9267, or submit a contact form to request a consultation, and we can give you further advice or help you put together a treatment plan.

What Condition Is Your Skin In This Season?

Cosmetic Treatments, Medical Dermatology, ,

It’s winter in Albuquerque. Our board-certified dermatologists see a wide range of both cosmetic and medical conditions during this time, which may surprise some people. The darker season is known for cooler and often wetter weather—not something that would seem to be associated with dry skin. Unfortunately, winter conditions are ideal for drying out our protective layer, leading to a range of problems.

This is because despite the occasional rain, humidity actually drops in the winter—both indoors and out. Dry air leads to dry skin.

Winter is also the time when many people notice the effects of their sun-worshiping summer. Maybe a string of days at the pool contributed to the cumulative damage that causes wrinkles to form, spots to develop, and increases the risk of skin cancer. Ultraviolet radiation can wreak havoc on sensitive cells, causing everything from mutations that form tumors to the hastened breakdown of vital collagen, elastin, and more in the skin.

No matter the problem—or the condition of your skin—Western Dermatology Consultants is here to help. With fair-weather days a fond memory or distant hope, our team can assess the current state of your skin and make recommendations for treatments, procedures, and at-home regimens to promote both beauty and health.

Why not use the post-holiday lull to schedule a full-body exam to check for early signs of skin cancer? Or find out what you can finally do about that pesky cellulite that’s been bugging you for years? From dark circles you first noticed after a procession of parties throughout the holidays to a desire to altogether ditch the shaving you’ve been putting off (since you can get away with wearing pants instead of skirts or shorts), there is always something our dermatologists and their carefully selected and trained team can do to help.

Call Western Dermatology Consultants at 505-855-9267 or request a consultation online to arrange a visit and get started on some winter skin care.