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Getting enough sun is important to our overall wellness, but staying out in the sun without proper protection can do more harm than good and damage our skin. Sun damage cannot only affect how your skin looks, but it can also put you more at risk for skin cancer and other skin conditions. But with the help of our team at Reserve Dermatology & Aesthetics, you can have the beautiful and healthy skin you deserve.
What is Sun Damage?
Sun damage (also called photoaging) is exactly what it sounds like. When you go outside without sun protection or use a tanning bed, the harmful ultraviolet light (UV light) can damage your skin. This sun damage can build up and cause changes in your skin, increasing your risk for skin cancer and premature aging skin.
When you expose yourself to UVA and UVB radiation from the sun’s rays or a tanning bed, without protection (broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF/sun protection factor), you are putting yourself at risk of sun damage and skin cancer.
Luckily, there are a wide variety of treatment options to help you repair sun-damaged skin from excess sun exposure.
Signs of Sun Damaged-Skin
Sun damage can appear in many different ways on your skin. Some of the symptoms to look out for include:
- Spider veins (broken capillaries) on your nose, cheeks, and neck.
- Loss of skin elasticity
- Lines and wrinkles
- Red, rough, and scaly spots
- Lesions
- Pigmentation, like colored spots, freckles, age spots, and liver spots
- White spots on your arms, legs, and the back of your hands
- Uneven skin texture
- Thinning of the skin
Risk Factors for Sun Damage
Sun damage can happen to anyone. It doesn’t matter what your skin type or skin tone is. That said, there are some risk factors that make some people more at risk of sun damage. These factors include lighter skin tones, family history of skin cancer, multiple moles, having freckles, and living in a place of high altitude. Spending a lot of time outdoors as a child can also increase your chances of sun damage and developing skin cancer.
Sun Damage Treatments at Reserve Dermatology & Aesthetics
At Reserve Dermatology & Aesthetics, we offer a number of highly effective treatments for sun damage. With everything from chemical peels to laser treatment, our team will help you find the right treatment for your unique needs.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels are an incredibly effective treatment for addressing not only sun damage, but also deep wrinkles, uneven skin texture, pigmentation, and scarring. At Reserve Dermatology, Dr. Liz Damstetter will design a customized chemical solution that addresses all your concerns and reverses your sun damage.
Laser Skin Resurfacing Treatments
Light and laser treatment can also treat and erase sun damage. At Reserve Dermatology & Aesthetics, we offer a variety of laser and light treatments, including Alma Hybrid, Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), and Light & Bright. These treatments heat up the skin, stimulate collagen production, and rejuvenate the skin.
Microneedling
Microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy, involves using very fine needles to make tiny punctures in the skin. This process kickstarts the body’s natural healing process and boosts collagen production, which erases sun damage as well as lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, scarring, and so much more.
Schedule a Consultation
Don’t struggle with sun damage any longer! Dr. Damstetter and our team at Reserve Dermatology & Aesthetics are here to help you not only achieve beautiful skin but healthy skin as well. To get started, don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation today. Call our Northfield, IL office or message us via our online contact form.
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We look forward to meeting you soon!
Dr. Elizabeth Damstetter
Dr. Elizabeth Damstetter is a board-certified dermatologist and esteemed founder of Reserve Dermatology & Aesthetics, who brings expertise in both medical and cosmetic dermatology while maintaining a compassionate, patient-centered approach. With advanced training spanning internal medicine, clinical trials, and dermatology—from the University of Chicago, Northwestern, and Boston University—Dr. Damstetter combines rigorous clinical skill with cutting-edge aesthetic insight. As an Assistant Professor at Rush University Medical Center and active contributor to dermatology research and education, she seamlessly blends clinical excellence with academic leadership.Known for her “reserved cosmetic approach,” Dr. Damstetter delivers subtle, natural-looking enhancements with personalized plans that prioritize long-term skin health and patient confidence.
