Sun-damaged skin? You’re not alone. Even the most committed sunscreen users can miss a spot—like the ears or the tops of the feet—or forget to reapply. It’s more common than you’d think: 67% of Americans reported some level of sun damage last year, and over 33,000 ended up in the ER with severe burns. But sunburn is only part of the story. Sun-damaged skin can lead to lingering spots, dryness, and premature aging. The good news? With the right support, your skin can recover. Don’t wait until fall—taking action now helps.
COSMETIC VS. SERIOUS SUN DAMAGE
Cosmetic sun damage includes changes like dullness, brown spots, and fine lines—mostly surface-level and related to aging. These don’t pose a health risk but can be treated for appearance.
In contrast, medical sun damage may involve spots that change in size, shape, or color, sores that don’t heal, or rough patches that persist. These signs could indicate skin cancer and should be checked by a professional.
SKIN CANCER SUN DAMAGE
Skin damage builds over time so it’s important to
a.) know what to look for (ABCDEs of Skin Cancer Sun Damage) and
b.) schedule a same-day SPOT check for any spot that looks suspicious. Early detection and treatment for skin cancer treatment give patients a very high rate of recovery and survival: 99% after the first 5 years, in fact.
RECOVERY MODE SKINCARE AT HOME
Skin damage from sun exposure didn’t just happen in one day, so achieving visible improvements in your skin may take a few weeks. Just keep going—consistency is the key. At home, you can start with this four-pronged skincare plan:
1.) Use a gentle cleanser and follow it up with an antioxidant serum to nourish the skin.
2.) Use a moisturizer that contains ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid, which lock in hydra- tion and repair the skin’s protective barrier.
3.) Introduce retinoids gradually to resurface the skin (to minimize fine lines and sun spots on face).
4.) Finish with a daily sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher.
If you aren’t sure what products would work best for you, schedule an appointment with your dermatology provider at Apex Skin for a personalized consultation.
TREATMENTS FOR SUN-DAMAGED SKIN
If you are curious about how to fix sun-damaged skin with pro- fessional dermatology treatments, these are some of the most benefi- cial, depending on your specific concerns:
ChemicalPeels–Professionalchemicalpeels exfoliatesun-damaged skin, improving tone, texture, and brightness for smoother, clearer skin within weeks..
Lasers/Laser Skin Resurfacing – Apex offers dermatology laser treatments that fade sun spots, reduce redness, and boost collagen for smoother, firmer skin—an effective option for moderate to advanced sun damage.
Microneedling – Microneedling stimulates collagen, gradually im- proving skin firmness, texture, tone, and reducing fine lines over several weeks to months as the skin heals and renews.
Medical-Grade Facials (Diamond Glow) – The Diamond Glow medical-grade facial deeply cleanses, exfoliates, and hydrates to repair sun damage, rejuvenate dull skin, and restore radiance.
Prescription-Strength Topicals – Our dermatology team can also prescribe stronger topical medications or skincare serums with tretinoin, hydroquinone, and antioxidants to target discoloration and accelerate skin cell turnover. These are only available by prescription.
Lesion Evaluation and Removal – If it seems like we’re repeating this, we are—because it’s so very important: if you have a suspicious spot, schedule a same-day SPOT check with your nearest Apex Skin location.
So don’t hesitate or wonder: schedule a personal consultation to address any skin concerns you have, book your annual full-body skin cancer screening, or a same-day SPOT check today.
For the full article and more skin care articles, visit: www.apexskin.com/blog
