What is Sun Damage and how Does it Affect Your Skin?

WHAT IS SUN DAMAGE AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT YOUR SKIN? 

What is Sun Damage?  

The term “Sun Damage” is used to describe the skin’s response to sun and UV exposure over time. The immediate response of the skin may be reddening, resulting in sunburn. However, over time, sun damage affects the dermis – the deeper layer of the skin that contains our blood vessels, collagen and elastin fibres. Sun damage can cause these vessels and fibres to weaken, leading to the appearance of lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, and redness. UV exposure can also cause damage and mutation to the DNA of our skin cells. It’s this DNA damage that can lead to skin cancer.  

While sun damage may affect everyone’s skin in different ways, it will most commonly cause premature ageing, lines and wrinkles, pigmentation, dark spots, redness, and broken capillaries. 

At Tox Bar, our Aspect Dr range includes Aspect Dr Optiboost Serum, which can help with repair to the DNA of the cell, allowing the skin to reproduce healthy cells and heal itself. 

What is Pigmentation? 

In general terms, pigmentation is the result of excessive production by the body, after sun exposure, of the pigment Melanin. Exposure to UVA and UVB rays can trigger an inflammatory response in the skin. Melanocytes are then activated and sent to protect the skin from inflammation. This may give your skin an immediate sun kissed glow, but due to the damage caused to our cells, they cannot function normally and are unable to repair themselves.  This results in the long-term damage that can lead to sunspots and pigmentation. 

At Tox Bar, we have a range of clinical treatments such as Aspect Dr, PCA and SBS skin Peels, Candela SRA Laser Skin Rejuvenation and Aspect Dr, SBS and PCA Serums, which can minimise the appearance of pigment and help to even skin tone.  

What is Redness? 

Redness occurs due to the weakening of the vessel wall resulting from prolonged sun exposure and ageing. Telangiectasia is the term used to describe broken vessels and capillary damage which results in redness. Ageing, genetics, and trauma to the area can also be contributors, but generally, broken capillaries are caused by extrinsic factors like sun damage.   

Diffused redness refers to dilated capillaries. When the capillary vessel wall weakens, the vessels dilate, resulting in flushing of the skin.  

At Tox Bar, we offer treatments to combat redness and flushing including LED (Light Emitting Diode) to strengthen, active skincare high in Vitamin C, such as Aspect Dr Active C and SBS Alto Defense Serum to defend and protect your skin and light-based laser treatments like SRA (Skin Rejuvenation Advanced) to treat the cell damage and rejuvenate the skins appearance.  

SRA delivers energy into the damaged skin that caused the blood vessel to collapse, resulting in an immediate reduction of the appearance of damaged capillaries. Multiple treatments may be required to see a long-term result.  

As they say, prevention is better than a cure, so the daily use of SPF (even over winter) and active skincare that contains antioxidants to help strengthen and protect, is vital.  

However, if any of these above conditions are concerning you, don’t fear; we are here to help. A consultation at Tox Bar with our talented skin therapists is a great starting point to begin or continue your treatment plan.  

We offer SRA, LED and Skin Peel treatment packages of either 3 or 6 treatments (depending on your budget) which can then be tailored to your needs. Buying these treatments in package form is a cost-effective way of maintaining and rejuvenating your skin all year round, and because these packages do not have an expiry date, they will be waiting on your file, ready to use whenever you need. Our therapists can discuss these packages with you at your next visit.  

Due to reduced sun exposure and the increased risk of skin damage from cold winds and dehydrating indoor heating and air conditioning, Winter is the perfect time to begin your skin treatment journey, or to continue your skin maintenance journey. 

Call the clinic on 5223352 to discuss treatment options and package costs with our reception staff or book online at: https://bit.ly/3lKVCVV