The most common types of sun damage to the skin are:

• Dry skin – sun-exposed skin can gradually lose moisture and essential oils. This makes it appear dry, flaky and prematurely wrinkled, even in younger people.
• Sunburn – sunburn is the common name for the skin injury that appears immediately after the skin is exposed to UV radiation. Mild sunburn causes only painful reddening of the skin. More severe cases can produce tiny fluid-filled bumps (vesicles) or larger blisters.
• Actinic keratosis – this is a tiny bump that feels like sandpaper or a small, scaly patch of sun-damaged skin that has a pink, red, yellow or brownish tint. An actinic keratosis does not usually go away unless it is frozen, chemically treated or removed by a doctor. An actinic keratosis develops in areas of skin that have undergone repeated or long-term exposure to UV light. It is a warning sign of increased risk of skin cancer. About 10-15% of actinic keratoses eventually change into squamous cell cancers of the skin.

Gallery: Fraxel resurfacing sun damage

Disclaimer: Results may vary from person to person

Long-term changes in the skin’s collagen include photoageing and actinic purpura. In photoageing, the skin develops wrinkles and fine lines because of changes in the collagen of a deep layer of the skin called the dermis. In actinic purpura, UV radiation damages the structural collagen that supports the walls of the skin’s tiny blood vessels. This collagen damage makes blood vessels more fragile and more likely to rupture following a slight impact, particularly in older people.

Gallery: IPL photorejuvenation

Disclaimer: Results may vary from person to person

Repeated episodes of sunburn and unprotected sun exposure can increase a person’s risk of malignant melanoma and other forms of skin cancer. If you have fair skin and light eyes, you are at greater risk of sun-related skin damage and cancers. This is because your skin contains lower quantities of a dark pigment called melanin, which helps to protect the skin from the effects of UV radiation.

We have a range of treatments available to tackle sun damaged skin. These include Fraxel resurfacing, IPL Intense Pulsed Light photo rejuvenation, Nd:YAG laser treatment for discoloured areas, and in-clinic or at-home micro-needling (Dermaroller) for collagen stimulation. We also offer a range of top skin care and sun protection products to complement the treatment. Some of the serums may be included in a micro-needling session to enhance the treatment.

Contact us for a free consultation, or answers to any questions you may have.

Gallery: Dermaroller micro-needling

Disclaimer: Results may vary from person to person