Sun exposure accumulates over time, no matter the skin’s color or tendency to burn. Running errands, walking the dog, or even sitting by a window can add up.
“It’s like collecting change in a jar—that’s the analogy I always use with my patients,” says Katrina Hansen, D.O., a dermatologist at Dermatology Partners in Hockessin. “Even if you only throw in one or two coins a day, eventually you are going to add a significant amount of change to the jar. It’s not just those days where you put in an entire handful because you were on the beach.”
Developing wrinkles and other signs of aging is normal, but protecting skin against UVA and UVB rays can slow the effects and reduce the risk of cancer. The American Cancer Society reports that skin cancer rates are rising, and while skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, it’s also highly preventable.
“Sun damages the outermost layer of the skin, [causing] little freckles and hyperpigmentation…but it also really damages your collagen,” Hansen explains. Because UV rays pass through clouds and reflect off water, sand, and other surfaces, shade provides only partial protection.
She recommends applying SPF wherever skin is showing—including the scalp and lips—and checking the label to know whether it’s water resistant and when to reapply. If you’re active outdoors—swimming, hiking, biking—reapply more frequently.
Sun damage can lead to wrinkles, fine lines, and dark spots, all of which can be reversed by a dermatologist or an aesthetician, says Kiera Booth, M.D., a dermatologist at Premier Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery (locations in Wilmington and Newark). In addition to using retinol nightly, she recommends skin-resurfacing treatments like chemical peels, microdermabrasion, microneedling, and intense-pulsed light, which remove the skin’s outer layer and encourage new cell growth to minimize the effects of sun damage. (Disclaimer: While these treatments provide gradual results over time, Botox and fillers drastically reduce fine lines and wrinkles.)
At Houppette in Greenville, licensed aestheticians offer pampering peels and facials to revive damaged skin. Co-owner Lizzie Johnson recommends the Natura Bissè Luminous Facial or a HydraFacial. “The [first] targets signs of discoloration, aging, and dehydration, leaving the skin brighter, more even-toned, and deeply hydrated,” she says. “The HydraFacial is a fantastic all-in-one treatment that combines deep cleansing with targeted hydration and rejuvenation. While it’s especially effective for removing impurities, it also addresses sun damage and supports overall skin health.”
Premier Dermatology’s laser resurfacing treatment aims to tighten loose skin and improve fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, and even spider veins. Ablative lasers break the skin’s surface to stimulate the healing process, while non-ablative lasers do not break through, instead heating skin below the surface to stimulate collagen growth.
For dark spots, Booth suggests lasers. “There [are] ways to combine multiple treatments to get pretty impressive results with big changes that don’t make you look like someone else—just your best self.”
