Sun damaged skin
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Photoageing and its causes‍

Photoageing describes the changes to your skin that occur from sun damage. These changes are similar to the changes that you see with normal skin ageing but are often considered signs of premature or early skin ageing.^1,2 The cause of photoageing is repeated and prolonged exposure to UV radiation from the sun. The UVA and UVB radiation that reaches your skin damages cells on both the surface of your skin (the epidermis) and cells that are in deeper layers of your skin (the dermis).¹

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Signs of photoageing

Visible signs of photoageing include fine and deep lines or wrinkles, changes in pigmentation that lead to dark spots or hyperpigmentation, changes in texture such as roughness or dryness, and loss of elasticity. In the deeper layers of your skin, UV radiation causes damage to DNA in the skin’s cells that lead to loss of normal collagen and elastic fibres that are important for maintaining the structure and elasticity of your skin.^1,2

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Who is at risk of photoageing?

Photoageing can affect anyone because any exposure to the sun can damage skin cells. However, people who are more susceptible to sun damage are more likely to experience symptoms of photoageing. Dermatologists may use a classification system called Fitzpatrick skin types to describe a person’s usual skin colour and how they react to sun exposure. People with light skin tones that burn quickly and rarely tan are more susceptible to sun damage than people with darker skin tones who rarely burn and tan easily. People who spend a lot of time out in the sun or have a history of sun exposure are also considered to have an increased risk for developing sun damaged skin and photoageing.¹

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Types of sun damaged skin

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Suntan vs sunburn

When UV radiation reaches your skin, it can cause the skin colour to change. For some people, they develop a darker skin colour that is often referred to as a suntan. For other people, their skin becomes red and sore and inflamed. This is a sunburn – and sunburnt skin can be serious enough to form blisters and lead to the top layer of skin peeling off.^1,3

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Freckles and moles

Freckles are small, flat, round spots on the skin that are usually brown in colour. These spots represent changes in a type of skin cell that contain a dark pigment called melanin. Freckles often develop on areas of the body that get exposed to the sun regularly, usually on the face and arms, and can increase in number as people get older.³ There are two types of freckle - ephelides and lentigines.⁴ The differences between them are that ephelides fade when sun exposure is reduced (like during winter) while lentigines remain the same with or without sun exposure.⁴ In addition, ephelides do not require treatment, while lentigines should be monitored by your doctor.⁴

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Moles are small dark marks on the skin that develop when these pigmented skin cells grow clustered in a group together. Moles can be flat or raised, and generally develop during childhood as skin is exposed to the sun.³ It’s important to keep an eye on moles and should you notice any new moles or changes to existing moles, have them checked by your doctor.

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Melasma

Melasma describes typically symmetrical patches of brown skin discolouration that usually occur on areas of the face such as the cheeks. While melasma is often thought to relate to changes in hormones, sun exposure can cause the discolouration to get worse.⁴

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Sunspots

Sunspots or age spots – also known as solar keratoses or actinic keratoses – are lesions that can develop on areas of skin that are frequently exposed to the sun, such as the face or backs of the hands. These lesions typically look like small, red, scaly patches of skin, and more than one can occur in the same area of skin.³

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Other types of sun damaged skin

As well as photoageing, repeated or prolonged exposure to damaging UV radiation can cause other skin conditions.³ If you have any concerns about your skin or see any new or changing spots, you should talk to your doctor.

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Managing sun damaged skin

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Consult a dermatologist

If you have any concerns about your skin and potential sun damage, consider consulting a dermatologist for professional advice. A dermatologist will ask you questions about your symptoms, your medical and family history, and perform a skin examination to evaluate what type of sun damage you may have. They will work with you to develop a treatment plan that is suited for your skin.⁵

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Management options

There are a range of options available to reverse sun damage on your face. Topical products are creams that you can apply to your skin, including over-the-counter skin care and anti-ageing products. Your dermatologist may consider other options – sometimes called procedural treatments – that they will perform in their office. Examples of procedural treatments for photoageing include laser therapy and chemical peels.¹

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Prevention

Whatever management method you are considering, prevention of further sun damage is critical. Without regular sun protection, treating sun damaged skin can be a losing battle. Wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 every single day can help protect your skin from the sun damage that causes photoageing. Other sun protection strategies include avoiding spending time in the sun during peak hours of UV radiation intensity and wearing protective clothing and a hat.^1,3,6

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Consult with a specialist

If you’re looking for professional advice about the best management option for sun damaged skin, talk to your GP or ask them for a referral to a dermatologist. You could also consider seeking out an online consultation with your preferred healthcare professional.