What’s the Difference Between Freckles and Sun Damage?

Freckles are super cute but they’re not necessarily the result of sun damage. Freckles can appear for different reasons, either by genetics or by damage from the sun. Sun damage can be incredibly harmful for both your skin and health. So, what is the difference between freckles and sun damage and what can we do to prevent our skin from getting damaged? What are freckles? Freckles occur when your skin is exposed to UV light, resulting in hyper melanin production. This causes parts of your skin to become darker during summer months. Freckles that occur due to sun damage usually appear soon after tanning or spending long periods in the sun. It’s best to check with a doctor or dermatologist if you’re worried that your freckles are due to sun damage. What is sun damage? Sun damage normally occurs as brown spots or age spots. This hyperpigmentation happens due to exposure to sunlight, however, as hyperpigmentation is due to an increase in melanin, pregnancy or Addison’s disease can also cause brown spots. How to prevent sun damage? The most effective way to prevent sun damage is to apply a high SPF, especially if your skin is prone to burning when exposed to sunlight. Furthermore, it’s also best to not spend long periods in direct sunlight. Cover your head with a sun hat and ensure areas like your shoulders and chest are protected. How to reduce dark spots If you want to reduce the appearance of dark spots, use a retinol…

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Freckles are super cute but they’re not necessarily the result of sun damage. Freckles can appear for different reasons, either by genetics or by damage from the sun. Sun damage can be incredibly harmful for both your skin and health. So, what is the difference between freckles and sun damage and what can we do to prevent our skin from getting damaged?

What are freckles?

Freckles occur when your skin is exposed to UV light, resulting in hyper melanin production. This causes parts of your skin to become darker during summer months. Freckles that occur due to sun damage usually appear soon after tanning or spending long periods in the sun. It’s best to check with a doctor or dermatologist if you’re worried that your freckles are due to sun damage.

What is sun damage?

Sun damage normally occurs as brown spots or age spots. This hyperpigmentation happens due to exposure to sunlight, however, as hyperpigmentation is due to an increase in melanin, pregnancy or Addison’s disease can also cause brown spots.

How to prevent sun damage?

The most effective way to prevent sun damage is to apply a high SPF, especially if your skin is prone to burning when exposed to sunlight. Furthermore, it’s also best to not spend long periods in direct sunlight. Cover your head with a sun hat and ensure areas like your shoulders and chest are protected.

How to reduce dark spots

If you want to reduce the appearance of dark spots, use a retinol product in your skincare routine – Vitamin A is ideal for increasing cell turnover and reducing pigmentation. Furthermore, you could also try our very own IPL treatment for photorejuvenation. More about this below.

Photorejuvenation

SkinBase™ Intense Pulsed Light, photo rejuvenation therapy uses beams of light energy to target the melanin in the skin and treat Hyper-pigmentation. We recommend a course of 3-6 at 2-3 week intervals. Photo rejuvenation therapy will also work wonders on any fine lines and wrinkles and flood the skin surface with new collagen for a more youthful complexion.

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Rebecca Willshee Nail and Beauty Specialist

Testimonial: “JC was so low, suicidal at points. Sore, red, angry, his skin was awful, we had tried everything and doctors you name it. We reached out to Becky, who was wonderful. My son was quiet and withdrawn, lacked confidence and self esteem, and locked himself away from the world. Becky booked us in for a consultation to discuss different options of treatments and we decided the new hydro treatment would be the best option. We started the course and JC was nervous but Becky was great with him talking him through everything, step by step! As we went each time JC’s skin got better and better, but also the difference in him was huge, he was gaining confidence, shoulders back, head held high. We have watched his skin change from this red, aggressive, angry skin that was sore, acne was debilitating to him but now he is confident, holds his head up high and has even got his first job! We are so proud. When we met Becky I felt confident she would help us get his skin better and back on track but what has actually happened is skin looks amazing but to see our son gain confidence has been the biggest win! Teens often get pushed aside, put on string meds and told “it’s just your age” but this isn’t what they want to hear, but The SkinBase treatments Becky has done has changed his life! We cannot thank you enough Becky! JC is continuing with the treatments as it still gets the odd breakouts but the scarring is still improving week in week out. The hydro Facial is just amazing and we cannot recommend it enough and of course Becky and her passion for skin and helping people is wonderful!”