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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