Dermatologist recommended: the best skincare for sun damage.
Expert Recommendations for Protecting Your Skin from Sun Damage
Did you know that most of the symptoms we commonly attribute to aging are actually caused by sun damage? It’s true; excess sun exposure can lead to wrinkles, dull and dehydrated skin, sun spots, and even a loss of firmness and elasticity. In extreme cases it can also manifest as precancerous or cancerous lesions. These changes can begin as early as our twenties, and will continue to develop over time unless we intervene with proper aesthetic treatments, skincare, and sun protection.
In this installment of the West Dermatology blog series showcasing products and treatments hand-picked by our expert dermatologists, we’re highlighting the best skincare to address sun damage, and the symptoms that come along with it.
1. Broad Spectrum Sunscreen
The single most important product to put on every single day is a sunscreen. Even if you do nothing else, this is an important step in the right direction. While you can’t reverse all the sun damage that was caused years ago with sunscreen alone, you can prevent further sun damage moving forward.
The absolute best way to prevent additional sun damage is to always, always wear SPF; rain or shine, summer and winter. We have many amazing sunscreens to choose from at West Dermatology. We have curated a collection of products that make it easy to include sunscreen in your routine—you’ll never have to put up with that sticky sunscreen feel. Here are some of our favourites:
Colorescience Sunforgettable Brush-On Sunscreen SPF 50
We love this product for easy application throughout the day; you can brush it on any time, even over your makeup. It comes in multiple shades to suit your skin tone and protects against UVA and UVB rays. It’s great for protecting your hairline and part too!
Elta MD (multiple)
We carry four Elta MD sunscreens, in both tinted and untinted versions as well as formulations to suit every skin type—including the ever-popular UV Clear with niacinamide to support a clear complexion.
Skinbetter Tone Smart Priming Compact
This compact features shade adapting technology and lightweight coverage, with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide for UV protection. It can be used alone or under makeup as a primer.
2. Antioxidants
To help your sunscreen work even better, add an antioxidant. Antioxidants and sunscreens work synergistically, meaning that together they are more powerful than using either alone. Antioxidants quench free radicals in the skin which are created by factors such as sun damage, pollution, and smoke. They also further help to protect against UV radiation—we like to think of them as supersizing your sunscreen. We have a few favourites in the office:
ZO® Skin Health Daily Power Defense
This powerful serum provides antioxidant protection from Vitamin E while tightening and firming the skin and improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Formulated to help speed up the skin’s natural repair process, it’s a must-have product for correcting sun-damaged skin.
Skinbetter Alto Defense Serum
This award-winning serum is packed with 19 different antioxidants, creating a daily shield against oxidative stress. We like to think of it as a multivitamin for your skin. This is our favourite for those with rosacea-prone skin and those with significant redness. It does an excellent job at reducing redness and calming the skin.
ZO 10% Self-Activating Vitamin C
This product contains 10% ascorbic acid, a potent form of vitamin C with a myriad of benefits for the skin. In addition to antioxidant protection, it helps to brighten the skin and promote a more even skin tone.
3. Retinol / Retinoid
The third ingredient you need is a retinol or retinoid. This is vitamin A in a formulation that is beneficial for your skin. Topical vitamin A offers many benefits, including thickening your skin by promoting collagen growth, exfoliating the top layer of the skin, helping to fight brown spots, improving fine lines and wrinkles, and even improving acne. The best retinol for you depends on your skin – whether you have acne or rosacea, sensitive skin or oily skin. We carry two retinols from ZO Skin Health at the clinic. You can also use prescription strength retinoids—Dr. Sutton will help to choose the best one for your skin. Always apply these products to clean, dry skin at night.
ZO® Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener
The Retinol Skin Brightener works to remove the appearance of existing pigmentation, and prevent the appearance of new age spots and uneven colour. This is our favourite for people with sun freckles and brown pigmentation. The result is a brighter, more even skin tone.
ZO Wrinkle + Texture Repair
Wrinkle + Texture Repair contains 0.5% retinol to encourage skin turnover as well as a blend of corrective ingredients to refine uneven texture and target wrinkles and lines.
Next up: Watch out for our upcoming blog reviewing the best in-clinic treatments for treating sun damaged skin. To place an order for any of the products mentioned here, visit our Skincare page or get in touch with us with any questions.