Sun Damage Reversal

Ageing skin due to sun damage is associated with a range of cosmetic concerns — from pigmentation problems and splotchy skin to redness due to enlarged vessels or capillaries. Other effects include a loss of collagen, which results in the thinning of the skin and loss of structural integrity or weakening of the skin.

Sanctuary MedSpa is excited to offer the next step in multi-modality therapy in treating sun damage. Any treatment modality on its own can make a big difference, but in our eyes it’s not sufficient. Sun damage has different forms and grades and thus success at combating it needs a combination of treatments that include exfoliation, laser and light rejuvenation.

Image Courtesy Alma Lasers

If we can treat sun damaged skin at an earlier age and stimulate the growth of new collagen, we might actually slow down the aging process significantly, allowing us to have healthier, better looking skin later in our golden years. Perhaps even more promising is the idea that treating skin with lasers earlier on in the aging process-at around age 30-40-may actually slow or prevent the skin from breaking down and appearing wrinkled and saggy later on in life. In addition it has been clinically proven that after ablative laser treatments, there is a significant decrease in the level of p53 expression in biopsies obtained 3 months after treatment compared with baseline. By decreasing p53 expression with ablative lasers, there may be prevention of actinic neoplasia or skin cancers which are caused by excessive sun exposure.

How does sun exposure age our skin? Without protection from the sun’s rays, just a few minutes of exposure each day over the years can cause noticeable changes to the skin. Freckles, age spots, spider veins on the face, rough and leathery skin, fine wrinkles that disappear when stretched, loose skin, a blotchy complexion, actinic keratoses (thick wart-like, rough, reddish patches of skin), and skin cancer can all be traced to sun exposure.

The skin ages when the epidermis (outer layer of the skin) begins to thin, causing the junction with the dermis (outer layer) to flatten. Sun Damaged Skin has a thicker epidermis (keratin), which is "dead" and irregular. There is increased water loss from the skin and a decrease of the sebaceous glands, which provides natural moisture to the skin. More abnormal cells accumulate in aged skin, especially if there is chronic sun damage, which can lead to pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions.

Scientific studies have shown that repeated ultraviolet (UV) exposure breaks down collagen and impairs the synthesis of new collagen. The sun also attacks our elastin. Sun Damaged Skin also causes chronic inflammation of the skin and an increase of elastin that clusters into thick bundles called solar elastosis. Collagen decreases as we age and the bundles of collagen, which gives the skin turgor, become looser and loses strength.

 People with fair skin who have a history of sun exposure develop more signs of sun damage than those with dark skin In people of colour, the signs of sun damage are usually limited to fine wrinkles, a mottled complexion and sagging of the midface leading to under eye bags.

The degree of sun damage as classified by Glogau:

1.  Mild (age 28-35 years): Few wrinkles, no actinic keratoses( tender red dry spots) , requires little or no make-up.

2.   Moderate (age 35-50 years): Early wrinkling, sallow complexion with early actinic keratoses( tender red dry spots), requires little makeup.

3.   Advanced (age 50-60 years): Persistent wrinkling, discoloration of the skin with telangiectases and actinic keratoses( tender red dry spots), always wears makeup.

4.   Severe (age 65-70 years): Severe wrinkling, photoageing, gravitational and dynamic forces affecting skin, actinic keratoses ( tender red dry spots) with or without skin cancer, wears makeup with poor coverage.