Unfortunately, people in Chicago, IL are only recently learning about the damage that overexposure to the sun can cause to their skin. Years ago, a lot of emphasis was not put on sun damage. So it was common for people to spend long periods of time under the sun without any sort of protection. Now, decades later, they are starting to see the negative results. Unfortunately, sun damage is something that is accumulated. So people who spent years in the sun now have serious issues.
On the bad side of things, damage that has been done by the sun cannot be undone. However, there are modern treatments that can be used to minimize some of the symptoms or some of the signs of sun-damaged skin. One of the more popular treatments available today is laser skin resurfacing. Many have seen the benefits of learning how to treat sun-damaged skin with a simple laser skin resurfacing treatment in Chicago, IL.
Why Does the Sun Damage Your Skin?
Why does the sun, something that’s necessary for life, damage your skin? The answer lies in the way that the radiation from the sun affects your DNA. The sun’s radiation can affect your skin’s DNA to the point that it loses its ability to heal itself properly. Radiation from the sun affects the amount of elastin in your skin. Elastin is what gives your skin its youthful appearance. If you reduce the amount of elastin in your skin, this means that the texture of your skin changes negatively, you get more wrinkles, and your skin looks unhealthy.
Human skin has been designed with the ability to protect itself from the radiation of the sun. This is why when your skin is exposed to continual sunshine, it turns tan. This increase in pigmentation is designed to help lower layers of your skin protect itself from the sun.
But this system of protection can go wonky. When that happens, you start to develop sunspots and other pigmentation issues. The older you get, the harder it is for your body to regulate this protection mechanism. This is why as we get older and if we have spent too much time in the sun, we start to develop patches of brown skin as opposed to getting an even tan.
How Does Laser Skin Resurfacing Help?
Laser skin resurfacing helps to treat sun damage in that it tricks your body into fixing damaged areas. During this treatment at our office in Chicago, IL, the outermost layers of damaged skin are removed. As a result, your body thinks that the treated area has been injured. Your body reacts to this perceived injury by creating new and healthier skin.
If you are dealing with sun damage on your skin, make an appointment at aFresh® Med Spa & Plastic Surgery in Chicago, IL to learn more information about how laser skin resurfacing can help you. Contact us today to schedule a consultation!