Summer is in full swing and hopefully, everyone is enjoying the longer days and the sunnier weather.  

Whilst we would encourage you to make the most of the season, as healthcare specialists we do want to remind you that too much exposure to the sun can be bad for your health and bad for your appearance too.  

If you expose your skin to the sun for long periods you may begin to notice the ageing effects.  Unfortunately, sun damage is one of the main causes of skin ageing, including wrinkles, sun spots, ageing and loss of elasticity.  And the effects aren’t limited to those who sunbathe – even day-to-day exposure to sunlight can have a negative impact. As you can see, the sun may be good news for our mood, but it’s certainly not good for our skin!

One of the most common permanent signs of too much sun is the appearance of discoloured patches of skin, most commonly on the face, hands, shoulders and arms. 

Over time, the patches, also known as solar lentigines or age spots, can become larger and more obvious.  Solutions such as heavier make-up and covering up with clothing are not always practical, so surgical removal of the affected area of skin is a long-term option you may wish to consider.

What causes sun spots?

The main cause of sunspots is UV radiation from the sun.  When your skin is exposed to UV rays, it triggers an increase in melanin production, the pigment responsible for giving colour to your skin, hair and eyes.  Excessive sun exposure causes the cells that produce melanin to produce more, resulting in the formation of dark spots on the skin.

Sunspots tend to appear more frequently on people who have had extensive and cumulative sun exposure throughout their lifetime.  That’s why they’re more common as we age.  Over time, our skin becomes less efficient at repairing itself. So early and continual use of sunscreen, cover-ups and avoiding mid-day sun will help.

Also, because we’ve all got different levels of melanin in our skin, we’ll have different levels of protection against UV radiation.  That’s why people with fair skin are more prone to sun damage, as they have less melanin.  People with darker skin tones have more natural protection with increased melanin levels.

Suspicious moles

Skin cancer is one of the dangers of sun damage, so it’s important to check your skin regularly and seek medical advice for anything you’re not sure about.  You should keep an eye on any moles or skin tags, particularly if they become irregular in shape or begin to bleed.  If we think it’s necessary, we’ll arrange a biopsy of the affected area which involves removing skin and sending it off for tests to check it’s not cancerous.

Prevention & treatment

Prevention is always better than cure, of course, but if you’re concerned about sun spots, book an initial consultation with us and we’ll assess your skin and give you tailored advice.

An initial appointment with one of our consultant plastic surgeons will enable you to get the tailored advice you need on the best way to tackle your sun-damaged skin.