UVA, UVB and UVC from the sun damage the skin. UVA degrades the underlying collagen and elastin fibres, causing sagging or thickened skin, loss of elasticity, loss of luminescence, pigment changes and open pores. UVB causes the skin to burn creating redness and dilated blood vessels and damages the all-important DNA. UVB is responsible for most non-melanoma skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Early signs of sun damage are freckles, fine lines, complexion changes and open pores. Different skin types respond differently to UV exposure. Even within similar skin types and populations the results of sun damage can be very different.

Treating sun damage literally turns back the clock. Peeling with gentle naturally-occurring acids such as glycolic, mandelic or azelaic acid slowly exfoliates the skin and stimulates new skin growth. Peeling using medium-depth agents such as TCA will create more of a shock to the skin with more exfoliation but increased new skin growth, skin renewal and tightening.

Deeper coloured skin types are more fragile. Abnormal pigmentation becomes more of an issue and treatment must be gentle. Skin preparation is essential and the peeling products must be carefully selected. Cosmelan peeling is good for darker types of skin as it contains many pigment stabilising compounds.

The Dermalux Tri-Wave is an ideal treatment for sundamage as it is non-invasive, pleasant, suitable for most people and totally natural. The healing wavelengths are directed at the skin cells and the underlying support tissues collagen and elastin. The treatment also reduces inflammation which we now understand to be the major causative factor in skin ageing.