5 things you can do to help repair sun-damaged skin.

You either came of age at a time when the only sun lotion you took to the beach was Reef Oil or you spent most of your time outdoors.

The bad news is that sun damage isn’t just superficial; UV radiation alters the DNA of your skin. So along with those fine lines, wrinkles and sun spots, the chances of developing skin cancer is also much higher.

But you probably already knew that, so here’s what you can do to help repair sun-damaged skin.

1. Use a chemical exfoliator.

Instead of buffing or stripping the skin with a granular exfoliant, chemical exfoliators dissolve dead skin cells. And those dead skin cells are holding the brown pigment (hyperpigmentation and sun spots) that has accumulated over years of sun exposure. A product with a 5-8% concentration of glycolic acid is going to be the most effective.

Just as an FYI, you should know that this post is sponsored by Dove. But all opinions expressed by the author are 100 per cent authentic and written in their own words.

2. Treat brown spots.

Aside from using a chemical exfoliant, a brightening product will help treat dark spots, pigmentation and skin discolouration.

A brightening serum or spot treatment product works to stop the uneven production of melanin (brown pigment). The active ingredient you want in a treatment product is hydroquinone (2%).

3. SUNSCREEN!

If you’ve already seen some signs of sun damage ageing your skin, you are probably all over the sunscreen application.

The latest recommendation from the Skin Cancer Council is to use a sunscreen labeled as broad spectrum UVA and UVB with SPF30+ or higher.

Apply it 30 minutes prior to going into the sun, and reapply every two hours. Every. Single. Day.

4. Don’t neglect your body.

Dehydration can highlight your fine lines and wrinkles on your face, but don’t forget about the rest of your skin.

Apply sunscreen to areas of your body, which are prone to sun exposure – like your hands and neck. And to combat the dryness associated with winter, use hydrating body products, such as Dove’s Triple Moisturising Body Wash, which assists in retaining the skin’s natural protective barrier to help keep the moisture in the skin.

5. Antioxidants are your friends.

You’ve probably heard how antioxidant rich foods (berries, legumes, apples) play a role in preventing free radical damage that cause wrinkles and sagging skin, and the same goes for skincare.

Sun damaged skin needs a little more help in the moisturising department. An antioxidant rich moisturiser will assist in protecting the skin from further damage.

Look for a moisturiser with ingredients such as Vitamin C, olive leaf, pomegranate, green tea, chamomile, licorice and idebenone.

Some simple things to remember when it comes to skin care:

 If you have sun damaged skin, how do you try to improve it?

During winter your skin might start to feel dry, scaly and rough, and  the use of some body washes can strip the moisture from your skin rather the rejuvenate. Dove is different. With breakthrough Nutrium Moisture®, it’s proven to hydrate and nourish skin deep down* and maintain its beauty. Dove Triple Moisturising Body Wash is a rich creamy formulation, featuring a breakthrough blend of moisturisers enriched with skin natural lipids that can deeply absorb within the skin’s surface to nourish deep down* when you shower. Dove leaves your skin feeling soft and supple, giving a touch of pampering nourishment in the shower. That’s the Dove Difference!

*In the skin’s surface layers.