Sun Damage
Medical Dermatology & Surgical and Cosmetic Dermatology in Fenton, Chesterfield and O'Fallon, MO
Sun damage accumulates on your skin and can impact both its tone and texture. If you have hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, or precancerous lesions from ultraviolet (UV) light, the team of experts at Missouri Dermatology Laser and Vein Center in Fenton, Chesterfield, and O’Fallon, Missouri, examines your skin and recommends suitable treatments. Learn more about sun damage treatment options by calling Missouri Dermatology Laser and Vein Center or booking an appointment online today.
Sun damage refers to the changes that happen to your skin cells and underlying tissues because of ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun. The same type of damage occurs when you use tanning beds or booths because they also use UV light.
As attractive as you may look with a summer tan, it’s important to be aware of what’s happening in your skin and how UV light affects your skin’s health. The team at Missouri Dermatology Laser and Vein Center routinely sees patients for lesions/skin changes caused by sun damage, such as:
While skin cancers like BCC, SCC, and melanoma are serious complications that can show up because of long-term sun damage, even milder damage like age spots, dryness, and actinic keratoses can be a cause of concern or distress.
Missouri Dermatology Laser and Vein Center provides several gentle cosmetic treatments for spots and mild sun damage alongside procedures to remove the more problematic growths.
Treating sun damage can involve multiple procedures to even out your skin’s tone and texture. Skin cancer treatments aside, you can improve sun damage-related features like wrinkles, roughness, dryness, and age spots with treatments such as:
If you have spots or lesions that seem suspicious because they might be cancerous, the team at Missouri Dermatology Laser and Vein Center takes a biopsy to test in a lab. If you have skin cancer, your treatment may involve Mohs surgery, excision, cryosurgery, chemotherapy, or radiation.
If your goal is to prevent sun damage, you don’t have to avoid time in the sunshine altogether. However, you do need to be more cautious. There are many steps you can take to mitigate your risk, including:
You should also be sure to tell the team at Missouri Dermatology Laser and Vein Center of any known family members with a history of skin cancer so they can advise you on getting professional skin exams once a year or so after a certain age.
Schedule your appointment over the phone or online at Missouri Dermatology Laser and Vein Center for more information on sun damage and how to treat it today.