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Age spots, hyperpigmentation, sun damage, photodamage… it doesn’t matter how you say it. All you want to do is get rid of it.

If you are a Baby Boomer, you might have been one of those sun goddesses (or gods). You know who I’m talking about. These were the folks who took off for the beach as soon as school was out for the summer. The goal…get a rich, deep tan. This was such an obsession that we used sun tan oils. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we literally fried our skin back then. Skin cancer was not even a blip on our radar.

Now fast forward about 20 years, and one morning you wake up and look in the mirror and there is a dark spot on your face that wasn’t there before. What’s up with that!

Here is the quick explanation. Sun damage occurs in the dermis layer which is below the surface. We literally don’t know the damage is happening until years later when it reaches the outer layer and shows up as a spot. By the way, if you are one of those Boomers who spent hours in the sun when you were younger, it would be a great idea to find a good dermatologist and have a head-to-toe body check once a year. Get a recommendation from your family doctor or visit http://www.aad.org/findaderm/ (the American Academy of Dermatology) to find one in your area.

The good news is that you can improve sun damaged skin. Here are some things you can do:

• Get serious about your daily skin care routine:  Cleanse, tone and moisturize twice a day with skin care products that are specific to your skin type and formulated for use on the face. Never use soap on your face.

• Exfoliate twice a week at night and follow by toning and moisturizing.  Use a mild exfoliant and wash gently–let the product do the work. If you have very fair, sensitive skin, make sure your exfoliant is okay for use on sensitive skin. Regular exfoliation removes the dead skin cells and accelerates skin cell regeneration.

• Find a licensed esthetician and start to get regular skin care treatments specifically to improve sun damaged skin. (If you are in Palm Beach County, Florida, get in touch and I’ll take care of you myself!) Treatments can be in the form of deep cleansing facials, lactic acid peels, or microdermabrasion. I prefer lactic acid peels to glycolic acid because it is a little milder. Peels and microderm usually perform best if they are done in a series. For example, you might get a series of six peels, which you would do weekly or every two weeks. When the series is over, you would maintain your skin by doing monthly peels or facials.

• Over time, with regular facial treatments and doing your skin care homework, you will notice the problem areas lightening and evening out.

• Most importantly, from day one, you will want to use a good sunblock on your face daily. Depending upon your skin type, use 20 SPF or greater. Don’t worry about looking for moisturizer with sunblock. Find the moisturizer you love, use it, and then apply your sunblock—every day—without fail. If you spend more than one hour a day outdoors, you will need to carry sunblock with you and apply it during the day. Tinted sunblocks are great, and there are sun block powders available also. For additional protection, wear a hat when you’re in the sun. Have fun with this—buy yourself some funky hats and start wearing them. Sun protection should become a mission for you, and if you are diligent, you can keep future sun damage from returning.

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