The term is sun damage, or photo damage, and it is anything but nice.

When UV rays hit our skin, our melanocytes (skin pigmentation) are stimulated. This excitement among the cells increases melanin production. A great way of understanding how this system works is to view the melanocytes like the human body’s umbrella, protecting all the other cells from any damage that the UV rays could cause.

Now, we can’t always control when we are in the sun and when we aren’t, nor can we control for how long we’re outside. For some, sun damage has already taken place and the brown spots are already there. How do we make those go away?

Here are 3 top tips to remove brown spots and reduce your exposure to sun damage:

Exfoliation Is Key to Beautiful Skin

Skin is comprised of three main layers: The epidermis (The outermost layer), the dermis (Middle layer), and the hypodermis (Innermost layer). Within our skin are our sebaceous (oil) glands, which are designed to moisturize our skin and keep it healthy.

When the sun hits our skin, it reduces our skin’s natural oil levels, causing it to dry out. This dryness can lead to flakiness as our skin cells die and start to shed.

We might experience tightness in some areas which we may find uncomfortable at times. A great way to reduce the appearance of shedding and get rid of dry skin is by exfoliating it.

Exfoliation is like a chisel for our skin and helps it to produce newer and fresh cells. It acts as a cleaner to get rid of damaged skin cells that appear discolored or darker, which in turn causes those problem spots to fade away over time.

There are many kinds of exfoliators that can be used for both the body and the face. Exfoliating scrubs can also be made at home with sugar or salt and oil. One can even add dried herbs or flowers and different types of essential oils and fragrances to give a spa-like experience.

The Miracle of Moisturizing

Along with exfoliating, moisturizing should always be the next step because it puts back everything that the exfoliator just took out of our skin (the good, the bad, and the ugly).

Moisturizing our skin has many benefits to it, such as promoting softer skin, preventing acne, and protection.

Something great to use would be coconut oil. Coconut oil is said to be a super fruit oil because it is packed with fatty acids that work to hydrate, replenish, and enhance the healing process of our skin.

Never Underestimate the Power of Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion is a simple and quick cosmetic treatment that uses a hand piece to lift away dirt, oil, and debris from the skin’s surface.

This painless skin care procedure uses a combination of exfoliation, extraction, and hydration to improve the skin’s overall appearance, and is often described as feeling like a cat is licking the face.

The vacuum pressure is adjusted depending on the sensitivity and tolerance of the client’s skin. This treatment leaves the skin feeling smooth and firm with a reduction of fine lines and wrinkles. Microdermabrasion improves cell processes to enhance skin elasticity.

This treatment aids in the reduction of:

There are no needles or anesthetics required for microdermabrasion, and is a great treatment option for people who have skin conditions and are looking for maximum benefits with virtually no side effects and downtime.

Among frequently exposing ourselves to these harmful rays, we can also obtain brown spots and sun damage through what is called secondary UV exposure.

Examples of secondary UV exposure include walking around outside, driving a car, or sitting by a window. While all of this sounds complex and a little nerve-wracking, there are ways to prevent brown spots and sun damage, and they are all very simple. The methods are as follows:

Another important thing to consider is avoiding the afternoon sun. This time period is when the sun has reached its peak and is at the highest point in the sky. The hottest temperature of the day occurs around this time and is a guarantee that our bodies will obtain sun damage.

So always make sure to take care of your skin – and get regular facials throughout the summer months.