How to Get Rid of Post-Summer Sun Damage (Hello, Sunspots!)

So you ignored all of our warnings and spent half the summer frying your skin at the shore, or you took our advice and slathered on the SPF only to find dark spots mysteriously appearing all over your body. We get it. Sun happens, which is why we reached out to Philly’s skin experts to find the very best remedies for sun-damaged skin. From laser treatments to diet changes, here’s what we found. 

Treatment:

1. To ease into skin repairs, start with a facial. As the seasons change, so does your skin, so do your best to fit in a facial at least once during fall and spring as the climate changes. Try the ‘Rejuvenating Facial’ at Bluemercury ($165) to learn what products your skin needs.
2. For dark spots on sun-prone areas of the body like shoulders, chest or legs (talking to you, poolside tanners), try the Body Bee Enlightened body wrap ($149) at Eviama Life Spa, which uses all-natural products to revitalize your skin’s surface.
3. If you want a more intense re-surfacing treatment, try a chemical peel. (No, it’s not as painful as it sounds.) La Chelé Medical Aesthetics offers a Vi Peel ($250) for hyperpigmentation. The treatment combines glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids to slough away old skin cells that your body replenishes with new, healthier cells. Warning: The peeling stage can last for up to five days, so don’t get this treatment before a big event.
4. For the most advanced skin pigmentation treatment, try a photorejuvenation laser that penetrates the skin to target dark spots. The BBL (broadband light) laser treatment ($360) at About Face is adjusted to your specific needs, and clears discoloration from the skin through intense pulsed light (IPL). The before-and-after photos from this treatment are amazing, but be prepared for a little discomfort. (It can feel like a series of small rubber band snaps on the skin.)

Prevention:

1. Wear minimum SPF 35 Every. Single. Day. It’s that important. SPF is the first and greatest step in fighting discoloration (not to mention wrinkles and sagging).
2. Change your diet to include more selenium, a natural antioxidant that protects the skin’s collagen. Selenium can be found in Brazil nuts, sunflower seeds and oysters.
3. Incorporate a vitamin C serum into your skincare routine, like M61 Vitablast C, for a topical antioxidant that will absorb right into your skin.

Now you can be fresh-faced and ready for fall, with a whole arsenal of skin-healthy tips to prepare you for next summer’s sunshine.