Sun Damage: What’s The Deal?

How Sun Exposure Damages the Skin

Sun damage occurs when ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun penetrates the skin, triggering a series of biological changes that weaken, discolor, and prematurely age the tissue. UV rays—primarily UVA and UVB—reach the skin at different depths and cause various types of harm. UVA rays penetrate deeper into the dermis, breaking down collagen and elastin, which leads to wrinkles, sagging, and a loss of firmness. UVB rays affect the epidermis more directly, causing sunburn and stimulating excess melanin production that results in dark spots and uneven pigmentation.

Over time, repetitive UV exposure generates free radicals that damage DNA within skin cells. This oxidative stress disrupts normal cell repair, accelerates aging, and increases the risk of long-term issues such as actinic keratoses and skin cancers. The skin also thickens and becomes rougher as a protective response, while blood vessels may dilate, contributing to redness and visible capillaries.

Treating Sun Damage with Lasers

Sun damage is one of the most common skin concerns, often showing up as dark spots, uneven tone, fine lines, redness, and rough texture. Over time, UV exposure breaks down collagen, increases pigmentation, and accelerates visible aging. Modern medical aesthetic lasers offer a powerful, non-invasive way to reverse many of these effects and restore a clearer, healthier-looking complexion.

Laser treatments work by targeting specific chromophores in the skin—primarily melanin and hemoglobin—while stimulating collagen regeneration. Pigment-targeting lasers break apart unwanted sunspots and freckles so the body can naturally clear them, while vascular lasers reduce redness and visible capillaries. Fractional resurfacing lasers create controlled micro-injuries that trigger new collagen and elastin production, improving texture, fine lines, and overall radiance.

Whether you’re looking to fade stubborn sunspots, smooth early signs of aging, or refresh dull, UV-stressed skin, Apolomed’s aesthetic lasers provide a safe and effective solution. When performed by trained practitioners using appropriate wavelengths and parameters, laser treatments can help restore a more even, youthful, and luminous appearance—while encouraging healthier long-term skin function with minimal downtime.