Correcting Summer Sun Damage

How do you start correcting sun damage while still enjoying the outdoors?

Understandably, when the weather is still warm and the sun feels so good, the last thing we want to consider is how the sun might affect our skin in the months leading up to the holidays.

Instead of sweating it, pick up products you can start using today, which will only make your fall and winter skincare treatments much more effective.

Ingredients to Look for:

If you’re still in the sun - Antioxidants, sunscreens, and melanin/tyrosinase inhibitors.

Sunscreen - We all know the importance; prevention is key!

Antioxidants - Green Tea, Vitamin C, Niacinamide (B3), Panthenol (B5),

Glutathione - The body’s “master antioxidant” produces DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid found in cold-water, fatty fish such as salmon. It is also found in fish oil supplements, along with EPA.

Along with supporting brain health, DHA may protect against sun damage. Omega-3s may protect against the sun's harmful ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Studies have shown that supplementing with a combination of DHA and EPA — two long-chain omega-3s — may reduce the skin's sensitivity to ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Tyrosinase Inhibitors that Reduce Hyperpigmentation:

1. Kojic Acid: A skin-lightening agent used extensively in skin-lightening skin care products. It penetrates deep within skin layers and inhibits tyrosinase activity to reduce melanin production.

2. Ferulic Acid: An antioxidant that binds directly to the tyrosinase enzyme, inhibiting its activity and slowing down melanin production. It also smoothes out fine lines and wrinkles too.

3. Quercetin: Also an antioxidant, a flavonoid compound, which inhibits monophenolase and diphenolase activities of tyrosinase enzyme. Many citrus fruits, grapes, berries, apples, honey are rich sources of quercetin.

4. Licorice extract: Licorice or Glycyrrhiza glabra is actually the herbal root of the Glycyrrhiza plant and is used extensively used in skin-lightening products and helps to brighten up skin. It also has anti-microbial properties.

5. 4‐n-butylresorcinol: 4-n-butylresorcinol is a Resorcinol derivative and a potent tyrosinase inhibitor inhibiting melanin production.

6. Mulberry extract: This natural ingredient is extracted from mulberry leaves have strong tyrosinase-inhibiting activity. It is probably the safest skin lightening agents.

7. Alpha arbutin: Extracted through plant sources such as cranberries, and bearberries, it’s considered to be a good anti-hyperpigmentation agent that helps to clear dark spots without irritating the skin.

8. Retinoid: Retinoid is chemically related to vitamin A which regulates cell growth. It helps in unclogging pores and preventing acne breakouts. It boosts collagen production, speeds up the cell renewal process, and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. When used consistently, retinoids can keep your skin clear and acne free, even out skin tone, reverse sun damage and pigmentation, improve wrinkles and mild scars and prevent premature aging. These factors along with the exfoliating properties, make retinoids the gold standard for acne and anti-aging treatments.

9. Azelaic Acid: Azelaic acid is one of the naturally occurring ingredients that is produced by skin’s microbiome and can be obtained from barley, wheat and other grains. It belongs to the family of carboxylic acids. It is considered to be a wonderful ingredient for acne-prone skin because of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Also, it helps in exfoliating the skin as well. You can find azelaic acid in prescribed medicines and some over-the-counter and cosmetic products. Azelaic acid can be used to treat hyperpigmentation and melasma. This acid is known to target the pigment-producing cells-hyperactive melanocytes. This makes it perfect for treating dark spots and hyperpigmentation, making the skin even-toned. Moreover, it exfoliates the skin and sloughs off the dead skin cells, revealing smoother skin.

10. L-ascorbic Acid: Vitamin C is the topmost skin brightening and lightening agent that inhibits tyrosinase enzyme and reduces melanin production at the cellular level. It is widely used in serums to reduce and treat hyperpigmentation.

11. Tranexamic acid: It is a lesser-known skin-lightening agent. Tranexamic acid is used in ointments and skin creams for its effect on decreasing the activity of tyrosinase and melanogenesis.

12. Hydroquinone: Keeping the most famous and highly controversial ingredient for the last, hydroquinone is a fast-acting anti-hyperpigmentation agent but one that comes with quite a few side effects, especially if used for a longer period of time. Extreme caution should be taken while using hydroquinone and avoiding over-the-counter versions containing this ingredient.