When’s the Best Time to Treat Summer Sun Damage on Your Chest?
The short answer is: Winter. Living in Queensland has so many advantages, but not necessarily for our skin. Residents here are especially prone to sun damage, particularly on the chest. Is that a concern you have? If so, you’ll be happy to know that b clinic has a variety of effective treatment protocols and innovative devices to help. You can, of course, treat sun damage year-round, but you need to take extra precautions after treatment, especially in summer.
Let’s look at this topic more closely and answer some frequently asked questions about sun damage.
Why Does My Chest Skin Look Discoloured and Wrinkly?
Blame the sun. That bright, shiny orb in the sky is the primary cause of sun damage to your chest and elsewhere on your body. Sun damage doesn’t occur suddenly. It develops after years of exposure starting as early as childhood, continuing through adolescence and adulthood. It’s specifically the UV component that causes the skin damage, and it’s not just skin – it can pretty much damage any kind of material left outside in the sun!
Many people are unaware of the harm they have done to their skin until the damage becomes visible, typically as they enter their thirties or forties. Women in particular, at this age, find the skin on their chest and decolletage area is often more susceptible to damage than their faces.
How Do I Know If I Have Sun Damage on My Chest?
The chest is exposed to the sun all year round, not just in the wintertime. The first signs of UV damage to chest skin from winter or summer sun include:
- Reddish tone
- Freckles
- Broken capillaries
- Unwanted skin discolouration
Rays from the sun also break down collagen. This leaves your skin vulnerable to:
- Uneven skin texture
- Wrinkles
- Sleep lines
What Can b clinic Do to Correct Sun Damage on My Chest?
It’s never a bad time to seek treatment at b clinic for a skin problem. However, the best time to treat sun damage on your chest (and face too) is during the cooler months. This is because we tend to cover our skin more during this time, which facilitates proper healing using two powerful tools: the Stellar M22 IPL device and the ResurFX non-ablative laser.
Which Treatment Corrects Sun Damage on the Chest?
To improve tone, pigmentation, freckles, age sunspots, redness and broken capillaries, we use the Stellar M22 IPL device. With four technologies in one platform, this device allows us to treat over 30 skin conditions. Stellar is considered optimal for photo-rejuvenation and treatment of benign pigmented lesions.
Which Treatment Stimulates Collagen Production on the Chest?
To smooth fine lines, improve overall skin texture, and stimulate collagen, b clinic recommends ResurFX non-ablative fractional laser treatments. Non-ablative lasers like ResurFX treat a wide range of skin concerns and require less downtime compared to ablative laser devices.
ResurFX stimulates the skin cells to repair and produce new collagen and elastin fibres in deeper layers of the skin without the damage more invasive treatments may cause. Old and damaged cells are replaced with fresh, glowing, healthy new skin.
Should I Consider a Fractional Laser Treatment?
An in-person consultation is the best way to answer that question. To treat deep chest lines, our highly experienced laser clinicians can perform a light ablative Erbium or CO2 fractional laser treatment to stimulate cell renewal and encourage new collagen fibres for smoother, tighter, and more youthful-looking skin.
Ablative treatments using CO2 and Erbium lasers are more powerful and will treat stubborn skin issues such as skin laxity, acne or surgical scars, and deep wrinkles. They work by removing the top layers of skin so new healthy skin cells can grow in its place. However, it should be noted that ablative treatments typically involve more downtime than non-ablative laser treatments.
Is There a Better Way to Correct Chest Skin Sun Damage?
Yes! A b clinic’s photofractional skin rejuvenation protocol combines IPL and ResurFX treatments in a single treatment session. The first step is the use of intense pulsed light. The second step is a treatment with the ResurFX non-ablative fractional laser. The third step is enjoying smoother, more radiant chest (and facial) skin.
How Will I Feel After a Photofractional Treatment at b clinic?
Immediately following treatment, our clients experience some redness or light swelling depending on their customised treatment settings. The swelling usually diminishes after a few hours, and the redness as quickly as the next day or over the next few days. Most clients resume their normal daily activities on the same day of treatment.
When Will I See Results from My Treatment?
After the first session, you may begin to notice improvement in skin tone and pigmentation. Typically, about 3 treatment sessions are needed to have visible improvement in the skin texture. You may continue to see improvements for up to 6 months following the course of treatments due to the stimulation of new collagen.
Is There Anything Else I Can Do To Prevent Chest Wrinkles?
Yes! Your sleep position may be ageing your chest. To maintain smooth skin or prevent chest lines while you sleep, b clinic recommends Skinvigor 8 silicone decolletage pads. They are available online or visit selected b clinic locations to talk over your selection with one of our skin experts.
Summary (the extra short version!)
What: Pigmentation, wrinkles, uneven skin texture, redness, broken capillaries.
Why: Sun damage (UV radiation).
When: Now. Winter is the best time to treat.
How to treat: IPL, Laser and decolletage pads.
Complimentary Consultation for Sun-Damaged Chests in Queensland
Remember: sometimes, a combination of treatments will offer the best outcome. If you’re unsure which skin rejuvenation treatment is right for you, schedule a complimentary consultation with our experienced and qualified skin clinicians. They will examine your skin concerns and recommend the treatment that will give you optimal results.