There’s no denying it; summer is a wonderful time! But that being said, abundant sunshine and excessive heat have the potential to cause serious damage to your skin – especially if you’re not wearing sunscreen. Sunburns, wrinkles and age spots are just some of the negative effects the sun has on your skin. And unfortunately, your face and hands are the first places this damage begins to manifest.
You may be considering laser treatment and other invasive and costly procedures to reverse the damage the sun left behind. But before you shell out hundreds of dollars on harsh chemical-filled procedures, we want you to know that there are several less-costly remedies of how to get rid of sun damage on face naturally from the comfort of your home.
What causes sun damage on your face?
The sun emits harmful UV rays – the main cause of sunburn. While laying outdoors and getting a nice tan is quite relaxing, exposure to too much sun can lead to a number of problems. In fact, studies indicate that ultraviolet rays are the main culprit behind skin cancer.
What are the negative effects of the sun?
a. Wrinkles
By the time you get sunburns, your skin is already damaged. UV light breaks down collagen and elastin, the two proteins responsible for making your skin smooth. This leads to formation of wrinkles and other unwanted skin conditions.
b. Age spots
Your skin produces a protein known as melanin to protect itself against the harmful effects of the sun. Too much sun causes melanin to group together resulting in uneven black splotches known as age spots.
c. Dry, cracked skin
This is expected; after all too much sun exposure strips your skin of its natural moisture leaving it parched, ashy and with flaky, rough spots
How to prevent sun damage
The best way to prevent over-exposure to the harmful UV rays emitted by the sun is by:
- Putting on sunscreen with an SPF of 15 and above
- Wearing wide-brimmed hats to protect your face
- Wrapping summer scarves around your neck
- Wearing dark sunglasses to prevent the sun’s glare
How to get rid of sun damaged skin naturally
Let us talk about the top 4 tips and home remedies that can help reduce sun damage on your face:
1. Onion juice and Apple cider vinegar
Onion juice and natural cider vinegar mixed together have powerful skin-lightening properties that help reduce the appearance of age spots on the face. To prepare this mixture:
- Chop onion into small bits
- Put them into a strainer to harvest onion juice. About half a cup is needed
- Mix the onion juice with apple cider vinegar in equal portions
- Use a cotton swab to apply the mixture to sun damaged areas on your face
- Let it rest for 30 minutes and rinse off with warm water
Used as a sun damage remedy once every day, you can expect to restore the smoothness of your skin in one to two weeks.
2. Lemon juice
When life gives you lemons, use them to make a sun damage remedy! Lemon juice is a powerful natural remedy that eliminates sun damage on face, chest and hands. This is because lemon contains citric acid that helps rejuvenate skin cells.
- Using one lemon, squeeze some juice into a cup
- Dab a cotton wool into the juice then rub it gently onto the affected areas of the skin
- Leave it on for 15 to 30 minutes
- Rinse off with warm water and apply moisturiser onto your skin
Watch out for any irritation or itching after applying lemon juice. If you do notice any irritation, wash your face immediately with warm water and dab dry using a clean towel.
3. Baking soda
Baking soda is applied onto sun-damaged skin to help break down harmful radicals and restore your skin’s pH levels. Even better, baking soda can reduce the inflammation and itching brought about by sunburn. It also helps trap moisture keeping your skin hydrated.
There are many ways to use baking soda as a sun damage remedy, but one of the simplest remedies requires nothing more than just water and a little baking soda.
- Add a little amount of baking soda in your bathtub
- Soak in the tub for 20 minutes
- As you soak, baking soda works to repair and soften sun-damaged skin
- Do not use a towel to dry yourself, instead air dry your body for maximum results
4. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is extremely potent. First, it helps revitalize the skin by promoting the growth of new healthy cells. Secondly, it prevents premature aging by fighting off free radicals that reduce skin’s elasticity. Finally, it inhibits the production of melanin pigment thus brightening your skin.
To help fight sun damage and restore your natural skin, consume at least one food rich in vitamin C such as kale or oranges on a daily basis.
thank you for your help stella