How To Prevent And Overcome The Bad Impact Of Sunlight On The Skin

Illustration using sunscreen (Pexels)

JAKARTA - Exposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation can stimulate excessive melanin production. Without protection from sunscreen, as a result, the skin can experience hyperpigmentation or photomelanosis or sunspots or melanma.

The dermatologist who founded Oprava Aesthetics, Dr. Akanksha Sanghvi, explained that excessive melanin production causes uneven and darker spots to appear on the skin.

He conveyed that hyperpigmentation is basically a skin protection response. The exposure of sunlight to the skin will stimulate melanin production to protect deeper layers of the skin from damage.

"Usually in areas most exposed to sunlight, such as faces and hands," he said as quoted by Antara.

According to Dr. Sanghvi, consistently using sunscreen can help prevent skin damage due to sun exposure.

"However, this process can sometimes lead to excessive melanin production, which results in spots or black spots," he said.

"For too long exposure to sunlight without adequate protection can exacerbate this pigmentation, so it is very important to use sunscreen and limit sun exposure to prevent and overcome these black spots," he explained.

"Choose a large spectrum of sunscreen, water resistance, with SPF 40 or higher, and apply it back every two hours, especially if you swim or sweat," he said.

He also suggested wearing protective shields such as wide-edged hats and anti-UV sunglasses to minimize the impact of sun exposure on the skin.

To those who have experienced hyperpigmentation due to exposure to the sun's UV light, there are several treatment options that can be done.

"topical care that includes materials such as arbutin, liquidice extract, vitamin C, and niacinamide can help brighten black spots by inhibiting melanin production and encouraging cell change," he said.

According to him, laser treatment and chemical exfoliation can also be done to overcome the more stubborn pigmentation problem.

He reminded that determining skin care options should be done through consultation with qualified dermatologists.

In addition to undergoing professional care programs, Dr. Sanghvi said that the application of certain skin care routines can help overcome skin problems.

"Soft exfoliation uses exfoliating pads/tites containing AHA, BHA, once a week is very important to remove dead skin cells and encourage cell updates," he said.

However, he said, exfoliation must be carried out carefully so as not to cause skin irritation and worsen the problem of pigmentation.

He also suggested implementing a balanced diet that includes orange/yellow fruit and vegetables rich in beta carotene to support skin repair and reduce inflammation.

In addition, it is also important to keep the body hydrated and avoid consuming alcohol and cigarettes so that the skin remains healthy.