August 5th, 2025
Dr. Mulholland, Md
Many people consider summer the season of “fun in the sun,” as the hours of sunlight are at their maximum exposure.
Exposure to the sun can have many benefits and is, in many ways, necessary for our well-being. Sunlight can help with many things, such as promoting vitamin D production, lowering blood pressure, and supporting bone development. Sunlight is also suitable for a person’s mental health, and many reports indicate that having a consistent lack of sunlight, such as during the winter, causes emotional distress known as seasonal depression.
However, sunlight can also be damaging, especially to your skin. Overexposure to sunlight can cause significant damage, including sunspots, burns, and even sun-induced wrinkles.
Wrinkles from the sun, especially, are common. The sun’s effects on the skin are the most common cause of wrinkles.
Today we will look at sun damage to the skin and how these damages can happen.
Why Does the Skin Damage From the Sun Occur
The effects of sun exposure on the skin, particularly UV light, are the biggest culprit behind wrinkles. This is known as photoaging and is responsible for 90% of visible changes to the skin.
Since light is always present in our daily lives, the risks of sun damage to the skin are present year-round.
The epidermis (top layer), the dermis (middle layer), and the subcutis (bottom layer) make up the three layers of your skin. Collagen, elastin, and other fibers that support the skin’s structure are found in the dermis. These components give skin a smooth, youthful appearance and are also the ones harmed by UV radiation.
Two distinct types of UV radiation, UVA and UVB, contribute to skin damage. The skin’s DNA is damaged by UV radiation, prompting cells in the dermis to produce melanin in the epidermis to help prevent further sun damage. Your skin is striving to stop radiation from reaching it through this process, which causes you to tan.
The majority of the harm we associate with photoaging is caused by UVA radiation due to its longer wavelength. UVA rays harm the collagen fibers in the dermis by penetrating deeply. Increased generation of aberrant elastin results from this injury. Metalloproteases are produced because of the very high levels of elastin. These enzymes, which repair damaged collagen, frequently act erratically and destroy the collagen, leading to improperly repaired skin. Daily UVA exposure causes this process to recur, resulting in improperly repaired skin that wrinkles from the sun and collagen depletion that gives skin a leathery appearance.
Some say that the effects of sun exposure on the skin can help minimize the appearance of stretch marks, but this has not been proven, and it can cause counterintuitive issues such as the above.
Types of Skin Damage from the Sun
Sunspots
Dark spots called “sunspots” appear on areas of your skin exposed to the sun. Sunspots on the skin are also sometimes known as liver spots, despite having nothing to do with your liver at all.
White spots on the skin from sun exposure are also sunspots and resemble raindrops.
Sunspots on the skin are benign. They are not malignant, represent no threat to your health, and don’t need to be treated unless you want to have them removed for aesthetic reasons.
Polymorphous Light Eruption
When someone who has developed sensitivity to sunlight is exposed to the sun, they may develop a rash called polymorphous light eruption. Small bumps on the skin from sun exposure, or slightly elevated patches, are the most common symptoms of the rash.
The first time you’ll notice this sensitivity is probably in your twenties or teens. When exposure to sunshine increases, as in spring and early summer, the reaction typically occurs. As the summer goes on, the likelihood of a repetition decreases. But after the initial outbreak, the rash frequently returns every year.
Sun allergy, sun poisoning, and polymorphic light eruption are other names for this condition, all of which refer to bumps on the skin caused by sun exposure…
A polymorphous light eruption typically lasts 10 days and resolves on its own without leaving any scars. Medication may be required for those who have severe or persistent rashes.
Preventing Sun Damaged Skin
Sunscreen is frequently mentioned as a go-to antiaging tool, and for good reason. In addition to preventing skin cancer, wearing sunscreen daily can also delay the onset of photoaging. Photodamage can be mitigated over time with regular use.
How to Treat Sun Damaged Skin
You should use skincare products designed to repair UV-induced damage and address skin conditions. If you already show some of the above-mentioned indicators of sun damage and skin issues, certain substances, such as green tea, vitamin C, and E, are antioxidants that help brighten dark spots and stabilize the skin. Retinol, an anti-aging hero, increases cell turnover when used nightly to promote a healthy, youthful appearance.
Treatments for Sun Wrinkles at Toronto Plastic Surgeons Wellness Centre
Facelift
A facelift, also known as a rhytidectomy, is a general term for a range of cosmetic procedures that help reduce the appearance of creases, wrinkles, and sagging skin on the face. Typically, this is accomplished by tightening the muscles beneath the skin, rearranging fat and tissue as needed, and removing any remaining loose or excess skin.
A full facelift in Toronto is for people who want to address the effects of aging across many parts of their face, including the chin, jaw, forehead, and everything in between. There are several alternatives to a full facelift, including the SMAS facelift and the deep-plane facelift.
The superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS), a layer of facial muscles beneath the skin, is the target of a SMAS facelift. The SMAS layer is tightened during this operation, which might enhance the neck and lower face.
On the other hand, the deep plane facelift uses larger incisions to allow better manipulation of tissue, fat, and skin than other facelift techniques. This procedure helps treat more severe signs of aging, such as heavy jowls, deep creases, and sagging of the cheeks and jaw. While this technique is very effective, it is also one of the more invasive facelifts. Because it exposes the facial nerves during the procedure, it carries a higher risk of complications and must be performed by skilled surgeons, such as those at our clinic.
TPS also has you covered if you’re interested in a men’s facelift procedure.
Blepharoplasty
A cosmetic surgical technique called “blepharoplasty” can help reduce the many signs of aging around the eyes. Blepharoplasty in Toronto can typically erase ten years off your face. Although the approaches will vary significantly depending on the problem to be solved, the overall procedure is as follows.
First, general anesthesia is administered to the patient. Then, incisions are made along the eyelids’ natural creases to conceal any scarring. The extra skin is then eliminated. After that, any excess fatty tissue is removed, the muscles are realigned, and the skin is smoothed to reduce wrinkles.
By removing excess skin, under-eye blepharoplasty also addresses problems such as puffy bags and dark circles.
FaceTite
FaceTite is a non-invasive fat-melting, wrinkle-reducing, and skin-tightening therapy that reduces skin laxity in the face and neck, giving the skin a more youthful appearance. The subdermis is heated during the process using an internal “under-the-skin” probe, causing the skin to tighten and lift.
The skin can be affected by the natural effects of aging, sun exposure, and lifestyle choices, particularly on the forehead, cheeks, neck, and eye area. Our appearance ages as our skin loses its suppleness, wrinkles form, and we droop.
Without making significant incisions, FaceTite employs radiofrequency energy to tighten skin, reduce wrinkles, and melt fat. FaceTite offers outcomes comparable to traditional facelift surgery without the prolonged recovery time, discomfort, or scarring for people who prefer to forgo the procedure.
Booking with Toronto Plastic Surgeons Wellness Centre
If you’re trying to reverse the effects of aging, we can help. Whatever your cosmetic surgery needs, our devoted team of plastic surgeons at Toronto Plastic Surgeons Wellness Centre can assist you.
You can make an appointment with us online or call us at 647-723-3739 to speak with a member of our team if you’re interested in scheduling your initial consultation or learning more about our services.
Dr. Stephen Mulholland, Md
Dr. Stephen Mulholland has been practicing plastic surgery for over 20 years. He is one of Canada’s most renowned and best plastic surgeons in Toronto with his wealth of experience, artistry, and humbleness towards his patients.
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