Proper care of sun-damaged skin often involves skin-resurfacing treatments, which help restore a more youthful look through controlled removal of its flawed outer layers. They also trigger the body's natural healing process, stimulate collagen and elastin response, and speed up cell turnover.
Taking better care of sun-damaged skin is not just for aesthetic reasons; you'd want to restore its health, as healthy skin is less susceptible to conditions like premature aging, infections, and even cancers.
Conversely, sun-damaged skin, particularly cases arising from intense and cumulative ultraviolet (UV) exposure, is more likely to develop cancer. Indeed, the Fox Chase Cancer Center notes that around 90% of cutaneous melanomas share a link with UV radiation, the risk of which builds over years.
What Does Skin Resurfacing Mean?
Skin resurfacing is a cosmetic skin rejuvenation procedure. It involves removing the skin's damaged outermost layers, prompting the body to "regenerate" the skin.
The process encourages the inner, less flawed, and younger-looking layers to "surface." The newly surfaced skin layers then replace the removed epidermis and upper dermis.
A market analysis report published by Grand View Research in 2026 underscores the popularity of skin resurfacing, noting that there were over 3.7 million skin resurfacing procedures completed in 2024 alone.
Skin resurfacing is popular primarily because it's minimally invasive. As a minimally invasive treatment, it:
- Doesn't require surgery or large incisions
- Has a shorter recovery time
- Costs less than more major surgeries (e.g., surgical scar excisions or face lifts)
What Are Examples of Skin-Resurfacing Treatments?
One example of skin-resurfacing is a medical-grade chemical peel at Bella Derma in Shawnee, OK, or your local medical spa and wellness clinic. It's an exfoliating facial care treatment that uses physician-strength formulas to remove the skin's damaged outer layers.
Dermabrasion is another. It involves a skincare professional using a specialized rotating brush or mechanical instrument. As with chemical peels, the goal here is to exfoliate the skin's topmost damaged layers.
There are also skin-resurfacing treatments that use light or heat energy. The focused light or heat triggers the exfoliation, collagen production, and "surfacing" processes.
How Do Skin-Resurfacing Treatments Help Restore a Youthful Look to Sun-Damaged Skin?
Remember: Cancers can develop on skin that has had little UV exposure. Still, they're more likely to occur on skin repeatedly damaged by the sun's harsh rays.
You'd want to be even more careful nowadays, as skin cancer cases in the U.S. are rising, having more than tripled from 1975 to 2021, says the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
While skin-resurfacing treatments alone can't provide 100% protection against skin cancers (specifically non-melanoma), they can still help. Seeing their positive, transformative results, for example, can remind you to better protect your skin against UV exposure with:
- Quality sunscreen
- UV400 sunglasses
- Wide-brimmed hats
- UV-protective clothing
Skin resurfacing can also provide effective sun damage repair to restore your skin's beauty and correct its tone, texture, and smoothness. It can do so through the following processes.
Controlled Removal of Damaged Outer Skin Layers
There are two primary ways skin-resurfacing procedures remove the skin's damaged surface cells. One is via controlled vaporization/exfoliation, such as through:
- Ablative lasers
- Chemical peels
- Dermabrasion
The other method is by directing heat energy deep into the skin's dermal layer, also known as non-ablative or "dermal heating." Although it penetrates the skin all the way to the dermis, it leaves the outermost surface intact.
Aside from laser beams, non-ablative treatments also use radiofrequency (RF) or intense pulsed light (IPL).
Stimulation of Collagen and Elastin Production
Exfoliation, vaporization, and dermal heating can help bring about smooth skin and reduce the appearance of age spots because they all cause some form of "microtrauma" to the body.
The trauma signals the body to repair itself. It actively increases the production of collagen and elastin to build new skin layers and stimulate structural remodeling from the inside out.
Accelerated Cell Turnover
Normally, the skin's cell turnover occurs gradually, starting with the birth of the new skin cells in the deepest layer of the epidermis. They then slowly migrate upward, flattening and dying as they make their way to the external surface of the skin.
From there, the dead skin cells shed, a process that aging can interfere with and slow down.
Skin-resurfacing treatments, whether chemical peels, laser, or dermabrasion, help speed this process up. They assist the skin in loosening the upper layer of the dead skin cell buildup, causing it to shed faster than the body would do without help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Are Good Candidates for Skin-Resurfacing Treatments?
Good candidates for skin resurfacing are adults with realistic expectations about improving specific skin concerns. They know these procedures are not overnight miracles but, if done correctly, are effective on common mild to moderate concerns like sun-damaged, leather-textured skin or skin that shows signs of premature aging (e.g., fine lines, facial wrinkles).
Good candidates also understand that skin resurfacing is effective on certain, but not all, types of scars (e.g., those caused by acne, minor surgery, or chickenpox). They know it can help with pigmentation issues, such as age spots and freckles, and rough skin, but that the results are not immediate and may take several weeks or months to become apparent.
It's also crucial to note that individuals considering skin resurfacing must be in general good health. They must have no active skin infections or serious health issues, or have their medical conditions under control.
What Is the Downside of Skin Resurfacing?
Skin-resurfacing treatments, albeit minimally invasive, still cause microtrauma and some level of downtime. Skin redness and swelling are common, and so are skin color changes like hyperpigmentation (darkening) or hypopigmentation (lightening).
These side effects are often temporary, lasting for a few weeks or months, but they can also be permanent. Carefully following post-treatment care can help reduce the risks of these adverse effects.
Get Proper Care for Sun-Damaged Skin With Skin Resurfacing
Skin-resurfacing treatments, whether with chemical peels, dermabrasion, or lasers, can help restore your sun-damaged skin and improve its texture, smoothness, and tone. It can help you get a more youthful, rejuvenated look, so long as your skincare professional completes the procedure properly and you strictly adhere to post-treatment care.
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This article was prepared by an independent contributor and helps us continue to deliver quality news and information.