Sun Damage

At her Upper East Side practice, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Marie V. Hayag provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment for sun-damaged skin. Also known as photoaging, sun damage can affect both the appearance and health of the skin, leading to discoloration, uneven tone, rough texture, fine lines, and precancerous changes.

Care combines physician expertise with advanced technologies including BBL HERO IPL, laser resurfacing, and medical therapies to address both cosmetic concerns and medically significant UV damage. Each treatment plan is customized to restore clearer, healthier skin while supporting long-term prevention and skin cancer awareness.

Sun damage, also known as photoaging, develops gradually from repeated exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. In fact, UV exposure is responsible for up to 90% of visible skin aging, making it the leading cause of premature skin changes.

UV radiation penetrates the skin and causes:

• Breakdown of collagen and elastin
• Disruption of pigment-producing cells (melanocytes)
• DNA damage within skin cells
• Chronic inflammation and vascular changes

Common signs of sun damage include:

• Brown spots and sunspots
• Uneven pigmentation and discoloration
• Redness and visible blood vessels
• Rough or leathery skin texture
• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Precancerous lesions (actinic keratoses)

Because sun damage affects multiple layers of the skin, successful treatment requires a physician-guided, multi-modal approach.

Sun damage occurs when ultraviolet (UVA and UVB) radiation penetrates the skin and damages cellular DNA. Over time, repeated exposure leads to structural changes within the skin, including collagen breakdown, pigment irregularities, and abnormal cell growth.

Several factors increase the risk of developing sun-damaged skin, including:

• Chronic sun exposure
• Outdoor activities without sunscreen
• Tanning bed use
• History of severe sunburns
• Fair skin or light eye color
• Genetic predisposition to pigmentation changes

Because UV damage accumulates over time, visible signs of sun damage often appear years after the initial exposure. This delayed effect makes routine dermatologic evaluation and preventative care essential.

Sun damage can affect multiple layers of the skin and may appear as cosmetic changes or medically significant lesions.

Common signs include:

• Sunspots and age spots (solar lentigines)
• Uneven skin tone or hyperpigmentation
• Persistent redness or visible capillaries
• Rough or uneven skin texture
• Fine lines and premature wrinkles
• Actinic keratoses, which are precancerous lesions caused by chronic sun exposure

Because some forms of sun damage may increase the risk of skin cancer, dermatologic evaluation is recommended when new or changing skin lesions appear.

Treatment for sun damage is highly individualized and may involve a combination of light-based therapies, laser resurfacing, and medical skin treatments designed to improve pigmentation, vascular redness, and skin texture.

BBL HERO (BroadBand Light High Energy Rapid Output) is an advanced light-based treatment that targets pigment and vascular irregularities caused by sun exposure.

• Brown spots and sunspots
• Uneven pigmentation
• Diffuse redness
• Early signs of photoaging

Patients with visible sunspots, redness, or uneven skin tone seeking a non-invasive treatment with minimal downtime.

IPL is a light-based treatment that targets pigmentation and vascular irregularities within the skin.

• Sunspots and age spots
• Uneven skin tone
• Redness caused by sun exposure

Patients with mild to moderate sun damage who want to improve skin clarity and tone.

Vbeam is a pulsed dye laser designed to target vascular redness within the skin.

• Facial redness
• Broken capillaries
• Redness associated with sun damage

Patients with sun-related vascular changes or persistent redness.

Aerolase Neo Elite is a 1064nm medical laser designed to treat pigmentation, redness, and inflammatory skin conditions with minimal downtime.

• Uneven pigmentation
• Sun-induced discoloration
• Diffuse redness
• Skin texture improvement

Patients seeking gentle laser therapy suitable for multiple skin types.

Fraxel is a fractional laser resurfacing treatment that stimulates collagen remodeling and skin renewal.

• Sun damage and photoaging
• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Texture irregularities
• Pigmentation changes

Patients with moderate sun damage seeking deeper collagen stimulation and resurfacing.

Clear and Brilliant is a gentle fractional laser treatment designed to refresh the skin and stimulate early collagen renewal.

• Mild sun damage
• Uneven skin tone
• Early signs of aging

Patients looking for preventative skin rejuvenation and subtle improvement in skin clarity.

Chemical peels use medical-grade exfoliating solutions to remove damaged outer skin layers and stimulate skin renewal.

• Superficial sun damage
• Uneven pigmentation
• Dull or rough skin texture

Patients with mild to moderate sun damage seeking gradual skin rejuvenation.

AVAVA is an advanced precision laser technology designed to treat damaged skin while preserving surrounding healthy tissue.

• Pigmentation irregularities
• Sun damage and photoaging
• Skin texture and collagen remodeling

Patients seeking customizable resurfacing treatments with adjustable depth.

PicoWay is an FDA-cleared picosecond laser that uses ultra-short pulses of energy to treat pigmentation, acne scars, fine lines, and unwanted tattoos in a physician-led setting.

PicoWay breaks pigment and tattoo ink into tiny fragments the body clears naturally and stimulates new collagen production, improving tone, texture, and clarity with minimal downtime.

Ideal for patients dealing with sun spots, melasma, acne scarring, fine lines, or an unwanted tattoo, especially those with skin tones that made other lasers feel too risky.

You may benefit from dermatologic evaluation if you:

• Notice brown spots or uneven pigmentation
• Have persistent redness or broken capillaries
• Experience rough or textured skin from sun exposure
• Have a history of sunburns or tanning
• Have been diagnosed with actinic keratoses

A consultation with a board-certified dermatologist is the best way to determine the safest and most effective treatment plan.

Treatment and recovery depend on the type and intensity of the procedure performed.

Light-based treatments such as BBL HERO, Aerolase, or Clear + Brilliant typically involve minimal downtime, with temporary redness that resolves within hours to a few days.

More intensive resurfacing treatments such as Fraxel or Miria by AVAVA may result in temporary redness, swelling, or mild peeling as the skin heals.

Results develop gradually as pigmented cells are cleared, collagen production increases, and overall skin texture improves.

Daily sun protection and dermatologist-guided skincare are essential to maintain results and prevent further UV damage.

The cost of sun damage treatment varies depending on the severity of UV-related skin changes and the treatment approach recommended.

Some patients benefit from a single treatment, while others may require a series of sessions or combination therapies for optimal improvement.

A personalized treatment plan and detailed cost estimate are provided during your consultation at Marie Hayag, MD.

Sun damage treatment requires both cosmetic dermatology expertise and medical skin evaluation.

At Marie Hayag, MD, patients benefit from:

• Care from board-certified dermatologist Dr. Marie V. Hayag
• Comprehensive evaluation of UV-related skin changes
• Advanced laser and light-based technologies
• Treatment of pigmentation, redness, and textural damage
• Medical management of precancerous sun damage
• Personalized treatment plans for all skin types

This physician-led approach ensures safe correction of visible sun damage while supporting long-term skin health and skin cancer prevention.

Sun damage may appear as pigmentation changes, redness, textural irregularities, or medically significant precancerous lesions.

At Marie Hayag, MD, treatment begins with a comprehensive dermatologic evaluation to determine the extent of UV-related skin damage and recommend the most appropriate management plan.

Schedule your consultation today to receive personalized, physician-guided care for sun-damaged skin and long-term skin health.