How to Treat Sun Damage on Your Neck

The best way to prevent poikiloderma from occurring in the first place or preventing it from getting worse overtime is to wear a broad-spectrum sun block daily and reapply every two hours when outdoors for prolonged periods of time. Look for sunscreens that contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide with a sun protection factor of 30 or higher. These active ingredients are known to provide the widest range of protection against both UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays. Sun protection clothing and hats such as SUNSOUL or Coolibar are also a great way to guard your skin.

Several treatment options have been shown to be successful in reducing the appearance of poikiloderma. Skin care regimens that contain bleaching agents and vitamin A derivatives are helpful in reducing the brown discoloration of the skin. Chemical peels along with water based microdermabrasion (SonoPeel™) can also be utilized to reduce the excess melanin and improve the texture of the skin. These above modalities are limited however since they do not reduce the amount of telangiectasias (tiny dilated blood vessels).

The best treatment known to reduce all of the components of poikiloderma and improve the condition a great deal is Photorejuvenation. During each session an intense pulsed light device is used to reduce the number of telengiectasias, fade brown discoloration, and stimulate collagen growth to smooth skin texture. A series of five sessions is recommended on average but more treatments may be necessary depending on the severity of the condition. The treatments do not typically require any down-time and only slight discomfort similar to a rubber band snap is felt during the procedure. Treatments are most effective if done in succession spaced about a month apart. So start your treatments early in the Fall to reveal your new neck in spring. Please see Medical Dermatology News Section called  “Sun Damage on your Neck” for more information on poikiloderma.