5 Tips for Treating Sun Damage on the Décolletage

How to treat sun damage on chest and décolletage

Most of us pay a lot more attention to the skin on our face than we do to the skin on our décolletage, but this is an area of the body that is frequently on display and exposed to the sun. The décolletage is far more than the exposed neckline. Its true perimeter runs below the earlobes to the top of your breasts. Majorly overlooked but of utmost importance, the attention needed for this area yields far more than your face ever will.

The skin on the décolletage is much thinner than the skin on the face. It contains different characteristics of color distribution, fewer sebaceous glands, and different blood flow. There’s little subcutaneous fat to cushion the area, as well as few melanocytes, which are cells that protect the skin from UV rays. With all things considered, the décolletage is highly susceptible to dryness and loss of elasticity when it’s not properly cared for.

It’s never too late to start taking necessary steps to protect yourself from premature aging, and if you’re too far along in the process, you should know that there are ways to reverse the damage.

1. Know your active ingredients

For starters, you should first know what active ingredients, or actives, are. Your actives are essentially the elements that carry out the benefits promised on the product label. The top three effective actives to help in the reversal of sun damage are Retinol, Vitamin C, and Hyaluronic Acid.

Retinol is a derivative of Vitamin A, and when applied topically, it performs aging and anti-aging miracles. Retinol increases the skin’s ability to retain moisture, preventing the loss of facial fullness by giving skin a plump, healthy volume. Through extended use, it works to lift away age spots and even skin tone as it encourages cell turnover. Use a product like LaserAway Beauty My Hero Retinol Repair Night Serum that’s formulated with Retinol, Hyaluronic Acid, and Peptides.

Vitamin C is your go-to active if you’re looking to brighten dark spots, dullness, and discoloration. As it’s most notable for its brightening properties, Vitamin C has the power to defend skin against harsh environmental aggressors, such as pollutants and debris, by neutralizing them as they come in contact with one another. Choose skincare products, such as LaserAway Beauty Wake Me Up Vitamin C Firming Day Serum, that contains high potency, slow-release Vitamin C.

And did you know that Hyaluronic Acid is a naturally occurring sugar in the body that plays an essential role in your skin’s structure? Naturally produced levels of Hyaluronic Acid begin to decrease throughout the aging process, resulting in the need for replenishment. Without it, the skin begins to lose its density and luster. Adding Hyaluronic Acid to your routine will assist your skin in moisture retention while also creating a resilient skin barrier. Together, these two improvements will restore lost volume, smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, and prevent new ones from forming. LaserAway Beauty Drenched Peptide Enriched Moisturizer strengthens the skin barrier and replenishes lost moisture in the skin.

2. Get in the habit of putting skincare and sunscreen on your neck and chest every single day

As a general skincare rule, you should bring all of your facial products down your neck and onto your chest. View your face and décolletage as one and the same — as if your skincare routine isn’t complete without treating the full exposed perimeter.

Day and night, you should apply all of your products (besides eye cream, of course) to these areas. When considering the use of actives, this step is even more beneficial. Your SPF is the most important product to cover all areas with, but only a necessity during the daytime.

3. Give your décolletage regular mask treatments

Since hyaluronic acid holds up to 1,000x its weight in water, incorporating a specialty mask into the area is a highly beneficial way to speed up its healing. LaserAway Beauty Jetsetter Hydroserum Facial Masks are infused with a nutrient-rich blend of plant extracts and antioxidants, and although they are designed with cut-outs for the eye and nose area, you can either cut the mask into strips to fit your décolletage or apply the leftover serum to the area after using the mask on your face.

4. Avoid irritants in this area, such as scrubs and exfoliating tools

Exfoliation has its ups and downs, and when it comes to the décolletage, it has its super downs. With the skin being so delicate on the neck and chest, it’s much less likely to be as forgiving as the skin on your face. In the moment, you may think you’re doing your skin good, but you may be creating long-term, irreversible damage to the area.

5. Start laser treatments for advanced, effective sun damage reversal

Lasers rejuvenate, plumping the skin back up and reversing it to a healthy-looking state. Not only that, but certain lasers have certain effects, so while all lasers rejuvenate the skin in some shape or form, some target more specific concerns.

The IPL Photo Facial is designed to reverse the effects of sun damage, remove dark spots, and refine your complexion. With the safe use of intense pulsed lights (IPL), sun damage can be treated on any part of the body — perfect for the décolletage.

Clear + Brilliant is an all-in-one, one-stop facial when it comes to skin concerns. Results show after one treatment, so if you’re looking to improve texture, boost collagen, diminish fine lines and wrinkles, or lighten dark spots, this is a highly effective way to rapidly reach those goals. Not to mention that after treatment, your skin becomes more permeable, absorbing skincare deeper and more effectively than ever. To further combat hyperpigmentation caused by the sun, add LaserAway Beauty Lighten Up Rx Dark Spot Corrector 2% Hydroquinone Skin Lightener to the mix, which is a prescription-only skincare treatment that fades skin discoloration.

New sun damage initially starts off as redness, blistering, swelling, and pain. Existing sun damage manifests as dark spots, creping, sagging, and wrinkling. If you begin to notice any of the sorts, take great note of the list above. And going forward, never be afraid to show off your décolletage. It’s one of the most beautiful areas of the body and deserves to be shown off and treated as such!