Over-the-Counter Treatments

• Over-the-counter wrinkle creams and skin smoothers can help reduce the appearance of sun-damaged skin, especially if the damage is minor. Most over-the-counter treatments need several months to show their full effects.
  
  

Prescription Treatments

• Prescription creams and gels to help reduce sun damage work by smoothing the skin and inhibiting melanin production, which causes increased pigmentation and brown spots. Like over-the-counter treatments, prescription creams can take weeks to months to provide their full benefits.
  
  

Cosmetic Treatments

• Cosmetic procedures, such as microdermabrasion, collagen injections and chemical peels can help reduce the appearance of age spots and wrinkles. Cosmetic procedures are usually the most costly sun damage treatments, and insurance does not usually cover the treatments.
  
  

Considerations

• If your skin has only suffered minor skin damage, you may want to consider trying over-the-counter treatments before moving on to more expensive cosmetic procedures. Consult with your doctor to make sure that your skin does not have cancerous growths.
  
  

Prevention

• Use sunscreen that protects against UV-A and UV-B daily to help prevent sun damage. Overexposure to the sun can prematurely age and damage your skin and put you at a higher risk of developing skin cancer.