Does the Sun Really Help with Acne? Read on and Find out.

Spending time in the sun (especially in moderation) can do your body and mind a favor. Apart from being a good source of vitamin D, sunlight can also enhance your mood by increasing the brain’s serotonin (happy hormones) levels. A little sun exposure can also relieve stress, improve sleep, and help with seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

We can’t deny about these benefits, but there also claims that sunlight can cure acne. Some people recommend spending more time in the sun to treat acne with the belief that it can dry out the skin, reduce excess sebum, and make blemishes less visible. Is there any truth to this claim? Read on and find out.

The sun’s drying effect

Every skin type needs moisture, including oily and acne-prone skin. If you go out in the sun with the hope of treating your acne, it is likely that it will dry your skin out. This can result in a face that looks dry and less oily, creating an illusion that the sun cures or helps your acne.

The drying effect of the sun is not similar to those of acne medications. This effect is also temporary. Overexposure to UV rays can then dehydrate the skin and prompt the sebaceous glands to overcompensate by producing more sebum or oil. This can contribute to future blemishes. 

Tan skin and less visible blemishes

There are also cases where the skin appears better after being out in the sun. This is because it encourages melanin production (as a defense mechanism to UV rays), giving your skin a tan complexion. This can somehow lessen the appearance of blemishes and mask some redness in the skin.

While it is true that the sun can make your acne look better temporarily, overexposure to UV rays does your skin a disservice. It can even make your acne look worse and increase your chances of having more spots and pigmentation. Also, the tanning effect of the sun only conceals acne, but not treat it.

Dealing with acne and other blemishes

If you suffer from acne and other blemishes, overexposure to sunlight won’t fix your problem. It is best to improve your skin care regimen and use acne medications. Don’t forget to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen whenever going out or participating in outdoor activities.

You might also want to try aesthetic procedures that can treat your acne and improve your complexion. Here are a few treatments worth considering:

Chemical Peels

At Cutis Laser Clinics in Singapore, we have two chemical peel treatments that can treat acne and improve the appearance of scars and pigmentation.

• Cutis Anti-Acne Peel – This uses a high yet safe concentration of salicylic acid that can unclog pores and kill acne-causing bacteria. This chemical peel can treat mild to moderate acne vulgaris on the face, neck, and back.
• VI Peel – This stronger type of chemical peel can clear acne conditions, soften wrinkles, and reduce the appearance of age spots. It has a special formulation that can help reduce acne scars, freckles, and hyperpigmentation, as well as stimulate collagen production.

Clarifying Facial with Sapphire

This medical grade facial is a type of LED Skin Therapy. It features the Sapphire Blue Light Therapy, which is US FDA-cleared for clearing pores and killing acne-causing bacteria. It can also heal the skin, clear inflammation, and treat other skin surface problems. 

This facial combines: 

• DiamondTome Microdermabrasion – for skin exfoliation and removing dead skin cells
• Professional Extraction – for clearing the pores from whiteheads, and stubborn pimples that are ready to be extracted (if needed)
• Specialized Mask – for calming and healing the skin ( ideal for those with oily and acne-prone skin)

Laser Genesis Skin Therapy

This non-invasive laser procedure helps promote healthy skin by stimulating collagen production and treating a number of skincare concerns. These include enlarged pores, fine lines, and uneven skin texture. You can also turn to Laser Genesis for diffusing scars and skin redness. 

Laser Genesis uses a handheld device that gently heats the deeper layers of the skin. This helps in boosting collagen formation, beneficial in tightening and plumping up the skin. This results in improved overall skin texture with visible reduction in pore size and evened out skin tone.

This delivers subtle and natural looking results without longer downtime or side effects. You may see visible improvements after three procedures, but you’ll need at least 5 of it to see optimal results. It can also be combined with a chemical peel treatment to help fight acne and breakouts.

Limelight IPL

This innovative laser device uses an FDA-cleared “intense pulsed light” technology for fading dark spots. This is ideal if you’re dealing with post-acne marks or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). It can be used on any part of the face, neck, décolleté, shoulders, arms, and hands.

Limelight targets the marks and spots by delivering pulses of light at the skin. This draws out the pigmentation on the top layer, which will then scab and fall off after five to seven days. The spots will darken after the procedure, but this is normal. They will get better after a few days, revealing healthier and brighter skin.

You may see the results of Limelight after one to three weeks. Be sure to follow post-care treatments, which include avoiding overexposure to the sun, wearing sunscreen daily, and keeping the skin hydrated.

Take better care of your skin

Despite what others may suggest, spending more time in the sun won’t improve your blemishes. A much better approach is to protect your skin from the UV rays and limit your exposure, especially when rays are the strongest (10am to 4pm).

Don’t hesitate to consider aesthetic treatments to improve your skin. Contact Cutis Laser Clinics in Singapore and schedule a consultation with our aesthetic doctors to determine which procedure suits you best.