As a medical spa located on the sandy shores of Nags Head, we know the summer sun and its effects inside and out. As the weather gets warmer and the days grow longer, we understand the temptation of spending your days in the sunlight—just remember sun protection.
At BeachGlo Aesthetics, we have our fair share of clients who swam in the salty sea, surfed the waves, or lay out tanning—and forgot their sunscreen. If sunspots, hyperpigmentation, or pesky freckles start appearing, consider investing in our sun damage treatments in Nags Head.
Keep reading to discover our top 4 treatments for photoaging—premature skin aging caused by UV damage.
| Hydrafacial | The Sensitive Sister | Resting Beach Face | Resting Beach Face | |
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| What It Treats |
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| Recommended Skin Tones | Safest for lighter skin tones. | Safest for lighter skin tones. | Safe for all skin tones. | Safe for all skin tones. |
| Sessions Needed | 3 sessions, each 4 to 6 weeks apart. | 3 sessions, each 3 to 4 weeks apart. | 1 to 3 sessions, each 4 to 6 weeks apart. | 1 per month or at a minimum, 4 per year. |
| Treatment Duration | 90 minutes | 30 minutes | 20 minutes | 60 minutes |
| Downtime | 3 to 5 days | 1 day | 5-7 days | None |
| Results Duration | 12 months | 6 to 12 months | 3 to 6 months | 4 to 6 weeks |
| When We Offer Treatment |
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1. CoolPeel
The Tetra CO2 Cool Peel laser gently refines uneven skin tone and texture caused by UV damage by removing the uppermost layers of sun-damaged skin. We recommend our CoolPeel sun damage treatments in Nags Head to patients experiencing:
UV-Induced Wrinkles
Excessive sun exposure can thin skin, breaking down internal support and creating UV-induced wrinkles that are often deeper than age-related wrinkles.
Normal UV exposure stimulates the production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), enzymes that assist in tissue regeneration. Extensive exposure, however, encourages MMPs to destroy existing collagen, a structural protein that supports skin strength and structure. This creates thinner, lax skin that settles into permanent lines and wrinkles.
CoolPeel’s ablative technology removes the uppermost skin layers while stimulating the body’s healing response. This increases the skin’s collagen levels, yielding a firmer, stronger complexion to reduce UV-related lines.
Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation is the result of overactive melanocytes, or pigment-producing cells in your skin. While normal production is what gives your skin its color, excess pigment can create dark spots—often called “sunspots” or “age spots.”
Melanocytes produce excess pigment when UV radiation damages the skin’s DNA. In response, the body’s immune system encourages these pigment-producing cells to “shield” damaged DNA from further damage using large pigment groups.
CoolPeel’s high-intensity laser wavelength targets these dark clusters, heating them and breaking them apart into smaller pieces. These pigment flakes gradually rise to the skin’s surface and may appear to darken in a “coffee ground” effect before naturally shedding to reveal a more even complexion.
At BeachGlo Aesthetics, we recommend our clients see a dermatologist annually and especially if they suspect a dark spot may be cancerous.
Related Article: Melanoma Awareness: A Guide to Detection and Prevention
Tough, Leathery Skin
Prolonged sun exposure can lead to a condition known as solar elastosis, in which the skin develops excess elastin fibers. While normal levels of this structural protein provide the skin elasticity to minimize age-related wrinkles, overactive elastin creates thick, leathery skin.
CoolPeel emits high-energy CO2 laser pulses to remove the skin’s top layers, clearing away damaged cells and excess elastin fibers. This technique also stimulates the body’s natural healing response, which increases collagen production to refine rough, uneven skin texture.
2. IPL Photofacial
An intense pulsed light (IPL) photofacial brightens and evens skin tone using broad-spectrum light for sun damage treatments.
In Nags Head, we recommend this treatment to patients experiencing:
Sunspots, “Liver Spots,” and Freckles
Regardless of their names, sunspots, “liver spots,” and freckles are all forms of hyperpigmentation.
When UV radiation penetrates your skin, it damages your skin cells’ DNA. Your body identifies this radiation as a threat and stimulates the production of melanin (pigment) to cover skin cells and protect them from further UV exposure.
Over time, chronic sun exposure damages these cells and leads to melanin overproduction, yielding hyperpigmentation such as sunspots, liver spots, and freckles.
During an IPL photofacial, the device emits flashes of broad-spectrum light, which target melanin groups. These clusters absorb the light and transform it into thermal energy, which shatters pigment into smaller fragments. Over time, these pigmented flakes rise to the skin’s surface and shed, yielding a more even skin complexion.
Redness and Rosacea
While rosacea is a chronic inflammatory condition that creates redness and skin irritation, UV radiation commonly causes flare-ups. Because extensive sun exposure damages the skin, the body triggers the immune system, causing inflammation that gradually thins the skin while encouraging excessive new blood vessel formation. The result is rosacea symptoms like chronic redness and visible spider veins.
IPL treatments use special light wavelengths that target hemoglobin, or the red pigment in your blood cells. The hemoglobin absorbs this light and transforms it into thermal energy, creating heat that causes extra blood vessels to collapse.
Gradually, the body absorbs these unused veins, revealing a more consistent complexion with less redness.
3. VI Peel
VI Peels are advanced, medical-grade chemical peels formulated to treat a variety of skin concerns. While some address signs of aging, the VI Precision + Peptides specifically targets the effects of prolonged UV exposure by breaking down and “peeling” away damaged skin.
We recommend this VI Precision + Peptides peel to patients experiencing:
Related Article: How to Choose the Right VI Chemical Peel for You
Deep Sun Damage and Hyperpigmentation
“Deep” sun damage differs from the “normal” effects of UV radiation because it penetrates into the middle layers of skin. This type of damage appears as dark, stubborn patches of pigmentation unresponsive to heat-based treatments such as CoolPeel.
The VI Precision + Peptides peel features trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and salicylic acid, which loosen damaged tissue layers from healthy skin. Clients can expect mild-to-moderate shedding 3 days after their appointment, with visible “sheets” of skin sloughing off.
This removes deeper pigmentation while stimulating new collagen fibers for healthier, more even skin.
We also recommend our VI Precision + Peptides sun damage treatments in Nags Head to patients with mild hyperpigmentation. The formula includes ascorbic acid (vitamin C), a brightening agent that lightens dark spots.
Melasma
Melasma is a skin condition in which overactive melanocytes, or pigment-producing cells, create brown or gray patches. While commonly triggered by the “pregnancy hormones” progesterone and estrogen, heat and sun exposure can stimulate melasma flare-ups too.
Our Precision + Peptides peels are pigment-suppressing sun damage treatments in Nags Head. Active ingredients, such as hydroquinone or kojic acid, block the enzyme that stimulates melanin production in the melanocytes.
Together, these ingredients soothe these overactive cells to limit flare-ups as the peel draws existing pigment to the surface to slough off for a clearer complexion.
4. Hydrafacial
At BeachGlo, we pair corrective sun damage treatments in Nags Head with gentle maintenance techniques, such as the Hydrafacial. While this deluxe facial does not address deeper tone or textural concerns, we recommend incorporating it into your skincare routine to treat mild sun damage and dry skin.
We recommend the Hydrafacial to patients experiencing:
Mild Photoaging
“Mild” photoaging or sun damage, is the earliest stage of UV aging—before wrinkles or leathery skin develop. Typically, clients notice the early effects of prolonged sun exposure as an uneven complexion, new freckles, and a dimmer inner glo.
While this light damage is primarily an aesthetic concern, it also warns of declining skin health and quality.
The Hydrafacial’s 3-step hydradermabrasion process gently exfoliates dull skin while infusing the tissue with powerful ingredients that boost hydration and brighten dark spots for even, radiant skin.
Dry Skin
Sunburns create dry, flaky skin by damaging the barrier that locks in moisture. This is why your skin may feel tight or begin to peel after prolonged UV exposure. Additionally, UV damage depletes your natural reserve of hyaluronic acid (HA), a substance that keeps skin smooth, hydrated, and flexible.
During the hydration stage of your Hydrafacial, our team selects a custom blend of serums and “boosters” to suit your skin’s needs.
If your skin’s moisture barrier has seen better days, we can infuse the skin with antioxidants, peptides, and HA, which plump the skin and smooth fine dehydration lines. This creates happier, healthier skin with noticeable luminosity.
Related Article: Goodbye, Dry Skin. Hello, Hydration.
Achieve and Maintain Luminous, Healthy Skin
If proper sun protection seems impossible, or if your skin already shows signs of sun damage, the BeachGlo team is here to help. Whether you want tips on proper sunscreen application, plan to shop our favorite skincare products, or need to find the best sun damage treatments in Nags Head, we bring your vitality to the surface again.
Noticing signs of sun damage on your hands too? Discover treatment options for hand rejuvenation at BeachGlo Aesthetics.
