As fun as it is to get that golden tan, it usually comes with some problems: painful red burns, dry and scaly complexion, peeling skin and dark spots.

These can worsen over time with continued excessive sun exposure, which may result to premature wrinkles and leathery skin.

Overexposure

Here’s a typical case:

Hi Kelly, I have a problem with my skin. It seems to be getting darker caused by overexposure to the sun. I am also getting spots that look a lot that freckles. Can you help me? I want my old color back.

—NOELYN DIWA

The first thing you have to do is to start wearing sunscreen. I know, it seems like a tedious process and it can get hot and sticky after a few hours. But you need to constantly protect your skin from harmful UV rays, and this is one of the most effective ways.

There are now lightweight and non-greasy sunscreens carried by your favorite skincare brands (no need to wear those thick, pasty sunscreens that are better suited for the beach). For your body, check out those spray-on sunscreens that are practically invisible when you wear them.

If you always wear makeup, put sunscreen on first, then proceed to applying your foundation. Or if you wear makeup all the time, you may want to look for a foundation and powder with a built-in SPF, too. This will keep your skin protected when you travel daily to and from the office.

Once you get that sorted out, you may want to purchase a skin brightening moisturizing cream to wear at night before you sleep. Notice I didn’t use the word “whitening”? Well, lately, certain skincare brands have created a separate line of creams that don’t necessarily bleach the color of your skin but work on significantly reducing sunspots and uneven skintones.

Using these for one to two weeks will fade away dark spots and redness and smooth rough skin. Finding one that also moisturizes your skin is hitting the jackpot, so take your time when shopping for a cream.

Aggressive treatment

This is what I’ve been doing lately, apart from wearing sunscreen: I use a dark-colored umbrella on a sunny day. Walking around the city everyday, you don’t realize the gradual sun exposure and skin darkening that occurs on your skin.

An umbrella with a dark-color material can help fight off the rays of the sun. It may not be the most convenient thing, but at least you are ready for any weather, rain or shine.

As you’ve noticed, I didn’t recommend an invasive or aggressive form of treatment. Some whitening products, though effective, may cause painful peeling, stinging or redness. What your skin needs right now is time to recuperate. As they say, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.

From now on, be more vigilant about sun exposure and don’t take it lightly. Remember, UV rays are dangerous: UVA rays can cause skin cancer and premature aging, while UVB causes your skin to darken and burn. While you can’t instantly will your skin to go back to its old color, in time it will go back to normal, and it will look better as it is healthier.

Got a beauty question? E-mail the author at [email protected].