Skin Renewal
Into the Sunlight
Summer’s warm sunny days are a temptation that’s difficult to resist. The summer sun comes out, cover-ups come off and ready or not, we bare our skin to the warm golden light.
However, the moment you are exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays, the skin begins to build its defenses. Sunlight triggers the production of melanin, the natural tanning pigment. The tanning process is actually a form of natural damage control. Thus, having a tan is proof that the skin has been under a UV attack and has suffered damage. The skin’s defense cells try to repair the damage; unfortunately, the skin’s immune cells are highly sun-sensitive and are weakened or killed by excessive sunlight exposure – resulting in sun-damaged skin.
There are ways for you to protect your skin and limit the amount of UV rays to which your skin is exposed.
The Solutions
• lifestyle: Avoiding harmful UV rays requires awareness on your part. Avoid sun exposure when the rays are at their peak, between the hours of 11am and 4pm. Wear long sleeves, pants and a hat when sun exposure is unavoidable. Tanning beds should be avoided.
• skin care: Daily sun protection is a must, regardless of the season of year, during blue skies and grey. A majority of sun exposure occurs on a daily basis when you are walking outside or driving. UV rays can travel through window glass and water.
• treatments: The skin’s surface must be rejuvenated to get rid of the sun-damaged cells and stimulate the body to make new healthy skin cells. Your skin care specialist or physician may recommend topical products, lite chemical peels, microdermabrasions or new laser technology to repair and rejuvenate your skin.
• proper nutrition: Antioxidants are critical to healthy cell growth. Antioxidants are provided in the diet from fruits, vegetables and whole grains. They are important for healthy body and skin and slowing the aging process.
Did You know
Although heredity is a major determining factor in how each of us ages, on average, everyone’s skin begins to show signs of aging around the age of 25. This is the time when skin-cell turnover begins to slow and moisture levels decrease.