Sun Damage

Reverse the Damaging Effects of UV

The popularity of tanning is undeniable. Each summer, thousands flock to the beach to give their skin a beautiful new glow. However, this short-term improvement can have harsh long-term health risks. Exposure to the sun is the primary source of age spots and wrinkles, especially on the face, giving skin a weathered, uneven, damaged look.

A bronze complexion may look fashionable, but sun exposure accelerates the skin’s aging and increases your chances of malignant skin cancer.

How Does the Sun Damage Skin?

Sunlight carries ultraviolet (UV) rays that penetrate the skin. It can have both positive and negative effects on the skin. While small amounts of UV radiation help to produce vitamin D in the body, it can also cause damage to the skin if exposure is too high or prolonged.

UV rays are strong enough that clouds and fog only partially block their beams. When ultraviolet light enters the skin, your body produces melanin, a dark pigment that’s responsible for tanning as well as skin discoloration. The light also damages the skin’s elastin protein, which is partially responsible for skin firmness and toning. As the fibres erode, the skin starts to stretch and sag, losing its natural elasticity. The skin loses its ability to stretch and bounce back into place.

Sun exposure also dries out oil in the skin, causing rough, damage-prone skin that appears aged. Cumulative sun exposure is a known factor in developing different types of skin cancer, and severe sunburns increase the risk of developing melanoma. The most common type of skin cancer caused by UV radiation is basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Other forms include squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and melanoma.

The best way to protect yourself from harmful UV rays is by wearing sunscreen with an SPF rating of at least 30 when outdoors for extended periods of time or during peak hours when sunlight intensity is highest (10am-4pm). Wearing protective clothing such as long sleeves and hats will also help reduce your risk for sunburns and other forms of damage caused by overexposure to UV rays. Additionally, avoiding tanning beds altogether will help minimize your risk for developing any type of skin cancer associated with ultraviolet light exposure.

While some amount of ultraviolet light exposure may be beneficial in producing vitamin D in our bodies, it’s important to remember that too much can be damaging to our health over time – especially when it comes to our delicate facial area! Taking steps like wearing sunscreen regularly and avoiding tanning beds are essential ways we can protect ourselves from potential harm caused by excessive amounts of ultraviolet light exposure.

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