We all love basking in the warm sun, soaking up its energy, and enjoying the golden glow it leaves on our skin. However, while the sun offers some benefits, it's important to understand that prolonged exposure to its rays can have detrimental effects on our skin. Let's delve into how the sun ages your skin, uncovering the powerful impact of ultraviolet (UV) radiation and providing essential tips for sun protection.
Understanding the Sun's Rays
The sun emits various types of rays, including visible light, infrared radiation, and UV radiation. When it comes to skin aging, UV radiation plays a crucial role. It consists of UVA and UVB rays, both of which have the ability to penetrate deep into our skin. So what's the difference between UVA and UVB rays? And how do they play a role in sun damage, skin cancer, and premature aging?
UVA Rays: Silent Aging Culprits
UVA rays have longer wavelengths and can penetrate deeper into the skin compared to UVB rays. They are present throughout the year, regardless of the season or weather conditions. UVA rays are responsible for the aging effects on the skin, as they can break down collagen and elastin fibers, leading to the appearance of wrinkles, sagging, and loss of elasticity. UVA rays are the ones primarily responsible for making your skin look older, although UVB rays can also cause some of this as well.
UVB Rays: The Burn Factor
UVB rays have shorter wavelengths and primarily affect the superficial layers of the skin. They are more intense during the summer months and are the primary cause of sunburns. Prolonged exposure to UVB rays can damage the skin's DNA, leading to premature aging, pigmentation irregularities, and an increased risk of skin cancer. UVB rays are the ones that pose a real risk to our health since prolonged exposure to them and the DNA damage they cause can lead to melanoma (a deadly form of skin cancer).
Photoaging: The Accumulated Damage
Cumulative exposure to UVA and UVB rays over time leads to a process known as photoaging. This accelerated aging of the skin is characterized by the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, uneven skin tone, and a rough texture. The effects of photoaging are often more pronounced in sun-exposed areas, such as the face, neck, hands, and arms. This is why we constantly remind our patients to use broad spectrum sunscreen. Broad spectrum basically means it protects against both types of rays, giving you as much protection as possible. Avoid any sunscreens that only cover one or the other.
The Role of Free Radicals
When UV rays penetrate the skin, they trigger the production of harmful molecules called free radicals. These highly reactive molecules can damage the skin's cells, disrupt collagen and elastin production, and impair the skin's natural repair mechanisms. Free radicals contribute to the breakdown of the skin's structure, leading to premature aging. So what can you do about them?
Free radicals are stopped in their tracks by antioxidants. This is why we encourage you to use a vitamin C serum in conjunction with your SPF. Since SPF offers about 95-98% protection from the sun, an antioxidant steps in and helps cover those last few percentages to give you full coverage. Vitamin C will block free radicals from harming your cells in case any UV rays manage to pierce through your SPF.
What Can You Do About Sun-Related Damage?
There are plenty of ways you can reduce and prevent sun damage, and sticking to each habit consistently will help you avoid the worst of the UV rays. But what do you do if you already have damage?
Our leading recommendation will always be lasers for correcting UV damage and the leaders in reversing sun-related hyperpigmentation are Fraxel and Clear + Brilliant. Fraxel is the more aggressive of the two, targeting age spots and invisible damage and drastically improving the texture, tone, and health of your skin. Fraxel can even stop pre-cancerous lesions before they progress any further, so Fraxel is truly the ideal treatment for anyone with skin types I-III. It comes with a little social downtime, so you should expect about 5-7 days of flaking, redness, and rough texture while your skin sloughs away the dead skin cells.
Clear + Brilliant is also referred to as baby Fraxel because it functions in the exact same way, just less aggressively. That makes it safe for all skin types, and all you need to do to get the same benefit as Fraxel is get a series of Clear + Brilliant over time. It takes a little longer, but the results will be similar and you'll have essentially no downtime with Clear + Brilliant.
To recap are some essential sun protection tips:
- Wear Sunscreen: remember to choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF (a minimum of 30) to shield your skin from both UVA and UVB rays. Apply it generously to all exposed areas of your skin, and reapply every two hours or more frequently if sweating or swimming.
- Get Laser Treatments Regularly: Getting laser treatments like Fraxel and Clear + Brilliant (the latter of which is suitable for all skin types) will do twice the work for you. Both lasers target photodamage like discoloration and age spots, helping to eliminate the damage that's already been done. They'll also stimulate collagen production, helping your skin replace the collagen it has lost from extended UV exposure.
- Seek Shade: Limit your sun exposure, especially during peak hours when the sun's rays are the strongest, typically between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Seek shade under umbrellas, trees, or wear protective clothing.
- Wear Protective Clothing: Opt for clothing with a tight weave and a UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) label. Broad-brimmed hats and UV-blocking sunglasses also provide additional protection for your face and eyes.
- Avoid Tanning Beds: Artificial tanning devices emit UVA and UVB rays that can damage your skin and increase the risk of skin cancer. Embrace your natural skin tone and avoid the use of tanning beds, or find a high quality topical tanning lotion or foam that flatters your skin. We carry one that provides a light, buildable glow that doesn't streak or turn orange. Pick one up here.
- Nourish Your Skin: Incorporate skincare products that contain antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, which can help neutralize free radicals and protect your skin from oxidative stress.
While the sun is a source of warmth, light, and vitamin D, prolonged exposure to its UV rays can significantly impact the health and appearance of your skin. Understanding how the sun ages your skin empowers you to take necessary precautions and adopt a sun protection routine. By embracing sunscreen, seeking shade, and wearing protective clothing, you can enjoy the sun responsibly while maintaining youthful and healthy-looking skin for years to come.
Do you think you may need a skin cancer screening? Catching skin cancer and pre-cancer is as simple as a regular screening. Contact our office today to schedule one: 561-805-9399 | info@supriyamd.com.