The Sun and Your Skin

The simplest way to achieve and maintain excellent skin quality is by minimizing its exposure to damaging light rays in our environment.

Despite giving what’s wrongly perceived as a healthy glow, the sun is a strong adversary to young looking skin, causing 90 per cent of the skin damage we see in a lifetime. The well-documented realities of sun damage haven’t changed the habits of a majority of millennials, with a recent study showing women between the ages of 18 and 34 still not regularly applying sunscreen. As well as esthetic damage like wrinkles and brown spots, sun damage is also responsible for the majority of skin cancers that twenty per cent of the population will experience in a lifetime. That coveted summer tan can quickly, and somewhat traumatically, transform into long-term damage like uneven coloring, loss of elasticity and fine to deep lines. And while the technology exists to improve the look of this damage, your best option for fresh, healthy-looking skin is to avoid all sun damage from the get-go.

The benefits of applying a daily sunscreen don’t stop once you step inside your home or office. Studies show that the bluish light emitted from your computer, tablet or phone screen, as well as florescent lighting, produces high-energy violet (HEV) rays, which also cause premature aging and wrinkles. Faced with exposure both inside and out, the importance of wearing a good quality sunscreen from morning to night has never been more critical to the skincare movement.

Plastic surgeons and dermatologists agree that sunscreen worn daily and properly applied is the only way to avoid these catalysts of aging. Using a broad-spectrum sunscreen, which protects skin from both UVA and UVB rays, is a must. And the efforts don’t stop with one application in the morning. Common mistakes made when it comes to the proper use of sunscreen include not giving it enough time to absorb before sun exposure, forgetting to reapply throughout the day, and not using enough to properly ensure protection.

Using a quality daily moisturizer with a built in SPF is a good way to ensure you start the day with effective coverage, and many sunscreen companies make smaller, purse-sized options to simplify reapplication later in the day. Unfortunately, not all sunscreens are created equal, so talk to an expert at Derma Spa about what product is best for your skin and climate. When applying, remember not to skimp on the amount used – sunscreen doesn’t work when it is spread too thin.

If you’ve already experienced years of sun exposure, it’s not too late to start taking care of your skin. Speak to any of the trained staff at Derma Spa to come up with a treatment plan for existing damage and start wearing your sunscreen to prevent future impairment. Include a hat, sunglasses, and breezy, long-sleeved cover-ups to round out a balanced skin care regime.