August 24, 2016
The Sun’s Premature Ageing Effect on our Skin
Did you know that the Sun is the biggest ageing factor on our skin?
As UV rays penetrate the skins surface, an increase in cell death within causes the skin to becoming thinner, decreasing the amounts of collagen, elastin and water-holding capacity… causing your skin to become:
– Thinner and brittle at first, as the skin shrinks and dehydrates
– Thicker with more sun damage, as a leathery build-up of keratin layer is built by the body protecting itself from more damage.
– Coarse, dry, loose and saggy as the collagen layer thins
– Pigmented with uneven tone and darkened areas as increased amounts of melanin are produced by cells trying to naturally protect themselves
– Wrinkly as damage causes cell renewal to slow, enhancing the natural aging process
– Lined with visible capillaries as the smallest blood vessels become deformed and are more visible from thinning of the skin
Dangers of Sun Overexposure
Age/Sun Spots on Skin
You’ve probably heard of them…? Age or Sun Spots, also known as Liver Spots (in no way related to the liver) are caused when UV light exposure increases activity of the pigment-forming melanocytes in the skin, which bunch and form areas or ‘spots’ of darker skin, like a large mole.
To learn more about Age Spots on the skin, causes, symptoms and treatment – click here.
Skin Cancer
As we hopefully all know by now, sunburn is of course directly associated with melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. Even sun exposure that doesn’t result in burning can cause damage to skin cells and increase your risk of developing skin cancer. In fact, tanning is considered to increase cancer risks, as the slight protection it causes against sunburn fools people in to believing they are protected from UV radiation… A tan does not protect from DNA damage, and can lead to skin cancer.
Protecting yourself against the dangers of UV damage, and preventing signs of premature ageing…
- Slip, Slop, Slap!
- Avoid extended exposure to the sun around midday, when the suns at it’s hottest
- Wear sunscreen every time you are in the sun!*
- Improve skin health with natural products and treatments that include safe, nourishing, transdermal serums, based on stabilized antioxidants with no nasty chemicals… Serene Day Spa & Beauty offer a number of natural detox, exfoliation and rejuvenation treatments for your skin, helping to prevent visible signs of aging on your body and face.
How well do you know your Sunscreen…?
- Sunscreen should be applied 20 minutes prior to sun exposure, and reapplied every 2 hours
- Most Australians don’t use enough sunscreen
It should take about 35ml of Sunscreen for full body coverage
No SPF (Sun Protection Factor) 100% protects against UV rays
Sunscreen needs to protect from both UVB rays (surface burning) and UVB rays (penetrating) – with only ‘broad spectrum’ sunscreen doing both - Long-term studies of sunscreen use in Australia have found no harmful effects of regular use
- Regular use of sunscreen has been shown to have little effect on vitamin D levels
Reference: Cancer Council approved SunSmart.com.au’s Sunscreen Guide.
Looking on the Bright Side!
Of course it’s not all bad… the Sun is also our main source of Vitamin D. Scarcely found in any of our food sources, Vitamin D is developed in the skin with the help of sunlight, and important for strong bones, muscles, growth and all-round good health.
Studies on exposure to the sun are also linking more and more to having positive effects on our moods and general happiness.
Did You Know?!
- The approximate average time of sun exposure to skin to maintain healthy vitamin D levels is only around 10 minutes per day…
- Perth receives more hours of bright sunlight on average per year than almost any other Australian City…
Too Much of a Good Thing…
Like most things in life, The Sun can provide important benefits, but needs to be enjoyed in moderation to avoid some of the dangerous side effects associated with sun exposure on the skin. Education is the key to finding a healthy balance!
We thoroughly recommend you read the Cancer Council of Australia’s Position Statement on Sun Exposure Risks and Benefits.