Picture this: You have been in the summer heat, the sun is coming down hard, feels like you are literally baking. It’s easy to remember your sunscreen when you are going to be outside all day at the park, on a boat, at a pool etc.
Time and time again people tell us that they only wear sunscreen in the summer so they don’t get sunburn. Sunburns are the worst and can even affect your mood because the pain is real.
But… the sun doesn’t go away no matter what season it is and our beautiful skin needs protection. We all know that sunscreen prevents sunburn but did you know that studies have shown it reduces the risk of squamous cell and melanoma cancers.
The sun puts off ultraviolet rays which can damage the skin at the cellular level.
Skin Damage Isn’t Just Skin Deep
The skin is composed of three layers. The subcutaneous or fatty layer right above the muscle, the dermis and epidermis.
The deepest layer of the epidermis is called the basal layer and this is where cell division takes place. The sun damages the skin’s DNA at the basal layer. The basal layer in turn produces damaged cells which can lead to skin cancer.
Other signs of UV damage are wrinkling of the skin and pigmentation.
The collagen and elastin found in the dermis are broken down over time; this is what keeps the skin firm. This is part of the natural aging process although the sun can impact how fast the collagen and elastin fibers are broken down.
Luckily, sunscreen is proven to help reduce the signs of aging and skin cancer! It’s very important for young people to remember their sunscreen. If you remember having multiple sunburns as a child it is a good idea to be aware of any unusual moles or discoloration. Sometimes the sun can damage the skin and it doesn’t show up on the skin for decades.
ABCDE is the quick guide to determine if you should go to a dermatologist for an unusual mole or patch of skin:
A: Asymmetry– does one half look different than the other?
B: Border– does the border look irregular? It’s not a perfect circle like other freckles or moles.
C: Color– are there different colors within the same lesion? Some parts could be black, tan, red etc.
D: Diameter– melanoma is usually larger than 6mm (about the size of a pencil eraser).
E: Evolution- does it look like it is changing over time in border, shape and size.
How to pick the best sunscreen for your skin.
Your best bet is to purchase SPF from a trusted provider either your derm or med spa. Make sure you look for ones with a broad spectrum so you are protected against UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays.
Here at skinBe we have two options that work great for all skin types. skinBe’s Daily Replenishing SPF 30 has titanium dioxide and zinc oxide which are physical barrier for the skin.
Think about the sun’s rays reflecting off the skin. Sunscreen’s with chemical ingredients like avobenzone absorb the UV rays, convert it to heat then release it from the body.
Daily Replenish is a client and staff favorite for its antioxidants and peptides to calm and prevent future damage.
Obagi’s Sun Shield has both chemical and physical barrier ingredients!
This one also has a high protection factor at 50 which is great for people who need the most protection!
There is no better time to start your anti-aging journey than today! Let us help guide you in the right direction to turn back the hands of time.