Sun exposure is the number one cause of wrinkles, even more so than heredity and genetics. In fact, 90% of the symptoms of premature aging (wrinkles, sun spots, thin skin) are caused by the sun's ultraviolet rays.
How Sun Damage Occurs
The sun emits two types of ultraviolet radiation – UVA (think A for aging) and UVB (think B for burning). UVB rays are short in length that hits the skin's surface, and too much exposure results in burning and redness. UVA rays are long and penetrate deeply, damaging cells, lowering immunity, causing wrinkles and other premature aging signs. Both UVA and UVB can cause skin cancers; although exactly how they cause this damage is not fully understood. What is known is that UVA and UVB rays damage collagen and elastin - proteins that give structure and strength to your skin. Without elastin, your skin loses its ability to bounce back.
How much time is considered “safe” in the sun varies from person to person because the amount of damage that UVA and UVB rays cause is also influenced by age, skin tone, genetics and total time of exposure.
Preventing Sun Damage
The most effective method for delaying wrinkles is to simply avoid the sun damage that causes them in the first place.
- Always Wear Sunscreen: Every day, everyone (including dark skinned African Americans and Asians) should wear an SPF of 30, with broad spectrum protection. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 40% percent of Americans never wear sunscreen and only 11 percent wear an SPF 15 or higher daily. That's simply unacceptable!
- Cover Any Exposed Skin: Many women use moisturizers and makeup that contain sunscreen, which is good. However, it's just as important to wear sunscreen on your chest, arms, ears, feet – essentially any body part that will be exposed to the sun. When shopping for sunscreen, look for the Skin Cancer Foundation seal of recommendation and a product that has UVA stabilizers. Neutrogena Age Shield Sunblock with Helioplex and Aveeno's Positively Ageless are two over-the-counter products I can recommend.
- Wear Mineral Makeup: Ingredients such as titanium dioxide and zinc offer a physical barrier against ultraviolet rays. As an added bonus, minerals reflect light, giving you a more radiant glow.
- Antioxidant Serums: I recommend you apply an antioxidant serum underneath your sunscreen. Obagi-C RX is a formulation of prescription-strength 4% hydroquinone combined with 10% L-ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)—the only topical antioxidant proven to stimulate collagen synthesis and protect your skin. Obagi-C RX minimizes future skin cell damage by neutralizing free radicals.
Reversing Sun Damage
For those who have already spent too much unprotected time in the sun, there are still methods for reversing some of the sun's aging effects.
- Chemical Peels: Can be used to refresh any area of your body including your face, hands, neck, eyes, and decolletage areas. From Alpha Hydroxy Acid (Glycolic) Chemical Peels to Lactic Acid Peels, Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA) Chemical Peels to Salicylic Acid Peels, and the Vi Peel to Acne Peels, we can formulate a chemical peel tailored for your skin type and skin tone and will adjust the depth and duration of the treatment based on your level of sun damage.
- SmartXide DOT Laser Skin Resurfacing: The SmartXide DOT Laser reaches deep into your skin to stimulate collagen growth, immediately tightens your skin, removes uneven pigmentation, evens out coloring, and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Obagi Medical's NuDerm System: Reverses the signs of photodamage at a cellular level by restoring the healthy function of your skin cells and correcting the damage within. Using a specific dose and frequency prescribed for your skin condition, this prescription-strength system exfoliates old skin leaving healthy, new skin that looks and acts younger and healthier.
- Retin-A / Tretinoin from Obagi Medical: For maximum strength treatment of excessive sun exposure. Tretinoin is derived from vitamin A and can also be used to prepare the skin for chemical peels or the SmartXide DOT Laser therapy.
- Tända Regenerate™ Professional Red Light Therapy: This at-home system uses a clinically proven 660nm red LED light to accelerate the skin's natural healing process and stimulate the production of collagen. Red light therapy works to slow down the creation of enzymes that break down and cause fine lines and wrinkles. Tända Regenerate has been shown to increase the production of collagen, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and improve overall skin texture, color and tone.
- BOTOX / Dysport: Smooth forehead wrinkles and frown lines and minimize crow's feet.
- Juvederm / Radiesse: Injectable fillers can be used to fill in smile lines, the lines between your nose and mouth,plump lips, and minimize the appearance of dark eye circles.
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