Beauty Information

Sun Damage: A Major Cause of Wrinkling and Premature Aging


Most of us love the warmth of the sun, but over exposure can cause significant damage to our skin. The sun's ultraviolet rays (UV) can cause our skin to dry out and lose essential oils and decades of tanning, burning and over exposure to the sun may cause changes in our skin's structure.

Unprotected skin exposed to the sun can gradually lose essential oils, making it dry, flaky and prematurely wrinkled. Repeated episodes of sunburn, although they appear to heal on the surface, can lead to permanent skin damage over time.

Excessive over exposure to the sun can cause changes in the skin's collagen called photoaging. These changes can take the form of wrinkles and fine lines, decreased skin elasticity (sagging skin), or a thickened skin textured. UV radiation can damage the collagen that supports the walls of the skin's blood vessels, causing them to be more fragile. A symptom of this is easy bruising on sun-exposed areas such as the back of hands.

Over the years, repeated sunburns and unprotected exposure to the sun can increase the risk of skin cancers including basal cell and malignant melanoma and other types of skin cancers..

Prevention is the key to avoiding photoaging and more serious skin damage. Here are some ways you can protect your skin from the harmful UV rays:

ALWAYS apply a sunscreen before you go outdoors, especially to your face, neck and hands. That means 365 days a year, rain, shine or clouds. Choose a sunscreen that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more, with a broad spectrum of protection against both UV-A and UV-B rays.

Use a sunblock on your lips, preferably with an SPF of 20 or above.

Wear sunglasses with UV-A and UV-B light protection.

Wear long pants, a shirt with long sleeves and a hat with a wide brim.

Limit your time outdoors when the sun is at its highest (about 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Certain medications such as antibiotics can increase your vulnerability to sunburn. Check with your doctor.

What to do if you think you already have skin damage

Be sure to see your doctor immediately if you have any unusual looking moles or changes in your skin. Don't wait.

You may be able to improve the appearance of moderately sun damaged skin with alpha-hydroxy acids, which remove dead skin cells from the out layers of your skin, leaving it softer and smoother. Chemical peels, laser resurfacing or microdermabrasion may also be helpful.

Valerie Goettsch is webmaster of the site Skin-Sage.com which is dedicated to reviewing anti-aging and anti-wrinkle skin care products and offering tips on having younger looking skin.


MORE RESOURCES:

At-Home Beauty Devices Drive Industry Excitement
MarketWatch - 22 hours ago
The most dynamic trend for the beauty industry in 2008 has been the emergence of at-home or do-it-yourself (DIY) tools -- especially those that offer ...


Houston Chronicle

Twilight goes for beauty over substance
Houston Chronicle, United States - Nov 20, 2008
Twilight goes a tad heavy on the beauty products. At the screening I attended, the audience burst into awkward giggles at the first sight of Peter Facinelli ...
Review: Twilight -- Eric's Take Cinematical
'Twilight' Los Angeles Times
'Twilight': Teen Anemia, By Kurt Loder MTV.com
Salt Lake Tribune - Examiner.com
all 964 news articles


Variety

"Beast" sure to be a 3-D beauty for Disney in 2010
Reuters - Nov 19, 2008
By Gregg Kilday LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Belle, the Beast and all the dancing silverware in "Beauty and the Beast" are getting a 3-D makeover. ...
'Beauty' gets 3-D makeover Variety
“The Beauty and the Beast” Gets 3-D Makeover from Disney eFluxMedia
Katzenberg: 3-D vision goes beyond animation Hollywood Reporter
Monsters and Critics.com - AHN
all 166 news articles


‘Dr. 90210’ shares his 7 beauty secrets
MSNBC - 16 hours ago
Well, today he's left the knife at home and is sharing seven household beauty secrets that will enhance your looks and help you preserve your youth. ...


Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. Reports Solid Results for Fiscal 2008 ...
MarketWatch - Nov 20, 2008
"Sally Beauty Holdings had solid results in fiscal 2008, ending the year with same store sales up 2.6%, gross margin expansion of 70 basis points, ...


Wet your thistle with this blue-headed beauty
Indianapolis Star, United States - 6 hours ago
The flowers then expand the plant's beauty. The tiny, metallic blue flowers develop on stiff stems from July through September. The flowering period can be ...
Frosty-looking foliage makes delightful addition to garden TheNewsTribune.com
all 2 news articles


Los Angeles Times

ig-Beauty 4
Los Angeles Times, CA - 11 hours ago
Brazilian bikini waxes should be outlawed, like cockfights. Besides, who endures such agony after shelving the bathing suit? The Bikini Perfect Deluxe ...


Los Angeles Times

ig-Beauty 5
Los Angeles Times, CA - 11 hours ago
Whether your arches are golden or brunet, Anastasia’s Brow Tool Kit ($95) will keep them in check with stencils, tweezers, powders, brow gel, ...


Los Angeles Times

ig-Beauty 8
Los Angeles Times, CA - 11 hours ago
Hair grows about half an inch per month. The Oscar Blandi Pronto Colore root touch-up and highlighting pen ($23) covers those stray grays and pesky roots ...


Beauty goes green
KXVO CW 15, NE - 13 hours ago
By Shahnaz Khan There is a lot of hype in the beauty industry right now about so called "green" products. There are literally thousands of products on the ...

Beauty - Google News

home | site map
© 2006