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Sun Damage: A Major Cause of Wrinkling and Premature
Aging
Valerie Goettsch
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.
http://www.skin-sage.com/
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