It’s no secret that the sun messes with your skin. But do you understand exactly what the sun is capable of? Then let’s get serious for a minute…
Sun damage is no joke. In fact, it could literally not be more serious. Responsible for between 80 and 90 percent of all external aging and skin cancers, UV radiation is something you have to be concerned about. Of course, knowing what you’re dealing with is the best way to take action, which is why we figured it was about time you got to grips with all the ways in which the sun negatively affects your skin.
So, without further ago, herein the most important things you need to know about the relationship between the sun and your skin…
Tan Skin Is Damaged Skin
You might think you look better with a tan, but according to the FDA, there is no such thing as a safe tan. And experts (us included!) are in complete agreement.
What makes your skin tan? Well, when your skin is exposed to UV radiation – from either the sun or, perish the thought, tanning beds – your skin produces a pigment called melanin to try to protect itself from both long- and short-term damage. Melanin is what gives your skin, hair and eyes their color in the first place, but when your skin is subjected to too much UV radiation, melanin production goes into overdrive, giving your skin a darker appearance than normal.
Sadly, the sign of a tan is the sign of damage already done.
The Sun Causes AND Worsens Dark Spots
Similar to tan skin, dark spots (aka hyperpigmentation) also appear when your skin produces too much melanin. It’s just that in this instance, melanin production becomes uneven and erratic, resulting in blotchy, dark spots, rather than an all-over tan color.
Don’t get us wrong, the sun is not the only culprit here because there are plenty of other factors that cause dark spots – your hormones and skin traumas like pimples or bug bites being prime examples. But the sun is most certainly up there and, most importantly, ANY exposure to UV radiation will make existing dark spots so much worse – whatever their original cause.
Dark spots caused by the sun are known as solar lentigines and can affect anyone, at any time. According to the Mayo Clinic, solar lentigines are usually small spots with a brown, black or gray appearance and they’re most commonly found and areas of your body that are more frequently exposed to sunlight, eg. face, hands, arms and upper back. You’re more likely to see them if you have paler skin but even dark skin tones can feel their wrath.
Your Wrinkle Count Isn’t Just Down To Age
Fine lines and wrinkles are niggles we all have to contend with at some point. Because… life. And while we hope you think of yours as part of a road well traveled, we also know that keeping them at bay for as long as possible is high on most people’s beauty priority list. And we get that.
You can’t change your genes and neither can you stop time, but you can protect your skin from other external agers, thus doing what you can to keep it looking as healthy as possible – for as long as possible.
Other than your genetic makeup and the inevitable ticking clock, the sun is the number one cause of skin aging. By far. So blaming every single one of your wrinkles on your parents or the fact that you’re about to hit 50? Not strictly fair. You actually have quite a lot of control over the rate at which you age. And protecting your skin from the sun’s damaging UV rays is priceless. Remember that.
UV Rays Are The Primary Cause Of Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the entire world and, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, at least one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70.
There are two main types of skin cancer: melanoma which is the most serious, and the more common nonmelanomas known as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Nonmelanoma skin cancers grow slowly and rarely spread to other parts of the body, whereas melanoma often spreads to other vital organs making it much harder to treat.
There’s no denying the fact that too much unprotected sun exposure significantly increases your risk of developing skin cancer. This is because UV radiation damages the DNA in your skin cells which can build up over time and cause the cells to grow abnormally.
Sunburn is the biggest no-no here because the more you burn, the more damage you do to your DNA. In fact, having five or more sunburns doubles your risk of melanoma.
When caught early most skin cancers are treatable, however, so if you ever notice an unusual-looking mole or patch of skin that looks or feels different, please get it checked out by a dermatologist straight away.
Sun Damage = Collagen Destruction = Sagging Skin
Damaged, aging skin isn’t all fine lines, wrinkles and nothing else. The struggle with sagging skin is also very real. Sagging skin is caused by a loss of strength and elasticity which comes down to one thing – collagen.
Collagen is the most abundant and one of the most important proteins in your whole body and has a dense, fiber-like structure which acts like ‘glue’ to make your tissues strong, supple and resilient. Collagen is found in your bones, muscles, teeth and blood, but it’s most prevalent in your skin. When you’re young, your skin has plenty of collagen to keep it soft, strong, plump and wrinkle-free. However, once you hit your 20s, you start to produce less of it. And while, again, you can’t stop the internal aging process, there are plenty of other external factors that work hard to ruin your collagen supplies.
And the sun is one of them. The main one, in fact. UV radiation causes nasty little components called free radicals which go wild in your skin and cause havoc to your collagen, breaking it down and compromising the look, feel and health of your skin. The result? Lines, wrinkles, cruddy texture, uneven skin tone and, yes, sagging skin.
The Best Ways To Protect Your Skin From UV Damage
Don’t worry folks, it’s not all doom and gloom. There are plenty of ways to help protect your skin from the slings and arrows of the sun.
1. Wear Sunscreen – Always
Applying sunscreen to all areas of exposed skin is a must – any time of the year. Damaging UV rays penetrate right through clouds so even on gray, gloomy days, long-term sun damage will hit you hard. Our advice? Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen (this’ll protect you from UVA and UVB rays) with an SPF of at least 30 to your face, neck, hands and any other exposed areas of skin. Try SPF30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C.
2. Cover Up
Protective clothing, wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses are great for keeping your skin well shielded from the sun. Just remember to also avoid direct sunlight during peak hours when the sun is at its strongest (10 am-4 pm) and seek shade whenever you can.
3. Embrace Antioxidants
Topical antioxidants like vitamin C and vitamin E (or better still, both!) help nix free radicals before they get a chance to have a go at your collagen, so ensure you apply an antioxidant serum under your moisturizer every morning. We have an awesome collection of serums to suit your skin type but our Vitamin C Facial Serum remains a fan-favorite and comes chock full of antioxidants as well as skin-loving ingredients like MSM and hyaluronic acid.
