Skin Care Tips

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Avoid Excessive Sun Exposure

Excessive exposure to the sun is the number one cause of damage and premature aging the skin. In order to maintain youthful skin, it is necessary to spend as little time as possible to care for skin in the sun, even if you are using a sub locks. Is it any wonder that the face and hands, which are always almost exposed to the sun, are the first places to show the signs of ageing? The conflict is over risking sun exposure because of our bodies' need for vitamin D.

Vitamin D deficiency is a serious health problem, causing a chronic imbalance, most notably by blocking the absorption of calcium and phosphorus and bone deterioration. Sunlight is the most natural source that helps our bodies make vitamin D.

Vitamin D is not actually a vitamin but is a hormone known as calcitrol. When your skin is exposed to UVB light, Peter Pugliese, M.D., a biomedical researcher ho has studied the skin's response to sunlight, concluded that ninety percent of the skin problems associated with the ageing are the result of too much exposure to the sun. He states, "...changes produced in the skin by UVB and UVA are in the altered biochemistry of DNA, cell membrane disorders, and effects on enzymes and other proteins and amino acids."

The skin goes under certain physiological reaction after exposure to the sun. First, the skin reddens from the dilation of blood vessels caused by the heat and light rays of the sun. There are few foods that naturally contain vitamin D (such as salmon, mackerel, and cod liver oil).

Though sun exposure havoc with the complexion, it also poses heath hazards. Ninety percent of skin cancers develops on sun-exposed areas of the body and skin cancer is increasing at an alarming rate in the United States. There are proponents for sun avoidance who helps maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D through diet and supplements without skimping on the sunscreen.

The skin cancer foundation recommends starting sun protection in childhood, as soon as there is any exposure to the Skin Protection Factor(SPF) of 15 is used during the first eighteen years of the life, skin cancer can be reduced 78%. However, even when wearing a sunscreen or sun block, people need to limit their exposure to the sun, especially those at high risk.

Guideline for Preventing Skin Cancer and Premature ageing

1. Stay out of sun as much as possible.
2. Avoid extensive sun exposure between 10 A.M. and 3 P.M., even if wearing a sunblocks.
3. Beware of reflected light from sand, water, cement, and snow-it can still damage the skin.
4. Wear sunblocks or sunscreen that provide both UVA and UVB protection from SPF of at least 15 direct sun exposure, and SPF 8 for daily, Random exposure.
5. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going out in the sun.
6. Avoid tanning booths and sunlamps.
7. Don't wear perfumes or scents in the sun. They encourage burning and hyper pigmentation (Darkened areas) on the skin.