Sun your skins enemy

There are various theories on why so many of us want to roast ourselves in the sun, even though for many years now, we have been aware of the need to stay out of the sun and use sunscreens. Vanity and fashion however still win as well as the fact that most of us feel better when we have a tan. Don’t get me wrong the sun has it’s Importance’s to our body’s like the production of vitamin D. Understanding A,B,C of ultraviolet The sun emits different kinds of light: • the visible light you see, • the infrared light you feel as heat, • and invisible ultraviolet (UV) radiation. It is the UV radiation part of light which affects our skin the most. It is important to know about the sun’s UV rays in order to know how to protect your skin and prevent skin cancer. There are 3 types of UV rays: UVA: A stands for Aging. UVA radiation penetrates deep into the skin and is responsible for premature aging of the skin and skin cancer. Tanning beds can emit 2 to 5 times more UVA radiation than the sun. UVA rays cause skin tanning, age spots, and wrinkling of the skin, as well as contribute to the development of skin cancer. UVB: B stands for Burning. UVB radiation is stronger than UVA radiation. It mainly affects the outer layers of the skin, causing sunburns, premature aging of the skin, and skin cancer. These rays are strongest during the summer months – especially between 11 am and 4 pm. UVC: C stands for critical. UVC radiation is the strongest, most dangerous form of UV light. However, they are stopped by the earth’s atmosphere and do not reach earth’s surface. Although direct sun exposure can cause irreparable damage, your skin is also exposed to UVA and UVB rays at home and at work on a daily basis. UVA rays can actually pass through windows in your home and cars. Both UVA and UVB rays can reflect off of sand, water, and pavement, exposing you to UV radiation even in the shade. In addition, some indoor office light bulbs emit UVA and UVB rays, though at much lower levels than sunlight. The effects of such chronic exposure can be minimized with makeup and moisturizers that contain sunscreens. Overexposure to the UV rays can cause several types of skin damage. Sun Tan • A tan is not “healthy.” A tan is a sign that damage has been done to your skin. • Your skin’s melanocytes produce melanin, the dark pigment that creates a tan. Melanin is your first defense against the sun. It absorbs dangerous UV rays before they do serious skin damage. • A tan is your skin’s attempt to prevent UV rays from doing any further damage to the sensitive skin cells in your epidermis. Sun Burn • Sun burn develops when the amount of UV exposure is greater than our melanin can protect us. Dark skin can also get burn too, if you stay outside in the sun for long period of time. • A severe sunburn causes skin tenderness, pain, swelling, and blistering. • There is substantial evidence that sunburns can lead to DNA damage. Repeated sunburns dramatically increase your risk of developing skin cancer because of this damage to your DNA. (American Academy of Dermatology) Freckles and sun spots • True freckles (ephelides) are the little brown spots (spots of melanin) we inherit from our parents. They tend to disappear as we age. • False freckles (solar lentigines) are made of melanin that caused by UV rays. They are the skin’s attempt to defend itself from the sun. They do not fade by time. They get worse. • Lots of solar lentigines mean you have sustained sun damage, which make skin more vulnerable to sun-induced skin cancers. Wrinkles • Wrinkles are directly related to sun exposure. • UVA rays from the sun can penetrate deep into your skin and damage collagen, which is the protein that holds your skin together in a firm and smooth way. And results in accumulation of abnormal elastin. Which inturn result in the breaks down the collagen structure which results in wrinkles. • Once collagen is damaged, it cannot re-build itself. • Up to 80% of skin aging is caused by the sun. Texture Changes Caused by the Sun - UV exposure causes thickening and thinning of the skin. - Thick skin is found in coarse wrinkles especially on the back of the neck that do not disappear when the skin is stretched. A condition called solar elastosis is seen as thickened, coarse wrinkling and yellow discoloration of the skin. - A common effect of UV exposure is thinning of the skin causing fine wrinkles, easy bruising, and skin tearing. - Uv exposer can result in scaly red patches, called actinic keratoses, thought to be the beginnings of skin cancer. Break the UV Ray Cycle You can help protect your skin from wrinkles and other sun damage with the following steps: • Use sunscreen. Every day, generously apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, choosing products that provide what’s called “broad spectrum” protection against both UVA and UVB rays. When you’re in the sun for prolonged periods of time, reapply sunscreen every two hours. • Avoid peak sun hours. Stay in the shade during the hottest part of the day, usually from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when the sun's rays are at their most intense. • Follow the UV Index. The UV Index is a daily indicator of how much UV radiation is expected to reach the earth — think of it as a pollen count reading for your skin. Developed by the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Weather Service, it’s usually broadcast along with your local weather report. http://www.koolasun.co.za/sa-uv-index.html. While the sun may feel warm and inviting, exposure to UV rays comes at a cost. Take steps to protect yourself from the havoc that sun damage can wreak on your skin. Are there any sunscreens that are better or worse for certain skin types? Of course, everyone should use sunscreen, regardless of their skin type, but some products are better for some than they are for others. A lot of people with oily, sensitive skin don't like to wear sunscreen because it makes them break out. But it's still important for them to use sunscreen. Oily Skin Types I personally prefer gels and oil free lotions over creamy lotions for people with oily skin. A sunscreen mist suited for oily skin Acne Prone Skin Those with frequent skin allergies may react to sunscreens due to the high incidence of allergies to sunscreen ingredients. Avoiding products with the chemical UV filters PABA, benzophenone and avobenzone can help; they can all irritate skin and lead to acne flare-ups. Physical blocking sunscreens micronized zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are a better choice. People with darker skin should choose a tinted sunscreen to avoid the chalky, violet cast that physical sunblocks can cause. Is there any way to increase your sun tolerance from the inside out,through diet or supplements? There is some interesting new data suggesting that antioxidants found in food can have a preventative effect in protecting against sun damage. For example, lycopene, as found in cooked tomatoes and tomato paste, can help tame the harmful free radicals that damage skin. So by eating things high in anti oxidants such as Red wine, pomegranate juice, oregano, green tea and chocolate are also rich in antioxidants and might help increase your skin's natural protection against the sun. As far as supplements go, fern extract (polypodium leucotomos) is a powerful antioxidant that has been shown to protect against UV damage. Vitamin C, Coenzyme Q10 and green tea extract can also be beneficial. However, none of these can replace sunscreen.