The sun, love it or hate it. It delivers a lovely tan or maybe sunburn, but that tan is more than "skin deep". There are two ways dermatologists break down skin aging, first is "intrinsic" aging which is the idea that the condition of your skin is determined by heredity. Heredity is only part of the story, the other part is called "extrinsic" aging, which refers tot he effects of what you can control: environmental factors, cigarette smoke, and SUN exposure!
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SPEND TIME IN THE SUN
Most people are familiar with the concept of UV rays. Even though they are not visible to the eye, they can travel easily through glass and can even penetrate some types of clothing. Its no new news that spending time getting that "killer" tan causes wrinkles over time, discoloration, inflames acne and can even cause cancers, but it also produces free radicals in the body. These free radicals act like packman on steroids. Free radicals gobble up DNA, mutate healthy cells, and damage proteins like collagen and elastin that keep pour skin taut and plump.
SUNBURNS ARE REAL BURNS, SO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE
Sunburns are actual burns with very real consequences. A first-degree burn will cause inflammation of the skin, leaving it red, tender and swollen, while a second-degree will blister and peel. These cause deep damage to DNA and skin cells! So, as soon as you feel and see your skin is hot and red..cover up!!!! Make sure you wear you sunscreen and reapply liberally! We all want to be hot babes in 20-30 years right??
WHAT DOES SUN DAMAGE LOOK LIKE?
*Freckles- Freckles are the skins response to UV rays. When you are exposed to the sun, the skins pigment-making cells pump out more pigment (melanin). That's why freckles tend to pop up in places where the sun hits you most, particularly nose, cheeks and shoulders. Freckles can also clump together to form larger, darker "sun spots" that range in size. These spots are sometimes called liver spots, even though they have nothing to do with the liver.
*Dark patches on the face- Caused by heredity and maybe a surge in hormones (by pregnancy or birth control pills), sun exposure and melasma.
*Precancerous growths- Remember when we were young kids and our skin was flawless and perfect..ahhh the good 'ol days. When we are young, the rate of cell renewal and turn over is super fast. As we get older (30's), this renewal process begins to slow down:dead skin does;t slough off as fast, instead the cells sit in the surface of your skin and clump together. After prolonged UV exposure, that clumped together skin/cells can begin to form rough, scaly, precancerous growths (typically found on face, hands and chest.
*Atypical moles- Keep an eye on your moles. If they become irregularly raised, irregularly pigmented with weird borders get checked! Monitor your body and schedule a yearly body scan with a dermatologist!
WHAT YOU CAN EAT TODAY TO PREVENT SUNBURN!!!
Eat more antioxidants. Fruits and veggies! Also vitamin C is a bonus!
Eggs, SOME chocolate, red wine, fish and fish oils, tomatoes, red fruits and veggies, drink green tea, watermelon, guava...it goes on and on.
the sister article to this will be on its way shortly... It's about FAKE TANNER!
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