Sun Protection
The root of many skin concerns, both aesthetic and medical, is excessive sun exposure. Avoiding a tan is just as important as protecting against a sunburn. The UV rays we are exposed to daily, purposefully and incidentally, cause a breakdown of the support structure in the skin leading to sagging, wrinkled and dry skin. Discoloration occurs, forming sun spots (also called age spots and liver spots) and a generalized uneven skin tone. Most importantly, sun exposure leads to skin cancer!
In sunny Florida, it can be difficult to avoid UV rays completely. Did you know that UVA rays penetrate through glass? (http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/uva-and-uvb/uva-radiation-a-danger-outdoors-and-indoors) That means even indoors and in the car you are at risk! Most of the visible signs of aging, like sunspots and sagging skin, are caused by sun exposure you don’t even realize you are getting!
UVA: “Aging” rays. Constant all year long. 30-50 times more prevalent than UVB rays. Penetrate through glass (car, house, office windows).
UVB: “Burning” rays. The main cause of sunburn. Strongest in the summer.
How can you help prevent this? Photo-protection. Wear sunscreen, sun-protective clothing and seek shade. A broad-spectrum sunscreen is best, protecting against both UVA and UVB rays. Look for the term “broad-spectrum” on the label. SPF 30 is recommended. Reapplication is key! The active ingredients in sunscreen don’t last for more than 2 hours on the skin, so you must reapply every 2 hours and immediately after swimming or heavy perspiration.
A warning for the women: Sunscreens can protect for 2 hours regardless of the vehicle – moisturizer, foundation, powder. So even though your makeup or moisturizer is still on 8 hours later, your sun protection ended 2 hours after the product was applied. This means you are not preventing brown spots, wrinkles and skin cancer!
We offer a variety of sunscreens in our office, varying from traditional creams to spray-on formulas and even powdered sunscreen! Ask us for recommendations!
In sunny Florida, it can be difficult to avoid UV rays completely. Did you know that UVA rays penetrate through glass? (http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/uva-and-uvb/uva-radiation-a-danger-outdoors-and-indoors) That means even indoors and in the car you are at risk! Most of the visible signs of aging, like sunspots and sagging skin, are caused by sun exposure you don’t even realize you are getting!
UVA: “Aging” rays. Constant all year long. 30-50 times more prevalent than UVB rays. Penetrate through glass (car, house, office windows).
UVB: “Burning” rays. The main cause of sunburn. Strongest in the summer.
How can you help prevent this? Photo-protection. Wear sunscreen, sun-protective clothing and seek shade. A broad-spectrum sunscreen is best, protecting against both UVA and UVB rays. Look for the term “broad-spectrum” on the label. SPF 30 is recommended. Reapplication is key! The active ingredients in sunscreen don’t last for more than 2 hours on the skin, so you must reapply every 2 hours and immediately after swimming or heavy perspiration.
A warning for the women: Sunscreens can protect for 2 hours regardless of the vehicle – moisturizer, foundation, powder. So even though your makeup or moisturizer is still on 8 hours later, your sun protection ended 2 hours after the product was applied. This means you are not preventing brown spots, wrinkles and skin cancer!
We offer a variety of sunscreens in our office, varying from traditional creams to spray-on formulas and even powdered sunscreen! Ask us for recommendations!
