Is your love of sun impacting your skin age?
“Clinical signs of aging are essentially influenced by extrinsic factors, especially sun exposure. Indeed, UV exposure seems to be responsible for 80% of visible facial aging signs.”
Sun damage causes premature ageing, in a time where Botox and dermal fillers are often the first line of defence to prevent wrinkle formation Jody Taylor explains the role UV damage plays in premature ageing of the skin and ways to prevent the signs of ageing from the sun.
“Clinical signs of aging are essentially influenced by extrinsic factors, especially sun
exposure. Indeed, UV exposure seems to be responsible for 80% of visible facial
aging signs.”
Conclusion from a study that was carried out on 298 Caucasian women from 30 years to 78 years old. The participants were divided into two groups according to their sun exposure history: 157 women were characterized as sun-seeking, and the other 141 were classified as sun-phobic.
The UV rays concerned with premature aging are Ultraviolet A rays (UVA), these rays cause degenerative changes to tissues, cells, and blood vessels. UVA rays cause tanning, wrinkles, and premature ageing, UVB rays cause sunburn and skin cancer. UVC rays are absorbed by the atmosphere and do not reach earth. The melanocytes are a specialised group of cells which produce melanin this is your skins natural pigment. Prolonged exposure to UV rays causes the skin to produce more melanin as it works to try and protect your skin it becomes darker giving you a tan. The tan fades as new cells move to the surface and old cells slough off.
This is why older peoples tans last longer …. The skin cell production slows with age reducing the speed the skin cells slough off!!
The protective function of melanin will protect against 99% of UV. DNA damage from UV will still occur and this decline in function may potentially lead to skin cancer. Photo aged skin typically can lead to skin cancer these skins are characterised by accelerated ageing, collagen and elastin breakdown leading to wrinkles and laxity, hypo and hyperpigmentation or actinic keratosis. Chronological aged skin that has been protected from the sun will be visibly thinner with reduced elasticity but with significantly less colour impairment. Impairment and suppression of the immune system can contribute to skin cancer. UV exposure alters the function of the skin’s immune response cells causing an imbalance which may lead to UV induced tumours. Skin impacted from over exposure to UV will have deeper wrinkle formation outside the areas of natural expression, skin can be thicker and with less flexibility, pronounced hyperpigmentation and age spots with more broken capillaries.
Skin that has less exposure to UV will appear ten years younger than skin that has prolonged exposure to UV rays.
Recommend precautions to minimise damage caused by UV light.
Over exposure to UV rays causes greater risk of skin cancer and premature ageing the check list below shows which precautions to take to reduce these risks.
PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE AGAINST ULTRAVIOLET RAYS
SHADE
Avoid exposure for long periods especially when the sun is at its strongest. The UKrecommends between the hours of 11am-3pm
SUNSCREEN
Use a full spectrum block and reapply regularly.
Use a sunscreen which contains UVB and UVA protection.
Use a factor 30 or above. The percentage of rays the sunscreen filters are as follows.
SPF 15- 93%
SPF 30- 97%
SPF 50 – 98%
CLOTHING
Wide brimmed hats
Sunglasses with UV protection
Dark clothing as it absorbs less heat.
UV Protection clothing
SUNBEDS
Avoid sunbed use as sunbeds produce both UVA and UVB rays increasing the chance of both melanoma and premature aging these rays are more dangerous than natural daylight.
PHOTOSENSITISERS
Medication, supplements, and diet can cause sensitivity to light increasing the chance of burning.
Details regarding the photo sensitivity can usually be founds on the directions of use list.
Sensitisers usually include antibiotics, anti-depressants, anti-anxieties, diuretics, retinoids, and vitamins.