Sun Protection
Let's face it, we live in Australia, we are going to suffer sun damage and will age more quickly than our European counterparts. However, we don't have to sit there and take the damage! Sun protection has to become part of our daily routine if we care about how our skin looks and want to prevent many years of surgery removing skin cancers as we age. Most of us are well aware that unprotected exposure to UV radiation can cause premature aging, pigmentation problems, broken capillaries and skin cancers. This is due to the massive free radical cascade that results from continuous radiation exposure causing DNA damage to healthy cells. So what can we do to afford that best possible protection from the sun this summer? Quite obviously sunscreens are a necessary part of your daily skin care routine, but are all sunscreens really doing the job of protecting your skin? The answer is yes and no, depending on the active ingredient in the product. Chemical sunscreens such as Octyl Methoxycinnamate are designed to absorb UVB rays but not UVA (deeper penetrating -destroying collagen and elastin). Two hours after applying a chemical sunscreen, UVB protection has ceased as the chemical has been absorbed by the skin. Reapplication is necessary at this time, but who does this vigilantly, especially through a normal work day? Physical sunscreens such as micro fine Titanium Dioxide or Zinc Oxide are a far safer option because of their reflective nature. When applied to the skin's surface, the micro fine particles act like tiny mirrors, reflecting both UVA and UVB rays away from the surface of the skin. They cannot be absorbed, stay on the surface until washed off, and do not cause the "whiteout" look to the skin, so there is cosmetic appeal and more chance of complying to use the product on a daily basis. Along with mineral make up, we now have a much safer and more effective option when choosing sunscreen products. Always read the label and if your preferred sunscreen has a chemical absorber as its active ingredient, make sure there is also a mineral component to give the best possible protection for the life of your skin. Remember, we are all undergoing the natural process of chronological ageing, but who wants to speed this up by adding photo ageing to the mix? Think-protection with reflection and .......enjoy the skin you live in! Want to know more about protecting and treating your skin? Book in for a free skin consultation, free skin peel and analysis with our trained skin specialist. Call 18000 80001 for an appointment. |
