We all know we are supposed to apply sunscreen when we are outside, but what is it really protecting us from? UVA, UVB, UVC, and IR rays are all damaging to our skin. When you're not wearing sunscreen on a daily basis to help protect your skin's health, UVA and UVB rays can cause skin reddening, brown spots, accelerated skin aging, and increase your risk of skin cancer.
UVA - stands for Ultraviolet A or " UV Aging Rays". These rays cause long term skin damage and photo-aging.
UVB - stands for Ultraviolet B or "UV Burning Rays". These rays are the cause of a sunburn. UVB rays are the common cause of most skin cancers.
UVC - stands for Ultraviolet C. It is the strongest and most deadly of solar rays, however the ozone layer stops these from reaching the Earth.
IR or Infrared Rays- these rays penetrate the deepest into the skin causing the skin to lose elasticity.
Here are a few things to remember when protecting yourself.
Look at your sunscreen ingredients and make sure you see titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.
Avoid tanning and UV tanning beds.
Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily with an SPF of 30 or higher.
Apply 2 tbs of sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside; reapply every 80 minutes or after swimming or sweating.
Sun Protection Factor (SPF) measures a sunscreen's effectiveness in preventing a sunburn in relation to the length if time spent in the sun.
Schedule a yearly visit with your dermatologist for a complete skin exam.
If you've been wondering when you should start an anti-aging regime, the answer is: it's never too soon. How you treat your skin now will have a HUGE impact on how it looks in the future so don't wait a single second to protect and nourish it. Here are a few ways to get started:
START WEARING SUNSCREEN SPF 30 OR HIGHER EVERYDAY
Wear a broad spectrum sunscreen of a SPF 30 or higher every single day. Even if it is rainy or cloudy. Sun damage is the number one cause of skin aging. Signs of sun damaged skin include skin discolorations, fine lines, wrinkles, and rough texture.
WASH YOUR FACE MORNING AND NIGHT
Give your skin a break by washing away your makeup every night. Washing your face every am and pm gives your skin the clean slate to apply anti-aging treatment products to perfectly cleansed skin for maximum absorption and maximum benefit.
DEVELOP A DAILY ANTI-AGING SKIN CARE ROUTINE
Start with the basics,
Cleanser, toner, eye cream, antioxidant, moisturizer, SPF 30 or higher.
LEAD A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
Take care of your body- eat a healthy diet, stay hydrated, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and don't smoke.
Take care of your mind- Practice stress reduction and relaxation techniques such as, massages, facials, or meditation.
A chemical peel is a treatment used to improve the appearance of the skin. A chemical peel can be used on the face, neck, chest or hands. The chemical solution is applied to skin causing an exfoliating process which will eventually peel off. The fresh new skin is smoother, less wrinkled, and has more even tones. There are three basic types of chemical peels we offer:
Superficial or lunchtime peel: This would be a mild acid used to penetrate only the outer layer of the skin for a gentle exfoliation. The treatment is used to improve the appearance of mild skin discolorations, texture, and fine lines and wrinkles.
Medium depth peel: Glycolic acid is applied to penetrate the outer and middle layers of the skin. This treatment will help improve dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles, and rough textures such as acne scarring.
Deep peel: A TCA peel is applied to the skin surface to deeply penetrate the middle layer of the skin to improve deep wrinkle lines, dark spots, and shallow scars.
