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.
Myth 1: Only people with oily skin can get acne
Acne is caused by clogged pores and bacteria. Flakes of dead skin cells and dirt can clog pores trapping acne causing bacteria for people with dry skin. Oily skin types produce excess oil, which can lead to clogged pores and therefore acne. The type of treatment used to treat acne will be determined by your skin type, oily or dry.
Myth 2: Acne treatments work quickly
The best acne treatment is prevention. The acne cycle takes eight weeks, meaning it can take up to eight weeks to see your full results from an acne skincare regimen or treatment. Consistency is key in seeing results along with sticking with your prescribed regiment, even if you don’t see results right away.
Myth 3: The sun can clear acne
The sun can may make your pimples appear less noticeable, but that doesn’t mean they are gone. Sun exposure can make acne worse by dehydrating the skin and therefore triggers increased oil production. You may also see an increase in hyperpigmentation and darkening of your acne scars. We recommend a physical sunscreen of an SPF 30 or higher to protect your skin from sun exposure.
Myth 4: Scrubbing your skin will get rid of pimples
Over-exfoliating worsens acne. We recommend using a cleanser based on your skin type that contains either salicylic or glycolic acid.
Myth 5: Retinoids make your skin more sensitive to the sun
Retinol and Retin-A’s are used to treat acne. These products are designed to be used at nighttime to promote cellular turnover because they lose their efficacy when exposed to sunlight. Again, we recommend an SPF 30 or higher to stay protected from sun exposure.
