So here is an important question for you. One that I ask everyone who comes into my clinic for a skin consultation….
Did you know that you should wear a good quality sunscreen every single day of the year?
No matter what the weather? And actually, even if you aren’t even venturing outside?
The answer is yes, you should. You really should. In fact, if clients only buy one skin care product from me when they come in for a skin consultation, I want it to be a sunscreen. If a client requests a clinic treatment for their skin, I insist they are using a medical grade sunscreen before agreeing to treat them. This product is THAT important. And here is why….
So in the UK we deal with UVA and UVB rays. UVC rays also exist, but because of the O-Zone layer, we aren’t affected by UVC rays in this country.
UVB rays are the ones that tan us and burn us.
Bewildering to me, there still seems to be a substantial amount of people who don’t realise that tanning and burning are actually visible signs of skin damage. You are actively damaging your skin if you are exposing it to the sun without adequate, good quality protection. Obviously the biggest risk is skin cancer, which is worryingly on the rise. Please protect your skin in the sun and follow the correct advice on how much to apply and how often. There are some amazing self-tanning products on the market these days that look natural and don’t have that unpleasant smell. The self-tanning industry has come on in leaps and bounds over the last few years. A fake tan is the only safe tan.
UVA rays are the tricky ones.
These are present every single day of the year. No matter what the weather. And…. Believe it or not…. They penetrate through glass. So even if you are inside and near a window, or working in a conservatory for example, or out driving in your car, UVA rays are still damaging your skin if your skin is not protected. UVA rays break down our collagen matrix which is our skin’s structure. And worse, they damage the DNA of our skin cells stopping them from replicating. This all leads to an array of skin damage including premature signs of ageing, wrinkles, fine lines, sagging of the skin, sun spots, hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone. There is a very famous photo of a Canadian truck driver with signs of UVA damage. He spent most of his life driving his lorry without wearing sunscreen. The photo shows half his face has aged at least 20 years more than the other side as the UVA rays hit one side of his face through his lorry window.
I’ve written another blog on the difference between over the counter/online sunscreen versus medical grade/cosmeceutical sunscreen, so you can have a read of that to learn more, but suffice to say, medical grade/cosmeceutical sunscreen is much better for your skin and indeed your body, in so many ways.
At Ultimate Bodyworks I stock AlumierMD sunscreens.
There is a wide range to choose from to suit all skin conditions and skin types. I am always happy to let you take home and try out testers to find the one that suits you best. It is so important to find one you are happy with as this will ensure you apply it every morning.
If you would like any help with your skin, or indeed just finding the most suitable sunscreen, I offer free consultations and would be more than happy to help you. Skin is my absolute passion. Just because we have said goodbye to the summer and we are heading into autumn and winter, your skin still needs to be cared for to protect it from those UVA rays.
