Well well well, we are actually experiencing an amazing sunny summer! Hasn’t it been glorious? Everyone seems generally happier when it’s sunny and warm, except I think, skin specialists like me!! I’m always worried about the potential skin damage that my clients might be inflicting on themselves!
Now I know we all need the sun to top up our Vitamin D levels which are an essential component of our body absorbing calcium. This ensures our body can build and maintain strong healthy bones. However, this really does need to be balanced with the negative effects of exposing our skin to the sun. Exposure to the sun and its UVA/UVB rays is one of the main culprits of premature ageing, hyperpigmentation and of course skin cancer.
So how does the sun damage our skin?
Obviously, the most serious risk is skin cancer. Repeated and/or excessive exposure to the sum dramatically increases the risk of skin cancer. UV rays can extensively damage the DNA of our skin cells. The DNA tells our cells how to function. When that damage builds up over time, it can cause our skin cells to stop functioning in their normal way which can lead to skin cancer.
UV rays can also overstimulate the melanocytes in our epidermis triggering an increased production of melanin. This can lead to hyperpigmentation, an increase in freckles, and the appearance of sunspots.
UVA rays are present every single day of the year. They penetrate windows. These are the rays that cause premature signs of ageing like fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin. These UVA rays penetrate our skin and cause damage to our collagen matrix. This is our skin’s structure. So by exposing our skin to the sun we are breaking down the collagen in our skin and encouraging signs of ageing to form more quickly.
Many people also find their skin becomes drier in the warmer months. The sun can dry out our skin and deplete its levels of essential fatty acids. This can leave our skin looking and feeling dry, flaky and rough. Exposure to the sun slows down the rate of skin cell renewal which leads to a buildup of old, dead skin cells that can result in dull, congested skin.
How can we protect our skin from sun damage?
First and foremost is using a broad spectrum SPF40 or higher, every single day of the year. There is another blog on the website about the difference between chemical and physical sunscreens so I won’t discuss this too much here except to say physical sunscreens are by far much better for us in so many ways. Broad spectrum simply means you are protecting your skin from both UVA and UVB rays. Sunscreen should be applied regularly throughout the day when the sun is out. AlumierMD offers a range of fantastic sunscreens for different skin conditions and skin tones and is available at Ultimate Bodyworks.
Try to stay out of direct sunlight as much as possible. Sit in the shade or under a parasol. This gives your skin some much-needed recuperation and recovery time.
Keep your skin covered up as much as possible. I know when it is warm we want to wear clothes that expose our skin, but light layers with long sleeves are much better for you. I would also encourage you to wear hats that protect your face and sunglasses that cover the delicate skin around your eyes.
Finally, if you can, avoid exposure to the sun when it is at its hottest, between 11-3pm. This is when the UV rays have their greatest effect on our skin.
So what can we do to combat the effects of sun damage on our skin?
The foundation of good skin is ALWAYS an effective home skincare routine with the right ingredients needed depending on the season and condition of the skin. This skincare should always be medical grade/cosmeceutical to ensure the ingredients are at the correct molecular weight/size to penetrate the skin. At Ultimate Bodyworks we use AlumierMD home skincare, an award-winning medical grade brand that produces amazing results.
Chemical peels can work miracles on sun-damaged skin. They remove the damaged, top layer of dead skin and expose the healthy new skin underneath much more quickly. At Ultimate Bodyworks, St Neots, Cambridgeshire, we offer AlumierMD chemical peels.
Microneedling is another very effective treatment. This uses a cartridge of tiny needles to stimulate the body’s own wound healing process. Within this process, the turnover of damaged cells is accelerated as is the production of healthy skin cells. Microneedling also increases the production of collagen massively so combatting premature signs of ageing such as fine lines and wrinkles. At Ultimate Bodyworks we offer SkinPen microneedling which is one of only two medical-grade devices in the UK with independent science papers behind it proving its efficacy.
Cryotherapy is a fantastic treatment to freeze off sun spots anywhere on the body. The nitrous oxide kills the damaged skin cells and eradicates pigmented areas like sun spots and age spots. Ultimate Bodyworks in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, uses the CryoIQ pen which is quick, painless and extremely effective.
Post-Summer Skin Assessment and Treatment – September Offer!
To help your skin recover from the effects of the beautiful summer we’ve had, Ultimate Bodyworks is making an offer.
