The Sun and Your Skin

Open Your Eyes to the Facts.
Though we've all heard the warnings about the dangers of sunbathing and the importance of sunblock, the consequences of sun damage (aside from the temporary sting of sunburn) are initially invisible and are sometimes hard to comprehend. The truth is, as much as 90 percent of wrinkles, brown spots, and sagging skinwhat we usually think of as agingcan be attributed to sun damage, says the American Skin Association, a national organization for education on skin health. What's worse, skin cancer is now the most common cancer, striking more than 800,000 Americans each year, according to the American Cancer Society
If you're still tempted to head out the door without sun protection, stop to consider what's going to happen to your skin.
Melanin, the protective pigment found in the epidermis, defends the skin against sun damage by absorbing the sun's rays and dissipating the energy as heat. The more sun exposure, the more melanin the skin produces, which results in a suntana sign that the skin has already been damaged by ultraviolet (UV) rays. If sun exposure continues, the UV rays will damage cells and blood vessels in the outer layer of skin, causing the redness and painful inflammation of sunburn, actually a minor burn.
Yet sunburn isn't the worst result of sun exposure. According to a report in the April 26, 1997, Science News, the UV rays that are not absorbed by melanin may prompt the formation of free radicals, destructive scavenger molecules. Because free radicals lack electrons, they attempt to steal electrons from other molecules, damaging the molecules in the process. Free radicals that get inside a cell can damage the cell's genetic material and cause mutations, and they may even trigger cancer.But the damage doesn't stop there. Urocranic acid, a chemical found in the epidermis, also reacts with ultraviolet light. The reaction also creates free radicals, which then break down the collagen and elastin in the skin, causing wrinkles. In addition, the sun's rays are thought to decrease immune system function within the skin, meaning that any invading organisms have a better chance of causing infection.
Always Wear a Broad-Based Sunscreen or Sunblock.
The key word here is always. Get out of the mind-set that sunscreen is only for the beach90 percent of sun exposure comes during everyday outdoor activityand smear on that sunblock each day before you leave the house. Even cool temperatures and cloudy days are no protection from sunburns because clouds block only 20 percent of ultraviolet radiation. Damage is possible even in the shade if light is reflected off water, snow, or sand.
Sunblocks are designed to reflect the sun's rays off the skin; sunscreens are formulated to absorb harmful rays. The difference between them is negligible: What you want to look for is a product labeled broad spectrum, which indicates that it defends against ultraviolet wavelengths known simply as ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB). At one time, only UVB rays were thought to be harmful to the skin, but scientists now know that both UVA and UVB rays are dangerous.
The AAD recommends daily use of a product with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. The SPF indicates how long you can spend in the sun without being burned. If you usually burn within 20 minutes, for example, a product with an SPF of 15 would allow you to stay in the sun 15 times longer, or 300 minutes.
Apply the sunblock or sunscreen liberally to all of the skin that will be exposed, including the lips, ears, scalp, feet, and eyelids (being careful not to get any in your eyes). This should be done 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors as the delay allows the chemicals to be absorbed into the skin, where they will be most effective. And if you're swimming or perspiring, be sure to reapply your sunblock every two hours. Waterproof products may be reapplied less often, though an extra application is smart if you're in doubt about the need for more.
Don't apply sunblock to a baby under six months of agethe chemicals can too easily be absorbed into the child's system.
Dress to Protect.
  • Of course, you're probably going to be wearing more than sunscreen when you go outside, so make the most of your clothing choices. The right clothes can increase your protection against the sun's rays and help decrease your risk of wrinkles, age spots, sagging skin, and even skin cancer.
  • Consider these guidelines from the AAD.
  • Choose silk or cotton over wool. Silk provides the most sun protection, with cotton a close runner-up. Wool is the least protective fabric.
  • Choose a tight weave over a loose weave. If you do wear loosely woven clothing, be sure to apply sunscreen to the skin underneath.
  • Choose dark colors over light colorsdark colors are more absorbant. For example, pick black rather than blue and blue rather than white.
  • Choose a hat with a wide brim that will shade the scalp, face, neck, and ears.
  • Keep your clothes dry. UV rays can pass through wet clothing.
Avoid Peak Hours in the Sun.
The sun's rays are strongest between the hours of 10 A.M. and 3 P.M., and avoiding the sun between 11 A.M. and 1 P.M. can reduce your exposure to radiation by half. The National Cancer Institute's "shadow method" provides an easy guideline: If your shadow is shorter than you are, stay indoors. A short shadow means UV rays are at their strongest































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