Beauty Products to Minimize Sun Damage on Skin
By Ashley Macha – May 25, 2012 12:41PM
The Republic | azcentral.com
Arizonans are well aware of the benefits of using sunscreen, but living in a state that averages more than 300 days of sunshine a year, some skin damage is inevitable.
The question is, how can it minimized?
Ultraviolet rays from the sun penetrate the skin and damage skin cells, causing sunburns, sun spots and freckles and leading to wrinkles, premature aging and skin cancer, the most prevalent form of cancer, Cancer.org says.
Skin exposed to sun increases production of melanocytes, cells that produce a dark brown pigment called melanin, which darkens skin. Melanin production may appear uneven, causing irregular coloring.
The sun may also cause the skin to look mottled or red due to stretching (dilation) of small blood vessels.
Discoloration is a marker of damage at the cellular level, said Dr. Kristine A. Romine, medical director at Camelback Dermatology & Skin Surgery.
“DNA-damaged cells called ‘sunburn cells,’ can be measured in both tanned and burned skin,” Romine said. “Healthy skin has ways of ‘cleaning up’ about 50 percent of these sunburn cells with natural repair mechanisms. That leaves a lot of damage behind, causing an increased risk of skin cancer, decreased immunity against infection and premature aging.”
Sun damage is irreversible, but there are ways to neutralize the damage, for appearance and health.
When out in the sun, avoid becoming sunburned or tanned, as both can lead to DNA damage and skin cancer, according to Skincancer.org. It would be next to impossible to stay in the shade all summer, so Dr. Romine recommends SmartSuncreenA’s line of Neova DNA Damage Control Sunscreen, which is designed to reduce signs of aging by promoting enzymes that increase UV protection. It contains sun barriers zinc and titanium dioxide. Available in SPF 40 (Silc Sheer 2.0), 43 (Active) and 44 (Everyday), for face and body. These last up to 80 minutes and can cost approximately $40.
