Want healthy looking skin?

Our daily routine consists of many necessary steps to maintain our existence. Bathing, oral hygiene, eating, work, cleaning, exercise and so on. Some, are not pleasant and rather time consuming but we do them knowing we will benefit from them in the long run. This is how you should view wearing a daily SPF, as N E C E S S A R Y !

The key to healthy skin is simple; . . . discipline yourself to PROTECT it from;
- the sun
- the elements
- an overindulgent lifestyle

Avoiding these can help (one of my favorite words) PREVENT unnecessary, future damage. [i.e. age spots, freckles, hyper pigmentation, skin cancer].

Over 80 % of the signs of aging in adults result from tanning as a teen. Exposure to UV rays accelerate the effects of aging and increase your risk of developing skin cancer. The daily use (all year round) of SPF of 15 or higher can reduce your risk. *Fair skin individuals should use SPF 30 or higher. If your daily moisturizer does not contain SPF then add it in or apply immediately after. Try to use the same brand so the ingredients don't interact and cause irritation.

UV light damages elastin and collagen fibers and once broken down, your skin will sag, stretch and lose elasticity. Sun damage can also cause permanent stretching (dialation) of small blood vessels, creating a mottled, reddish appearance. Most uneven skin pigmentation is sun damage. Overexposure of sunlight wounds the upper layer of living cells and in response they release an enzyme called matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP – 1). This enzyme literally chews down collagen and elastin fiber bundles from one end to the other leaving a mess behind.

Photoaging causes the skin’s topmost layer to thicken in defense, not unlike the creepy calluses that form on your heels. Deeper down, the collagen and elastin bundles that give the skin its bouncy strength are no longer recognizable. Not only are the collagen bundles punctured but in many places they’ve been so completely digested that none remain at all.

To protect itself from the damaging effects of the sun, your skin increases its production of melanocytes. These cells produce the dark brown pigment called melanin. The extra melanin makes your skin look darker (also known as a tan). In some cases, the sun causes an uneven increase in melanocytes, which produces irregular coloring or pigmentation of the skin.

I could go on and on about sun damage and why “getting a tan” is not worth it in the years to come. Everyone wants to look younger but not everyone wants to commit to the work it takes to maintain healthy, youthful skin. No one wants to look their age and we shouldn't have to. It all comes down to discipline, so get some! Your skin will thank you.