Summer is in full light, with the grey, cloudy days of
winter a distant memory. But know that those cloudy
days—summer or winter—can be dangerous as well.
While the sun seemingly cannot make its way through
the clouds, UV radiation certainly can. And sun damage is
just as much a threat on cloudy days as it is on sunny ones.
No matter the weather, it is important to take steps to
protect your skin from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays.
After spending the last 20 years as an internal medicine
doctor, I now own a skincare and wellness center in the
Pacific Northwest, specializing in treating a multitude of
skin conditions at my offices in the North Sound. With the
skin being the largest organ of the body and the sun being
the number-one contributor to aging, I thought now would
be a great time to remind ourselves of some basics, such as:
HOW DOES UV RADIATION DAMAGE THE SKIN?
UV damage can wreak havoc on our skin. It slows cell
renewal, creates unhealthy cells, and causes premature aging.
Fine lines, wrinkles, sun spots, and hyperpigmentation are
all accelerated because of sun exposure. Most importantly,
however, overexposure to the sun’s dangerous UV rays puts
one at higher risk for developing skin cancer.
STEPS TO PROTECT FROM SUN DAMAGE:
- Stay out of direct sunlight when it is at its strongest
(between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.) - Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when possible
- Protect your face, eyes, and hair with a wide-brimmed
hat and sunglasses. - Get Vitamin D through a healthy diet and/or
vitamin supplements
We cannot stress enough the importance of applying a
broad-spectrum sunscreen every morning. With medical-grade
skin care products from ZO Medical and Skin Health and
Epionce, there are plenty of ways to keep you well protected.
CAN SUN DAMAGE BE REVERSED?
Trained physicians can perform procedures that can help
fix sun damage, including industry-leading light and laser
treatments such as Forever Young BBL (broadband light)
and Halo Pro Hybrid Fractional Laser.
BBL Forever Young—Session 1
The Forever Young BBL device was developed by a team of
laser industry engineers and physicians whose mission was to
build an aesthetic laser and light system to help people with sun-damaged skin or conditions like rosacea, a disorder of facial skin marked by patchy redness.
This state-of-the-art intense pulse light (IPL) is one of
the most widely known and frequently used on the market.
The combination of speed and optimal power has safely and
painlessly delivered promising results, allowing experts to
treat challenging and routine conditions. The BBL targets
pigment by breaking down melanin trapped in your skin and
calming inflammation by using specific wavelengths to deliver
treatment. One study from Stanford University concluded
that the Forever Young BBL can alter the molecular genetics
of your skin cells to turn the clock back several years if
performed regularly.
The Halo Pro is a laser that makes channels in the skin,
pushing deep pigment to the surface, where the pigment
flakes away while simultaneously forcing the skin to tighten
and renew. The fractional laser goes deeper than the IPL and
does its work without the downtime of more aggressive treatments, helping rejuvenate collagen and even out the skin’s
tone and texture. Enlarged pores, fine lines and scars can
be diminished.
Everyone’s skin is different. Everyone’s needs are different.
However, everyone is exposed to the sun and most everyone
can do something to protect themselves and even reverse
damage that has already happened. Your physician can
customize your medical-grade skin care products. There is a
plethora of treatments to fit your lifestyle and your budget.
Perhaps this is the summer to get serious about preventing,
and fixing, skin damage.
For more content like this, check out our Wellbeing section here.
