Are You Sun Wise?

What most population do not realise is that the biggest factor in the aging process is ultraviolet light. Doctors now believe that up to 95% of damage is due to light, hence the term "Photo-aging", and that we could look largely the same in our 60's as we do in our 30's if the skin was permanently shielded from light.

Facts we need to know

In children under 18 years of age it takes just one incidence of sunburn to duplicate the risk of skin cancer in later life.
Good use of sun security factors Spf up to the age of 18, however, can sell out the risk by 80%. One in every 75 children born this year will establish malignant melanoma. Most population who do use Spf's use inadequate quantities or the incorrect kind. It can take 10 to 20 years for damage to manifest itself.

So what exactly is Ultraviolet radiation?

Ultraviolet light rays are divided into three distinct types, agreeing to the length of the rays. All of these rays are invisible.

Uvc 200-290 nanometres

These are the shortest wavelength and most extremely energetic of the sun's rays. Currently there are no Spf's available to screen these rays, but, at present, they are largely screened out by the Ozone layer.

Uvb 290-320 nanometres

These are medium length and medium power rays. Spf listings relate to security offered against these rays. They are in general present from 10am-4pm. They lanch only into the epidermis, or uppermost layer, of skin. They stimulate melanin production- therefore they cause us to "tan." They are connected to the formation of Basal cell and Squamous cell carcinomas. They can cause skin swelling, redness, itching and are connected with development of cataracts in the eye. They stimulate keratinocyte production- leading to thickened, horny finding skin. They are 1000 times stronger than Uva rays.

Uva 320-400 nanometres

These rays are what we recognise as daylight. They are long wave and low power rays. They are present from sunrise to sunset. They lanch right straight through the outer layer of skin to the dermis, or growing layer, of skin. They break down collagen and elastin in the skin. They damage cell Dna and are connected with skin cancers. They destroy the skins natural defences by damaging the immune system. They turn melanin darker. They cause hyperpigmentation problems and thread veins. They are 1000 times more prevalent than Uvb rays. They lanch glass and are also given out by Vdu screens and synthetic lights. They cause what we recognise as "ageing".

How do these rays work on our skin?

The epidermis, or upper layer, of skin is called the stratum corneum.

It is composed in general of dead cells. Up to the age of 25, or thereabouts, these cells lie in an organised and neat fashion, rather like the tiles on a roof. This keeps the skin finding moist, translucent, smooth and finely textured.

As we age, the stratum corneum changes and dead cells are not shed at the same rate as before, leading to a thickening of the skin. Cells can establish in an abnormal and erratic fashion, removing the ordered, neat corollary and causing the skin texture to appear less refined. Ultraviolet rays are the cause of this process.

The dermis, or lower growing layer of skin, consists in general of collagen and elastin. Exposure to Uv causes breakdown of the bonds between the molecules and leads to yield of "free radicals" which begin the process of damage.

The cells potential to reproduce ordinarily and identically is impaired and collagen and elastin destruction lead to the formation of lines and wrinkles.

What can we do to protect our skin?

The way to diminish the effects of Uv is, quite simply, to prevent as much of it no ifs ands or buts reaching the skin as potential by using Sun security Factors.

There are two main types:

Chemical ones Ant. Eject the Uv rays and lower the power levels by releasing that power as heat.

Non chemical ones reflect/scatter the Uv rays. They are potentially less irritating to the skin. They are the most efficient because they block both Uvb and Uva. For an anti-ageing corollary they are much more effective.

The most efficient non-chemical blockers are:

Zinc Oxide
Titanium Dioxide
Spf ratings are often misunderstood Spf 8 blocks up to 88%
Spf 20 blocks up to 93%
Spf 30 blocks up to 98%
Obviously, there is no advantage of a Factor 40, 50 or 60.

Current mental is that it is good to apply a factor 15-30 every hour or two than a factor 30 every 3-4 hours, since doubling the factor doubles the concentration of chemicals and, with it, the potential skin irritation but does not duplicate the protection. Also the Spf degrades the longer it is present on the skin.

"Waterproof" factors should still be protective in water for up to 80 mins.

"Water resistant" factors are good for only up to 40 mins.

Sunscreens designed for use on the body are not favorable for use on the face since they are ordinarily chemical only in nature and are often combined with a photosensitiser. Designed to make the skin turn brown more quickly this creates an actual ageing corollary on the face.

Most population do not use sufficient cream at a time- the midpoint requirement for a body application is 1.3 ozs, whilst the midpoint usage rate is only approx. 0.5 ozs.

The role of our light blockers

The Vitage, Skin Ceuticals, Sesha, Environ and Helio-Care light blockers, available in a range from Spf 15 to 50, are favorable for all skin types, all ages and all weather conditions.

The Sesha fix and protect 30 contains Photolyase, a product which no ifs ands or buts helps to harness the power of Uv light

They are formulated with anti-oxidants as well as Zinc oxide and Titanium dioxide. These anti-oxidants help to "mop up" free radicals as they are being formed during the Uv exposure time. They also help to combat the effects of pollution on the skin.

They should be applied liberally approx. 20 mins before exposure and, if our Spf powder make up is not applied over the top, they should be re-applied every 1-2 hours.

Because of the rich, no ifs ands or buts absorbed formulations of these products, they are ideal moisturiser/sunscreen composition products for use under make up.

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