WRINKLED SKIN

We’ve heard horror stories how too much sunlight exposure damages skin. These stories are not urban legends. It’s something Halah Ismail sees daily as owner of Alani Medical Spa in Lady Lake.

Her clients hoping to achieve the ultimate tan have instead found themselves covered in clusters of sunspots.

“Sunspots can be dangerous because they can ultimately turn into skin cancer,” she says. “They also cause white and dark spots to appear on the skin. They are common in fair-skinned people and those who spend lots of time outdoors who do not protect their skin.”

She also treats crepey, or wrinkled skin, resulting from exposure to harmful UV rays.

“Imagine crumbling tissue paper in your hand and then trying to smooth it back out. That’s what crepey skin is like. The skin looks thin, saggy, and brittle.”

Without proper protection, Halah says, sunlight accelerates the skin’s aging process by depleting collagen.