What is skinaging and how does sun play its part in it? Without protection from the sun, even a few minutes per day can cause the skin to prematurely age and over time, the negative effects will be highly noticeable. Sun Damage usually presents as freckles, age spots, rough or leathery skin, broken blood vessels, blotchy skin, actinic keratosis and even skin cancer.
Photo Aging is a common term used by dermatologists, simply describing aging caused by sun exposure. The degree to which any individual experiences photo aging depends on their skin color, their lifetime of sun exposure, and their lifestyle history. Those with fair skin typically present with signs of photo-aging sooner and with greater severity, than those with dark skin. This is not to say however, that dark skinned individuals are exempt from the negative effects of the sun! Scientific research shows that with repeated sun exposure, the skin loses its ability to repair itself efficiently. UV exposure is known to break down collagen as well impact elastin, eventually resulting in skin with an inability to spring back, presenting with fine lines and wrinkles. In addition to affecting skin laxity & structure, the sun can discolor and create hyper-pigmentations. The best line of defense against photo aging is comprehensive sun protection: Avoid deliberate tanning, including tanning beds Avoid sun exposure between 10 am – 4 pm, as this is when the sun’s rays are the strongest Wear a wide-brimmed hat, and long sleeves during the day with an awareness of body parts that might be exposed. Ie. Back of the neck, legs, feet, ears, scalp Apply sunscreen that is BROAD-Spectrum year round with an SPF of 30+. Sunscreen should be applied 20 minutes before going outside and reapplied after sweating or swimming Consider including an oral supplement prior to sun exposure such as HelioCare™ which helps protect your skin by building your body’s natural defense against UV. HelioCare has been scientifically proven to reduce free radical damage & photo-aging.
Avoid skin care products that exacerbate free radical damage and move towards those that are free of suspect ingredients.
Photoaging-
Photoaging or photoageing(also known as "dermatoheliosis") is a term used for the characteristic changes to skin induced by chronic UVA and UVB exposure. Tretinoin is the best studied retinoid in the treatment of photoaging. The deterioration of biological functions and ability to manage metabolic stress is one of the major consequences of the aging process. Aging is a complex, progressive process that leads to functional and esthetic changes in the skin. This process can result from both intrinsic (i.e., genetically determined) as well as extrinsic processes (i.e., environmental factors). Photoaging is attributed to continuous, long-term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation of approximately 300–400 nm, either natural or synthetic, on an intrinsically aged skin. UVB rays are a primary mutagen that can only penetrate through the epidermal (outermost) layer of the skin, resulting in DNA mutations. These mutations arise due to chemical changes, the formation of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and photoproducts formed between adjacent pyrimidine bases. These mutations may be clinically related to specific signs of photoaging such as wrinkling, increasing in elastin and collagen damage. The epidermal layer does not contain any blood vessels or nerve endings but melanocytes and basal cells are embedded in this layer. Upon exposure to UVB rays, melanocytes will produce melanin, a pigment that gives the skin its color tone. However, UVB will cause the formation of freckles and
dark spots, both of which are symptoms of photoaging. With constant exposure to UVB rays, signs of photoaging might appear and precancerous lesions or skin cancer may develop.
HyperpigmentationHyperpigmentation can be caused by sun damage, inflammation, or other skin injuries, including those related to acne vulgaris. People with darker Asian, Mediterranean, or African skin tones are also more prone to hyperpigmentation, especially if they have excess sun exposure. Many forms of hyperpigmentation are caused by an excess production of melanin. Hyperpigmentation can be diffuse or focal, affecting such areas as the face and the back of the hands. Melanin is produced by melanocytes at the lower layer of the epidermis. Melanin is a class of pigment responsible for producing color in the body in places such as the eyes, skin, and hair. As the body ages, melanocyte distribution becomes less diffuse and its regulation less controlled by the body. UV light stimulates melanocyte activity, and where concentrations of the cells are denser than surrounding areas, hyperpigmentation is effected. Can also be caused by using skin lightening lotions. Another form of hyperpigmentation is post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. These are dark and discolored spots that appear on the skin following acne that has healed.
Symptoms-
Early symptoms of photoaging: •
Dyspigmentation and the formation of wrinkles around regions of skin commonly exposed to sun, namely the eyes, mouth and forehead.
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Spider veins on face and neck
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Loss of color and fullness in lips
Symptoms of photoaging attributed to prolonged exposure to UV: • • • • • •
Wrinkles deepen and forehead frown lines can be seen even when not frowning. Telangiectasias (spider veins) most commonly seen around the nose, cheeks and chin. Skin becomes leathery and laxity occurs. Solar lentigines (age spots) appear on the face and hands. Possibly pre-cancerous red and scaly spots (actinic keratoses) appear. Cutaneous malignancies
References-
[1].http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photoaging [2].http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperpigmentation [3].http://www.dermatology.ca/skin-hair-nails/skin/photoaging/ [4].http://www.claritymedspa.ca/how-quickly-does-sun-exposure-damageage-skin/