Protect Your Delicate Skin – It’s Not Just About Beauty

We know that we must protect our skin each day from the harmful effects of the sun’s rays. But, when you go shopping for sun protection products, do the labels confuse you? Let’s take a look at basic information about UVA rays and UVB rays and why neither is safe.

UVA rays are the rays that penetrate the deeper layers of the skin. Present all day at a fairly even intensity, UVA rays can fool you. They may seem, even feel, harmless. Don’t be fooled – UVA rays penetrate clouds and glass.

Until recently, UVA rays were considered relatively benign, causing only cosmetic damage to the skin, like aging and wrinkling. Now it is known that exposure to UVA rays causes cumulative tissue damage and can result in skin cancer.

We rarely see the immediate damage to our skin upon exposure to UVA rays, but damage is occurring beneath the skin’s surface. Because UVA rays are not causing the damage to skin we know as a sunburn, many of us believe that we can be exposed to “normal” daylight without protection. We now know that when we expose our bare skin to UVA rays during any daylight hours, even cloudy days, our DNA is desperately making attempts to protect itself from damage, mutating and setting the stage for skin cancer.

Tanning booths expose users to primarily UVA rays, sometimes at an alarming rate of 10 to 12 times that of the sun’s rays. The Skin Cancer Foundation studies show that suntanning booth users are twice as likely to develop skin cancer. If you started using a tanning booth when you were young, your melanoma risks increase as much as 75 percent. So, the answer is no; there is no such thing as a SAFE tanning booth.

UVB rays affect the skin’s outer layers, causing the reddening and burning that we are familiar with. UVB rays cause wrinkling and aging, drying, and all those things you can see on the surface of your skin. This includes skin cancer.

The difference between UVA rays and UVB rays can actually be felt. UVA rays are pretty consistent throughout the day, while UVB rays are more intense during certain times of the day and the year. This may catch you off guard though if you are not informed about how tricky these UVB rays can be. Even on a snow covered mountain, UVB rays are bouncing off the white snow and right into your face. When you get back to the chalet with rosy cheeks and a red nose, it could be from the sun and not from the cold. The guidelines, stay out of the sun between 10 am and 4 pm, don’t always apply, either. Ask anyone who spent time on the beaches of Florida.

Your dermatologist or esthetician will advise you to use skin protection products that contain an SPF of 15 or higher. This is not just a recommendation to prevent premature skin aging. This is to protect your health. Some professionals may suggest a much higher SPF, even 70, for your face, neck, and hands, especially if your family history would indicate a necessity.

Talk to your skin care specialist for his or her personal recommendation for you. Your esthetician or dermatologist will be able to advise you on your specific needs based on your skin type and history. Follow the advice of your skin care professional and protect your skin each and every day.

Skin protection starts with professional skin care. Charlotte Field is a Skin Care Specialist offering Facials in Pensacola, Florida. She specializes in Anti-aging, Relaxation and Results. Learn more about Charlotte’s professional services at FacialsbyCharlotte.com.