How the Sun Sees Your Skin

Before you really “got it” about sun protection, you were unknowingly inflicting some intense damage on your skin’s DNA – sort of guaranteeing that you’d be upping your odds for brown spots and potentially skin cancer  – But who thought of that!?

Lots go on when sun hits skin. You don’t see the damage until there’s a lot of it.

Don’t miss the video below- it’s unforgettable!

By simply taking a few precautionary measures, you can enjoy all your Summers and stay skin-safe at the same time.

Summer Skin Safe Tips

• Sunscreen or Sun Block  – sunny days and cloudy days too. Reapply per directions and use enough.
• Umbrellas at the beach or pool. Pay attention to the undersides – under arms, under chin; water reflects rays to areas you might not think about.
• Hats at the beach, on the golf course, everywhere you and the sun are spending time together – C’mon, you know you should wear them and they should have a brim all the way around – Physician Endorsed and Coolibar make great hats, some packable, all really cute.
• Sunglasses – UV-rated for sure, polarized makes a huge difference. Ray Ban, Maui Jim – once you try polarized sunglasses, you won’t go back.
• Sunscreen for your lips – not gloss. Look for 30 SPF (Blistex has 30 SPF – easy to find).

Sunscreens and Sun Blocks – They’re DIFFERENT

Sun Screens
Broad-spectrum sunscreens often contain a number of chemical ingredients that absorb UVA and UVB radiation. Many sunscreens contain UVA-absorbing avobenzone or a benzophenone (such as dioxybenzone, oxybenzone, or sulisobenzone) in addition to UVB-absorbing chemical ingredients (some of which also contribute to UVA protection).

Occasionally chemical ingredients can cause skin reactions, including acne, burning, blisters, dryness, itching, rashes, redness, stinging, swelling, and tightening of the skin. If any of these symptoms occur within a day or two of sunscreen use, stop using and check with your skin doctor.

Reactions are most commonly associated with para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA)-based sunscreens and those containing benzophenones. Some sunscreens also contain alcohol, fragrances, or preservatives, and should be avoided if you have skin allergies.

Sun Blocks
The physical compounds titanium dioxide and zinc oxide reflect, scatter, and absorb both UVA and UVB rays. These ingredients, produced through chemical processes, do not typically cause allergic reactions.

Using new technology, the particle sizes of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide have been reduced, making them more transparent without losing their ability to screen UV. Colorscience is a dry mineral sunblock and easy to apply with a puff or brush.

If you have Melasma, physical sunblocks or sunscreens containing physical blocks (hybrids) are your best choice. AND the hat!

All of the previously mentioned chemical and physical ingredients have been approved by the FDA.