4 Ways the Sun’s UV Rays Can Negatively Affect Your Skin
While we praise the sun for its warmth and light, it isn't to say that the sun doesn't come with its negatives. UV radiation can cause many adverse effects on the skin, including premature aging and cancer. Exposure to this kind of light accounts for 90% of all symptoms of skin injury. Unfortunately for you, such UV light comes from the sun and man-made sources like tanning beds.
Today, we are going to talk about the effects of the sun on the skin, highlighting how its UV rays can hurt your body:
1. Premature Aging
It is not just UV radiation that causes premature aging. Both UV radiation and infrared radiation (the sun's other types of radiation) can also cause premature aging. In addition, another form of radiation, free radicals, can cause premature aging.
Regardless, the UV rays damage the skin by breaking the bonds in the skin's DNA. These broken bonds cause skin cells to mutate. This can cause skin cancer and other skin problems. While infrared radiation contributes to the problem, it is UV radiation that dominates.
Read More: The Microneedling Procedure: Can It Reverse Aging?
2. Skin Cancer
The two types of radiation that the sun emits, UV and infrared, contribute to the development of cancerous cells. This increase in cancerous cells can lead to skin cancer, something you never want to deal with.
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, melanoma is the most common type of skin cancer, and it is also one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer. Melanoma is caused by sun exposure. UV radiation increases the chance of malignant melanoma, or cancerous cells, developing.
3. Wrinkles
The UV light emitted by the sun can also cause wrinkles. This is because UV radiation damages the elastin in the skin. Elastin is responsible for holding the connective tissues together. When the connective tissues are damaged by UV radiation, wrinkles begin to form. However, damaging the elastin isn't the only way the sun can cause wrinkles.
As mentioned earlier, UV rays can cause skin cancer, and skin cancer can also cause wrinkles to form.
4. Sunburn
As we all know, sunburn is a common and painful problem. It is a result of sun damage caused by UV radiation. When exposed to UV radiation, the skin becomes red, warm, and painful. Sunburn is one of the most visible symptoms of sun damage.
Fortunately for us, sunburns aren't as much of a problem as they used to be. Nowadays, we have sunscreen, which we use to protect ourselves from UV radiation. The sunscreen blocks the UV radiation from entering the skin and reaching the dermis. The dermis is where our blood and lymph nodes are, and UV radiation can damage these and cause cancer and other problems.
Other negative effects of sun exposure
The following are other examples of what sun exposure does to your skin over time:
Destruction of elastic and collagen fibers
Precancerous lesions (actinic keratosis) and cancerous skin lesions
Lines
Sagging skin
Dilation of small blood vessels under the skin
Dark spots
Leathery-looking skin
Freckles
Yellowing of the skin
Can you repair sun damage to your skin?
Wearing sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection and an SPF of at least 30 can help prevent your skin from future damage, as can avoiding excessive sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
The following can assist you in reversing the harm you have already done:
Exfoliation - the removal of dead skin cells.
Microdermabrasion - to improve the appearance of your skin
Chemical peels - containing AHAs or BHAs
Conclusion
While the sun offers plenty of benefits for our bodies, it can also cause a lot of damage. From wrinkly skin to skin cancer, these issues plague many people, especially here in Florida.
Fortunately, even if you are to experience any of the above problems, many can be solved with the help of a skincare expert. That being said, if you are dealing with any discoloration, feel free to reach out to your local esthetician. With their care, you will be able to stride out of your home once more, knowing that your skin is looking at its best!
Kim Gallo Esthetics is an esthetician with over 20 years of experience offering facials, waxing services, skincare consultations, and more. If you are looking for a skincare expert in Naples for healthier, more youthful-looking skin, reach out to us today!