May was Skin Cancer Awareness Month, are you still following your summer skincare routine. Here are some useful tips on safe ways to beat summer sun damage and still have glowing skin.
Who doesn’t love the sun and that bronze glowing skin? But, we all know prolonged sun exposure causes burning. This can lead to skin cancer and pre-mature aging.
Protection from ultraviolet (UV) Radiation is important all year round, not just during the summer or at the beach. UV Rays can reach you on cloudy and hazy days, as well as bright and sunny days. UV can also reflect off surfaces such as water, cement, sand, and snow. Indoor tanning (using tanning bed, booth, or sun lamp to get a tan) exposes users to UV radiation. Indoor tanning has been linked with skin cancers including melanoma (the deadliest type of cancer), squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. There is no such thing as a safe tan. A tan is the skin’s natural mechanism to protect itself from this.
Knowing the differences in sunscreens, ingredients and SPF factor are keys to protecting your skin. Look for broad spectrum sunscreens containing zinc and titanium dioxide. Broad spectrum means that these ingredients will block the full spectrum of the sun’s rays. UVA rays are responsible for causing pre-mature aging and skin damage and UVB rays are responsible for burning the skin which leads to skin cancer!
Manufacturers now formulate much more cosmetically elegant formulations. Many people are leery of zinc because it reminds them of the Lifeguards with the white noses. SkinMedica’s Daily Physical Defense SPF 30 is a great choice! It’s transparent, moisturizing and goes on silky smooth!
Check for an expiration date. Sunscreens without an expiration date have a shelf life of no more than 2 years. Re-apply every 2 hours when skin is directly exposed to the sun. Using at least SPF 15 daily during winter months and SPF 30 daily during summer months is important and will provide sufficient protection. Maximum protection may require wearing a hat, sunglasses and loose fitting clothing made from tightly woven fabric.
Take a look at our Menu of Services. You can contact the licensed aestheticians at our office for facial skin rejuvenation treatments (317) 859-3810 or Email Us.
