The Sun'S Impact On Your Skin

Since sunlight is a large part of our lives, many people tend to forget about the sun’s harmful effects on skin. While sun is a great source of warmth and happiness, it can also have negative impact on our lives -- especially when it comes to beauty and aging.

Sunlight can be responsible for premature aging, skin cancer, and many other skin defects. Almost 90% of symptoms associated with premature skin aging are attributed to the ultraviolet lights (UVA or UVB) that come from the sun. These lights speed up the aging process by breaking down elastin and collagen in the skin.

Most other changes in the skin (that were once attributed to aging) have now been linked to extended exposure of UV radiation. Overexposure to ultraviolet radiation has a profoundly negative effect on a person’s beauty, due to the adverse effects on the skin.

UVA rays penetrate well into the skin while damaging collagen – a protein responsible for holding the skin together in a firm and smooth manner. The broken down collagen structure manifests as wrinkles – the most common symptom of aging. To make matters worse, the broken structure of collagen is incapable or re-building itself, which is why loss of collagen is a huge threat to beauty and skin care.

Overexposure to the sun can also result in freckles and sunspots, which are often found on various body parts such as face, legs, hands, etc. Freckles and sunspots generally develop upon the skin of those that sunbathe regularly.

Interestingly, suntans (which are often considered a sign beauty and health) are also the result of skin damage caused by exposure to sun. Suntans are caused by the production of melanin (the dark pigment responsible for a tanned appearance) that can only increase with exposure to the sun. In short, tanned skin is burned skin.

Sunburns are, yet another, result of the negative impact of sun on your skin. Sunburns happen when UV rays penetrate deep inside the layers of the skin killing the living cells. The body responds to this damage by increasing the blood flow in the affected area, so that the white blood cells can remove the dead cells -- this abnormal blood flow results in the skin becoming warm and red causing sunburn. Scientists have also gathered substantial evidence that links sunburns to DNA damage. Additionally, recurring sunburns significantly increase chances of skin cancer development.

Although nobody can escape from the negative impact of the sun, it is important to protect your skin. Using quality health and beauty products that are made from natural ingredients is a good way to keep your skin safe. These basic skin protection rules will keep your skin safe from the sun…and you will also be able to avoid pre-mature aging.

Apply sunscreen with an SPF of 15 (or more) to all parts of your body (especially your face) before you head out into the sunshine. Applying moisturizer after enjoying the sun can also be beneficial. Lastly, it’s important to keep a close eye on your skin. If you spot anything out of the ordinary, make sure to visit with your dermatologist.