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Sun damage to the skinIt is truly a strange world we live in - generations ago it was a status symbol not to have a tanned body and face, since it indicated that you were not from the "workers class" - whereas now - a suntan is a status symbol since it indicates that you have enough free time to sun bathe and enjoy the good life.
Unfortunately, this sun-kissed look, which seems to be the badge of glowing health, is in actual fact the opposite - and it does not matter if you acquired the tan under the sun or at a tanning boutique / sun bed - the UV rays are still bad for your skin either way. Not only does sunlight cause premature aging, but is the leading factor for skin cancer and photodermatoses. Sunlight consists of ultraviolet radiation which can be divided into the following wave lengths: The two types of radiation that we should be careful of are UVA and UVB since UVC is mostly absorbed in the upper atmosphere by the ozone layer of earth - but should it penetrate this valuable screening mechanism, it can cause grave cellular damage to tissue. UVA and UVB radiation changes the cells in the skin by interfering with the proper working of the DNA, promotes the formation of free-radicals in the cell, causes the breakdown of collagen and inhibits the workings of the immune system. As we age, we have a degeneration of collagen, but the introduction of sunlight speeds up this breakdown process and also causes the build-up of abnormal elastin. Free-radicals are formed with sun exposure and they are unstable oxygen molecules that scavenge other molecules and in so doing set off a chain reaction which leads to cell deterioration.
UV radiation also causes the walls of blood vessels to lose some of its integrity, and in doing so can cause bruising in the skin. Sunlight, as we mentioned earlier, is the leading cause of skin cancer - including melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. If you are tanning on a regular basis, it may be worth your while to re-examine your need to have a sun-kissed look - and if it is that important to you to be bronzed, maybe consider using a quick-tan type of product instead. To help prevent skin damage due to sunlight it is best to avoid sunburns by not tanning in the sun or at tanning parlors, wearing protective clothing, using a sunscreen lotion or cream and to consult with a dermatologist if you find any suspicious looking skin lesions or marks. If you are determined to tan please keep the following in mind:
Zinc oxide is a very good sun block ingredient but other compounds are also good to assist with sun screening since they absorb the UVB radiation - such as PABA (Para-aminobenzoic acid), PABA esters, salicylates, anthranilates and benzophenones. Although a bronzed body and face may look good at twenty, the effect that it will have when you reach forty, or earlier, is simply not worth the short-lived appeal. Other articles of interest |
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