A new thought about sunscreen…..
The beautiful, sunny sun – the lifter of our moods, is the downer of our skin. Because of this great promoter of aging and cancer of the skin, we don layers and layers of sunscreen. And rightly so. (An interesting aside to this behavior, is that sunscreen also contributes to the abundant low levels of Vitamin D in our population, since Vitamin D is synthesized by our skin when exposed to sunlight.) Sunscreen has always been recommended to prevent skin cancer. But does it actually promote fewer wrinkles? A new study suggests just that.
900 volunteers with fair skin between the ages of 25 and 55 were recruited in Australia to study the effects of the sun on the aging process. Half used an SPF 15 daily to their face, neck, hands and arms for four and a half years. At the completion of the study, those in the SPF part of the study experienced 24% fewer signs of aging – regardless of their age or skin damage when they started. How was this aging status analyzed? With a process using silicone casts of the skin at the beginning and end of the study.
The ultraviolet rays of the sun damage the collagen in our skin. Collagen is the framework that helps support our skin scaffolding – and keeps our skin smooth, youthful and free of wrinkles. A wonderful addition to your skin regimen is the Collagen Repair Serum sold by Dermadeli. Nutrients from foods contribute to support this collagen structure as well – vitamin C, iron, vitamin E and antioxidants are the powerhouses here. So check your diet for colors -yes! Blueberries, kiwi, tomatoes, spinach, bell peppers, carrots. Almonds, flaxseeds, oats. Sugar – no!!! Sugar promotes compounds that compete with collagen. Check a future blog for further description of these compounds, called AGEs (really, no pun intended, that’s what they are called!)
So do we only need sunscreen when we are outside on a sunny day? No, we need it on cloudy days, when we are inside but near a window (especially a car window). In fact, dermatologists often say ‘if you don’t need a flashlight to see outside, you need protection’. Even if the sunscreen is in your make-up or BB cream, it is advised to apply a separate layer of just sunscreen before these other products. A good summary of this opinion can be found at: http://www.webmd.com/beauty/sun/sunscreen-and-your-makeup-routine.
Remember, check out the products at Dermadeli for the very best products for your skin – all based on good nutrition for the skin.
Remember, take care of your skin on the outside AND the inside. To your good food choices…..
