Sun Damaged Skin
By: Cynthia Drasler, MBA
Everyone wants beautiful skin, but some have to work at it harder than others. All skin is susceptible to sun damage. Even though those with lighter skin are more likely to experience sun damage, people with darker skin need to be careful too. According to the American Cancer Society, those experiencing any of the following need to be especially careful in the sun and get checked by a dermatologist:
IF YOU:
- Have lots of moles.
- Were treated for skin cancer in the past.
- Work indoors all week and then get a tan on weekends.
- Live or vacation in tropical or subtropical climates.
- Have freckles and burn before tanning.
- Have light skin, or red, blonde or light brown hair.
- Have a family history of skin cancer, especially melanoma.
- Live or vacation at high altitudes ( ultraviolet radiation from the sun increases 4-5% for every 1,000 feet above sea level you are).
- Spend a lot of time outdoors.
- Have had an organ transplant.
- Have certain diseases, such as lupus.
- Take medicines such as tetracycline, sulfa drugs and some other antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, sedatives, anti-nausea drugs, antidepressants, diuretics and medications that reduce immunity.
Please be especially diligent about protecting children from sun damage. Oncologists (Doctors who specialize in the treatment of Cancer) say that the most dangerous sun damage accumulates during childhood. Most adults with skin cancers experienced severe sunburns or excessive exposure under the age of 16. Oncologists also tell us not to put sunscreen on children under 6 months old, because of the chemicals in the sunscreens and blocks. This makes it hard to protect young children, but I found one solution that you might consider. Years ago I learned about the availability of sun protective clothing. Most light weight clothing is not very helpful in preventing sun damage. Consider that an average cotton T-Shirt has a sun protection factor (SPF) of only 5. Sun protective clothing is different, it is very light weight and has an SPF of 35. The weave of the fabric gives the clothing an SPF 35.
Sun damage occurs in skin that is exposed to excessive ultraviolet radiation from the wavelengths from Ultraviolet Light A (UVA) and Ultraviolet Light B (UVB). Maximum damage is done when we spend time outdoors unprotected from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, however, UVA can penetrate glass. According to an article in the American Academy of Dermatology, “Vitamin C is depleted when the skin is exposed to the sun, pollution or smoking. Even minimal UV exposure can decrease the vitamin C level in the skin by 30%, while exposure to the ozone of city pollution can decrease the level by 55%.”
Once photo aging has occurred from excessive sun exposure, there are things that you can do to minimize it. For instance, introducing the right nutrients to the skin will work over time, but it is not an instant miracle cure. Research presented at the American Academy of Dermatology’s 2002 Annual Meeting recommended topical creams with vitamin E and the l-ascorbic acid version of vitamin C. These 2 vitamins are anti-oxidants that keep free radicals (caused by UV rays from sun exposure) from damaging skin cells to the point where they become cancerous or precancerous.
Vitamin C is a powerful anti-oxidant that has a proven ability to neutralize damage to skin cells caused by free radicals. Free radicals are one of the major causes of aging of the skin. According to a new French study, published in the European Journal of Dermatology, “one way to stave off the ravages of both time and sun damage is to boost collagen production via topical application of creams containing vitamin C.” Vitamin C is the most abundant anti-oxidant found naturally in the skin and is a critical component for simulating the production of collagen, which is an essential protein necessary for strong, healthy skin. The collagen protein is a kind of biological mortar located in the skin’s second layer that forms the foundation for the underlying skin and keeps it firmer and appearing younger. Collagen production decreases with age, and when the level of collagen drops low enough, the underlying structure of the skin weakens, becomes less firm, and allows skin sagging and wrinkling to develop.
It is difficult to get a high enough volume of vitamin C in the skin to start the production of the collagen protein through diet alone. Experts say that no research has shown that taking oral vitamin C supplements affects the aging process of the skin in any way. For the maximum amount of skin repair and protection, many studies have shown that vitamin C needs to be topically applied and absorbed into the skin, and needs to contain between 5 and 10% of the L-Ascorbic Acid form of Vitamin C. Vitamin C cream can reverse the signs of photo-aging, (one of the processes that cause a decrease in the production of collagen) causing skin to wrinkle. Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin, meaning that it is not stored in the body. The body will naturally eliminate any amount of vitamin C that it doesn’t use.
According to Dr. Burke from the American Academy of Dermatology, “Vitamin C is depleted when the skin is exposed to the sun, pollution or smoking. Even minimal UV exposure can decrease the vitamin C level in the skin by 30%, while exposure to the ozone of city pollution can decrease the level by 55%.” UV rays also affect the production of collagen, therefore the more time that is spent in the sun, the sooner the aging process will begin. New studies have shown that topical vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) is an excellent antioxidant for UVA and UVB protection, making it a useful addition to but not replacement for sunscreens. Because topical vitamin C does not absorb light in the UVA/UVB range, IT IS NOT A SUNSCREEN.
The L-ascorbic acid form of Vitamin C is a powerful anti-oxidant that has a proven ability to neutralize damage to skin cells caused by free radicals. Free radicals are one of the major causes of aging of the skin. Organic Excellence C-Max Skin Repair Formula contains 6.5% of the L-Ascorbic Acid form of Vitamin C.
© Copyright 2004 by Cynthia Drasler, MBA. If you would like to use any part or all of this newsletter to send to your own email list, please reference Cynthia Drasler and www.HealthyLivingIsEasy.com as the source of this information.
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