As summer approaches more and more people will head outdoors to enjoy the weather on the beautiful beaches of North County. It is imperative to consider your skin and the protection you apply while outdoors.
Sun facts
• In the United States over one million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed every year.
• One in five Americans will develop skin cancer and 90 percent of these cancers will be the result of exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
• Sun exposure early in life is responsible for 80 percent of the damage we see by the age of 18.
• Tanning beds emit UVA and UVB rays.
• Even though you are not in direct sunlight, those 15-minute walks outside, sitting in the car in traffic can cause collagen and elastin breakdown and skin cancer.
Ultraviolet (UV) rays
Sunlight is comprised of varying wavelengths of electro magnetic radiation. About 5 percent is made up of ultraviolet rays which of great concern. There are three types of UV rays; UVA, UVB and UVC.
UVC radiation has the potential to be the most damaging but most UVC is absorbed by oxygen and the ozone layer and never reaches the earth's surface.
UVA are the longest rays and they penetrate deeper into the skin, thereby causing damage at the cellular level. They are not responsible for burning, but cause premature aging and wrinkling because collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid are being destroyed by UVA rays.
UVB rays are shorter than UVA rays and they are responsible for the actual “burn” or “tan” response in the skin. For every burn a person experiences during a lifetime, the chances of getting skin cancer increases by 10 percent.
Sun protection factor (SPF)
Sun Protection Factor is a ratio of the length of time a person can stay in the sun at noon that results in redness of the skin. How does SPF work?
The SPF represents the ability of a sunscreen to delay sun-induced burning erythema. It is important to use a sunscreen that offers both UVA and UVB protection. A SPF2 product protects your skin from 50 percent of UVB rays, so you can stay in the sun twice as long as you would be to without protection. A SPF8 blocks 87.5 percent of the rays; SPF15 blocks 93.3 percent; SPF30 blocks 96.6 percent. As the SPF rises, the percentage of blockage only goes up slightly so it is better to reapply rather than use a higher SPF. The National Cancer Society recommends reapplying every two hours.
Chemical versus physical sunscreens
There are 16 Food and Drug Administration approved sunscreen ingredients some of which are chemical and some are physical. Chemical sunscreens absorb UV rays, lowering the energy level and releasing energy as heat. Physical sunscreens reflect or scatter the energy rays and are less irritating to the skin. Chemical ingredients that protect against both are oxybenzone (benzophenone-3) and octocylene. Physical ingredients that protect against both are zinc oxide and titanium oxide.
Proper sunscreen habits should be part of your routine. Apply sunscreen to your face daily whether it is contained in your moisturizer or separately.
For more information contact Skin Trade at (858) 395-6195 or e-mail [email protected].
Sun facts
• In the United States over one million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed every year.
• One in five Americans will develop skin cancer and 90 percent of these cancers will be the result of exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
• Sun exposure early in life is responsible for 80 percent of the damage we see by the age of 18.
• Tanning beds emit UVA and UVB rays.
• Even though you are not in direct sunlight, those 15-minute walks outside, sitting in the car in traffic can cause collagen and elastin breakdown and skin cancer.
Ultraviolet (UV) rays
Sunlight is comprised of varying wavelengths of electro magnetic radiation. About 5 percent is made up of ultraviolet rays which of great concern. There are three types of UV rays; UVA, UVB and UVC.
UVC radiation has the potential to be the most damaging but most UVC is absorbed by oxygen and the ozone layer and never reaches the earth's surface.
UVA are the longest rays and they penetrate deeper into the skin, thereby causing damage at the cellular level. They are not responsible for burning, but cause premature aging and wrinkling because collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid are being destroyed by UVA rays.
UVB rays are shorter than UVA rays and they are responsible for the actual “burn” or “tan” response in the skin. For every burn a person experiences during a lifetime, the chances of getting skin cancer increases by 10 percent.
Sun protection factor (SPF)
Sun Protection Factor is a ratio of the length of time a person can stay in the sun at noon that results in redness of the skin. How does SPF work?
The SPF represents the ability of a sunscreen to delay sun-induced burning erythema. It is important to use a sunscreen that offers both UVA and UVB protection. A SPF2 product protects your skin from 50 percent of UVB rays, so you can stay in the sun twice as long as you would be to without protection. A SPF8 blocks 87.5 percent of the rays; SPF15 blocks 93.3 percent; SPF30 blocks 96.6 percent. As the SPF rises, the percentage of blockage only goes up slightly so it is better to reapply rather than use a higher SPF. The National Cancer Society recommends reapplying every two hours.
Chemical versus physical sunscreens
There are 16 Food and Drug Administration approved sunscreen ingredients some of which are chemical and some are physical. Chemical sunscreens absorb UV rays, lowering the energy level and releasing energy as heat. Physical sunscreens reflect or scatter the energy rays and are less irritating to the skin. Chemical ingredients that protect against both are oxybenzone (benzophenone-3) and octocylene. Physical ingredients that protect against both are zinc oxide and titanium oxide.
Proper sunscreen habits should be part of your routine. Apply sunscreen to your face daily whether it is contained in your moisturizer or separately.
For more information contact Skin Trade at (858) 395-6195 or e-mail [email protected].