Fine Lines

finelinesmagazine.com 11 Save Some Skin Your guide to sun care facts & fallacies Even though the damage caused by sun exposure has been well documented, people still sunbathe and expose themselves unprotected to the sun. We asked author and skin care specialist Mark Lees to address these common fallacies about sun exposure and give you expert advice on why sunscreen is so important. FALLACY: "I don't need sunscreen; I don't get that much sun. I always wear sunscreen when I go to the beach." FACT: Most of the sun damage that occurs in our lifetime is from ambient sun exposure, not deliberate tanning. Walking to the mailbox, driving in the car, talking to your neighbor in the yard, and sitting by a window at work—all of these seemingly innocent scenarios expose the skin to damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays. It is cumulative sun exposure that causes eventual damage. Sun exposure at age 22 causes wrinkles and skin cancer at age 40 or 50. Every time you have unprotected exposure, damage is accumulating that will eventually show up as sagging, wrinkles, liver spots, and skin cancer. FALLACY: "I want to get some sun, so I will apply sunscreen at the beach if I start to turn red." FACT: By the time you turn red, damage has already been done. Redness is the immune system in the blood investigating why the skin is being injured. Applying sunscreen on top of hot, burned skin is not a good idea! Apply your sunscreen at least 20 minutes before going into the sun. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide sunscreens work immediately. Others take some time to take effect. FALLACY: "I don't wear sunscreen every day, but my makeup has an SPF." FACT: While it's good to use cosmetics that contain sunscreen, the amount of protection can vary with the amount of makeup applied. No matter the SPF in your foundation, it's important to apply broad-spectrum sunscreen under it all. FALLACY: "I hate wearing a sunscreen on top of my moisturizer. It feels so heavy, and I hate smelling like a coconut!" FACT: With today's modern sunscreen and formulation technology, everyday moisturizers should contain broad-spectrum SPF 15 or higher sunscreen protection. Sunscreen protection is the number-one reason for using a day cream. There is no reason to have to wear two products or smell tropical! A good day product can have sunscreen protection and still be an excellent moisturizer. Your esthetician should be able to match a good sunscreen moisturizer to your needs. For example, a client with oily skin needs a matte sunscreen with more hydrator than emollient. A client with dry or aging skin needs a sunscreen that will also contain ingredients like ceramides to help with dryness and make the skin look younger. FALLACY: "I tan easily. I don't need sunscreen." FACT: While it is true that darker skin is less likely to burn and more likely to tan from sun exposure, this does not mean the skin is not being damaged. There are plenty of deeply tanned people walking around with wrinkles and skin cancers. Continual exposure to UV rays causes cumulative and lasting damage to the skin structures, elastin and collagen fibrils, and pigment. The most dangerous part is that it can cause damage to the cellular DNA, which can result in skin cancers, including malignant melanoma. This can occur regardless of ethnicity or skin tone. ▪

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