The sun is vital to the survival of our planet as we know it. It is a source of light, warmth, and imperative to the life cycle of all living things. Excessive sun exposure is also the leading cause of premature aging. So much, in fact, that researchers estimate that the sun is responsible for up to 80% of the skin’s aging. That statistic alone is simply staggering. Unprotected daily exposure to sunlight is causing you to age at an accelerated pace.
Free Radicals Are Costly
Sunlight can be detrimental to your skin because of the ultraviolet (UV) radiation that the sun emits resulting in free radical production in the human body. Free radicals are molecules that are chemically imbalanced due to a missing electron. In order to restore equilibrium, these electron deficient molecules wreak cellular havoc on your body by feasting on electrons from other nearby molecules. Free radicals are not to be taken lightly. These imbalanced molecules attack and damage collagen fibers. These damaged fibers then deteriorate become entangled and course causing the skin to lose its elasticity and resilience resulting in premature aging of the skin.
Compounding Effects On Your Skin
Unflattering wrinkles, age spots, and a lackluster complexion are all by-products of excessive free radical production in the body from sunlight. Excessive exposure is really the collective amount of time spent in the sun, as opposed to spending an afternoon at the beach. Everyday exposure has a much more damaging effect on the skin than occasional long hours in the sun.
4 Ways To Fight Off Harmful UV Rays
So, how do you protect yourself the sun’s harmful UV radiation and stop the premature aging clock? Here are three ways to shield your skin from the sun’s UV rays in order of importance.
- Cover Up: The simplest and most effective means of protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays is clothing. Tightly woven fabrics and darker colors are best when it comes to sun protection. Of course, this is dependent upon the season. Wearing such clothing in the summer months can bring upon a multitude of other unwanted sun-related conditions such as heat stroke.
- Sunscreen: Using sunscreen on a regular basis not only protects you skin against sunburn and skin cancer, but typical signs of premature aging. When choosing a sunscreen make sure that it contains at least one of the following ingredients: avobenzone, zinc oxide, or titanium oxide. These three ingredients have been approved in the U.S. for protection against UVA-I light, the most harmful type of UV light because it penetrates to the deepest layers of the skin.
- Avoid Peak Hours: UV radiation emitted by the sun is strongest between 10 AM and 4 PM. Limit extended exposure to sunlight during these peak hours, especially during the summer months when UV radiation is more intense.
- Use Antioxidant Protection: The skin uses antioxidants to ward off free radical production in the body. Vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta carotene are all antioxidants. Skin creams containing vitamin C can applied topically with good results. All skin creams containing vitamin C are not created equally. The best anti aging skin cream we’ve for discovered for repairing sun damaged skin is LifeCell by South Beach Skincare. Discover how this anti aging breakthrough can dramatically improve your skin.
Defending your skin with the above mentioned methods will undoubtedly reduce if not eliminate your chances of premature aging due to overexposure to sunlight. Remember, by making small adjustments in your lifestyle habits now, you will be reaping the benefits well into your later years.
