The Effects of Sun Damage on the Skin

A prolonged amount of time out in the sun exposes your skin to ultraviolet radiation. This type of radiation is known to damage skin cells and can even affect the DNA and RNA sequences in skin cells as they rejuvenate. When this happens the skin cells begin to exhibit signs of skin aging, while also increasing your chances of developing skin cancer.

The sun also encourages skin cells known as Melanocytes, to generate the pigment melanin. In the short term this is what causes you to tan. Melanin is designed to help protect the deeper layers of the skin from the damage caused by UV radiation.

Unprotected or excess exposure to the sun’s UV radiation will eventually lead to skin irritation more commonly known as sunburn. A sunburn causes skin death in the upper and possibly middle layers of the skin, increasing skin aging, increasing skin cancer risk and making it harder for your body to replace the skin in that area with healthy cells.

If you know you are going to be exposed to the sun for a prolonged period of time, you should apply an antioxidant sunblock with a high sun protection factor or SPF. A sunblock that has been fortified with antioxidant compounds will help nourish your skin even if a small amount of UV radiation damage occurs. Be sure to reapply the sunblock as needed and try to include a lip balm with SPF rating.

If you have sun damaged or skin aging related to sun damage, or you would like to know more about the anti-oxidant sunblock products we have available, please feel free to call us at 866.234.0470 to schedule an appointment.