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Sunday, August 24, 2008
by Skincare-news.com team
It wasn’t all that long ago that women coated their skin in baby oil, boiling in the sun for hours to attain a natural glow. If only they knew then what we know now: That this natural glow includes sunspots, wrinkles, leathery skin and worse, skin cancer. Here’s what you need to know about protecting your skin and treating previous damage.
1. Prevention is the best cure.
- According to the American Cancer Society, over 1 million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in 2008 alone. So, the best thing you can do to protect yourself against skin cancer and premature aging is to wear sunscreen every day, whether it’s cloudy or the middle of winter.
- Plus, the more you protect your skin from sun exposure in the first place, the less time — and money — you’ll need to spend trying to undo the damage.
- Today, it’s simple to incorporate sun care into your routine. Try a moisturizer with SPF, including MD Skin Care All-In-One Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15, La Roche Posay Anthelios SX Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15 or SkinMedica Daily Sun Protection SPF20.
- For outdoor activities, reach for a broad spectrum sunscreen like Cellex-C Sun Care SPF 30 Plus or Murad Oil-Free Sunblock, SPF 30 and reapply every two hours or sooner if you’re swimming and/or sweating. For days at the beach, also sit under an umbrella when possible and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
2. If you do get sunburned, follow an appropriate regimen.
To reduce redness, minimize peeling and prevent further sun damage, here’s what to do.
- Apply aloe vera, or an aloe-based gel, to help soothe red, inflamed skin. To lessen the pain of a burn, choose a product with lidocaine.
- If possible, take an aspirin to ease symptoms.
- Avoid hot showers or baths. Instead, rinse off in lukewarm water and apply body lotions, such as Alchimie Forever Afterlase Soothing Milk for Body, to hydrate and soothe.
- Be especially diligent about wearing sunscreen in the days that follow to prevent additional sunburn and damage.
3. If you have visible sun damage, lighten up.
- There are various treatments you can use to help fade discoloration and even out skin tone. Dr. Brandt Laser Lightning Night Cream hydrates the skin, treats brown spots and evens skin tone. Another treatment that helps with discoloration and fades age spots is DDF Fade Gel 4, which contains the lightening agent, hydroquinone.
- Be committed! Once you start a regimen to lighten hyperpigmentation, give it at least 30 days to see results and — because the sun is the reason you’ve got dark spots in the first place — wear sunscreen every single day — no exceptions, even if you’re just running a quick errand.
- Antioxidants, such as vitamin C, offer great benefits for the skin. To help with sun damage, minimize fine lines and enhance overall skin tone, add a product like SkinMedica Vitamin C Complex to your routine.
Learn everything you need to know about anti-aging skincare in our Anti-Aging Handbook.
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A: Try a spray-on sunscreen that’ll help you get even coverage. Also, try applying sunscreen all over without blending it in, so you can see where you’ve already applied it.
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A: Absolutely not: Exposure to any type of UV rays — especially unprotected — doesn’t prep your skin for the sun. In fact, any tan is a sign of damage, and indoor tanning might even cause more damage than spending an entire day at the beach.
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A: Opt for an oil-free formula or try a physical sunscreen, which contains zinc or titanium dioxide. Generally, these chemical-free formulas tend to cause fewer reactions. Also, make sure you're using a PABA-free formula.
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