The sun gets a bad rap when it comes to its impact your skin. Yes, unprotected sun exposure causes fine lines and wrinkles, but what’s even worse than unprotected sun exposure? Tanning beds.
While unprotected UV exposure is bad for your skin, the exposure from tanning beds is even worse for your skin because the UV exposure is extremely intense. Just one session in a tanning bed is equivalent to hours of unprotected sun exposure and can increase your chances of developing melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, by 20% according to a recent study by the American Academy of Dermatology.
All hope isn’t lost when it comes to protecting your skin and treating any existing damage.
Check out four easy ways to keep your skin glowing like the sun (but without the exposure):
1. Practice good sun sense.
Few people will admit to not enjoying the beach or hanging out by the pool. While these two activities obviously involve lots of sun exposure, the additional activities we do throughout the day add up. Driving a car, walking the dog outside, sitting outside for lunch or taking a mid-afternoon phone call outside are all opportunities for sun exposure. The easiest way to protect yourself from the sun is by wearing sunscreen each day, avoiding the sun during peak hours and consistently visiting a dermatologist to detect any early signs of skin cancer. And avoid tanning beds at all costs. While you can’t always avoid the sun, you can avoid tanning beds entirely.
2. Use products with SPF.
Choose skincare and makeup products that work double-duty. Many facial sunscreens, such as EltaMD® are tinted and can act as a foundation. Look for lip balms, lip glosses, foundation, foundation primer and other makeup products that contain at least SPF 30. And did you know? While SPF is in cosmetics, UPF is the measurement of UVA and UVB protection in clothing, so try choosing clothing (especially for outdoor athletic activities) that contains UPF.
3. Develop (and stick to) a skincare routine.
With so many products available, it can be tough to choose the right routine for your skin. But dermatologists alike recommend the basics: sunscreen in the morning, retinol in the evening and an eye cream in both the morning and evening. If you’re feeling adventurous, your dermatologist may recommend vitamin C or another serum. Regardless, sunscreen protects your skin throughout the day and retinol, plus an eye cream can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles – two signs of skin damage from the sun.
4. Consider consistent skincare treatments.
No treatment permanently reverses the effects of sun exposure, but many treatments can cosmetically reduce the appearance of the sun’s effects, such as sun spots, fine lines and wrinkles. You may know that HALO Laser Resurfacing uses two types of layers to target sun damage, among other skin issues, but different types of peels can help with minimizing sun damage. The Perfect Derma Peel is the only peel that includes the powerful anti-oxidant Glutathione, which lightens and brightens the skin, slows down the aging process and helps prevent wrinkles. By reducing sun damage, this peel helps you look as if you’ve taken years of sun damage off of your face.
Want to learn more about how you can protect your skin from the sun and/or reverse signs of aging?
Book your VISIA Complexion Analysis appointment today with our skin care expert Heather Davis, LE 770-667-3090
