The One Habit That’s Aging You Most

Sure it’s fun to go on vacation, take a long walk on the beach, hang out by the pool, and get a healthy, glowing sun tan. However, ask any dermatologist or skin care professional what they think about that and they will tell you there is no such thing as a "healthy glow" from a sun tan. Sun tan = burnt skin. UV rays from the sun have been classified by the World Health Organization as "known to be carcinogenic to humans." This means that we have scientifically proven that sun exposure causes skin cancer.

While the sun causes skin cancer, it also accelerates the aging process. Sun exposure, either due to sun tanning or excessive exposure from outdoor activities, greatly ages skin prematurely. In my opinion, the sun is the opposite of the fountain of youth. 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime. The good news is that around 80% of how your skin ages is through environmental and outside factors while only 20% is hereditary. Sun exposure has a major impact on that 80%. But you can choose to stay out of the sun as much as possible.

If you want to protect your skin and prevent premature aging yet you are exposed to the sun’s damaging rays or lay out in the sun frequently, congratulations because you are practicing the one skin habit that’s aging you the most. Here’s why…

UV Radiation

Light travels from the sun to the earth as an electromagnetic wave. UV radiation is found in sunlight. It passes through the ozone layer as waves of energy but you can’t see or feel them. UV radiation is classified as either UVA or UVB. Both cause skin to age more rapidly than if you were to avoid the sun all together and use proper sun protection. Therefore, sun exposure is considered a form of "external aging,” due to outside, environmental factors. Premature aging is mostly from exposure to UV radiation from the sun while smoking is in second place.

Most people still measure sun damage in the form of a sun burn. But remember, UV radiation is neither felt nor seen and causes DNA damage to your skin cells, which affects protective skin functions.

UVA and UVB radiation actually change the way your skin cells make chemicals. For example, sun tanned skin is the result of an overproduction of melanin, the chemical in your body that darkens skin. It is the skin's natural response to protect against damage. Chronic or excessive sun exposure can cause skin cells producing melanin to mutate and divide uncontrollably, resulting in uneven or irregular pigmentation of the skin as well.

Protect Your Skin from the Sun’s Damaging Rays

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), years of research supports that the sun’s UV rays are the number one cause of aging. Most sun damage happens before the age of 18. Think about it...18 years spent playing outside, recess, and running errands. Kids are exposed to harmful UVA and UVB rays daily over almost two decades before they really think about protecting their own skin on a daily basis, not just when going in the water. Sun protection forms the foundation of every anti-aging skincare plan, but it’s not just about anti-aging. We have so much evidence that the sun prematurely ages skin. And skin cancer is a growing epidemic.

Choose a broad spectrum sunscreen or sunblock of at least an SPF 15 (SPF 30 is ideal) and make application a part of your daily morning routine. Apply liberally 15 minutes before any exposure to the sun, which includes driving in your car to go to work and/or running errands. If you’re at the beach, reapply every 2 hours and after 40 minutes of swimming or sweating. Be sure to seek shade between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Whenever possible, wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and a wide-brimmed hat as well.

This means no indoor tanning beds either. The sun, tanning beds, and sun lamps expose you to harmful UV rays. These rays all accelerate skin aging. So when it comes to tanning, sunless tanners are the way to go in this day and age. Instead of jeopardizing your health with indoor tanning beds and laying out in the sun, opt for a natural faux glow. Another very common but mistaken belief is that the sun is only dangerous during the summer time. Exposure to the sun during fall, winter, and spring puts you at risk just as much as exposure during the summer time does. 

Dermatologists agree that sunscreen/sunblock is one of the most effective anti-aging products you can buy. Using it every day (365 days a year) can make a noticeable difference. When shopping for one, make sure it is labeled broad spectrum with an SPF of at least 15 (SPF 30 is ideal).

Skin Has the Best Memory…Blessing or Curse?

Every time we expose our skin to the sun, changes occur. Over time these changes will alter how our skin looks and feels. These changes don't happen overnight. Most people consider the changes that their skin experiences over time as a normal part of aging. The fact is that the changes you undergo as a result of sun exposure are preventable and aren’t part of the natural aging process. Skin that hasn’t been exposed to UV radiation ages very differently.

A leathery skin texture, loose and wrinkled skin, dryness, freckles, sun spots, skin growths, actinic keratoses, the appearance of red blood vessels, thinning of and yellow discoloration of the skin, melasma, hyperpigmentation come with repeated sun tanning and sun exposure. These don’t sound too great to me!

The visible signs of skin aging are a growing cosmetic concern as people are living longer and there is a general trend towards maintaining a healthier, vainer lifestyle. Unhealthy-looking skin doesn’t reflect how people feel about themselves as they generally feel a lot younger than their chronological age. There are many medical treatments and at-home skin care maintenance that do, to a certain extent, reverse the signs of aging. However, understanding the harmful effects of the sun and modifying certain habits is key to preventing further damage and should be the first step towards taking care of your skin.

So the best thing you can do for your skin is stay out of the sun and choose skin care products that are backed by the Skin Cancer Foundation. Make sure to SPF yourself daily!