How To Sun-Proof (and Age-Proof) Your Skin - Guest Post By Brigitte Evans

We all love the warm feeling of sunlight on our skin, especially after the period of cold, gloomy days. Apart from filling us with energy, natural light stimulates the production of vitamin D and contributes to our general well-being. However, excessive exposure to sun can have negative effects on our skin. Apart from causing sun damage, such as sunburns, sun rays can also cause skin cancer if you’re excessively exposed to them when they are at their harshest. Furthermore, sun exposure can also speed up the aging process, resulting in wrinkles and brown spots. Thus, protecting your skin from the harmful effects of the sun will also delay its aging and ensure that you have healthy and youthful skin.

Know your risk profile

Although you cannot accurately determine whether you’re more likely to develop skin cancer or exhibit premature aging signs than other people, there are some factors that might indicate that you’re at higher risk. These factors include fair skin that lacks in melanin, a pigment that protects your skin from harmful radiation, a history of sunburns, a family history of skin cancer and a high number of moles and beauty marks. Should you have any of these risk factors, you should keep an eye out for possible warning signs of skin cancer and schedule regular appointments with your dermatologists, especially after the age of 40.

Be aware of regional factors

Some of the world’s countries require more effective skin care than others due to their geographical position. Whether you live in a sun-drenched region or you’re just vacationing, implementing appropriate skin care is of the utmost importance. Studies have shown that the United States, Canada, Cuba, some parts of the Pacific and Northern Europe have the greatest levels of skin cancer due to ultraviolet radiation, with New Zealand and Australia having the highest mortality and incidence rates of melanoma. Furthermore, the melanoma mortality rates are higher in the Northern European countries than in Mediterranean regions due to the Nordic fair skin type.

In addition, latitude and altitude are also factors that can affect a country’s exposure to sun, with UV radiation being higher closer to the equator.

Use sunscreen regularly

Whether you’re going to the beach or just going out, you need to apply sunscreen regularly. Apart from using a sunscreen that will protect your skin both from UVA and UVB, you need to apply it 20 minutes before you leave home, especially on your face and other vulnerable spots. You should also choose organic, natural products that don’t contain any toxic chemicals that can irritate your skin. For example, effective organic sunscreen in Australia typically contains zinc oxide that reflects UV actives. You can also find anti-aging eco sunscreens that contain plant collagen that can reduce wrinkles and fine lines. Furthermore, if you’re from a country that generally isn’t exposed to too much harsh sunlight, such as the UK, the Nordic regions and the like, when going on a vacation to a high-risk destination, make sure to obtain high-quality products, cover your skin with clothing and wear a hat.

Have a safe skincare routine

Taking care of your skin properly and regularly is of the utmost importance for your health. If you have sensitive, dry or combination skin, you should use a gentle, cream-based soap for cleansing while salicylic or glycolic acid-based cleansers are more appropriate for oily skin. However, since salicylic acid can make your skin more sensitive, it’s important to use it in the evening. During the day, you need to moisturise your skin regularly with a high SPF-based moisturiser with a lighter formulation that can protect your skin from sun spots, fine lines, wrinkles and early aging.

Exfoliation is also an important part of a proper skincare routine, but you shouldn’t do it more than two or three times a week depending on your skin type. By exfoliating your skin, you’ll remove dead cells and improve the hydration of your skin.

Protecting your skin from excessive sun exposure will minimise your risk of premature aging and, most importantly, protect it from harmful radiation that can cause skin cancer. Therefore, it’s essential that you apply sunscreen, have a healthy skincare routine and have regular check-ups with your dermatologist.

Brigitte Evans is a Cosmetic Skin Care Consultant and a writer from Australia, with a sweet tooth for makeup and everything sparkly. When she is not drooling over the next big thing in the beauty industry, she is reading mystery novels and making plans for her next trip. She is a proud aunt of Sophie, age 2 who rounded her Chanel lipstick but loves her anyway. Twitter/Facebook.

FOLLOW GIRLGONEDREAMER:

Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin' | Instagram

Subscribe to GirlGone Dreamer by Email