How exactly does the sun age us and what can we do about it?
The damage to the skin caused by the sun is brought about by Ultra Violet rays known as UVA and UVB. UV rays have several direct impacts on the skin. Some of the most common are:
-Increase in certain enzymes that can break down the collagen and elastin fibres which keep our skin firm, plump and ‘elastic’, leading to wrinkles and sagging skin.
-We all have both red and brown pigment types in our skin, in different amounts depending on our individual genetic code. UV rays alter red pigment in such a way that it becomes a dangerous free-radical that damages the DNA of nearby cells. This could affect regular skin cells or even stem cells such as melanocytes, leading to uneven colour deposits that we see on our skin as dark patches. This obviously affects redheads more than others but everyone has some percentage of red pigment. Anyone with a family occurrence of red hair will have a greater abundance of red pigment than those without it, even if they havent got red hair themselves.
-Increase in rate of skin cell production leads to congestion, comedones and texture issues.
-Vitamins C & A which are essential vitamins in skin health and appearance are light sensitive and will be adversely affected by UV exposure.
What can you do?
-Stay out of strong sunlight where possible. If you are exposed, reapply a good SPF every 2 hours.
-Use a high SPF with UVA & UVB filters daily. Products with added vitamins and anti-oxidants are even better. Skin Essentials by Mariga SPF30 day cream contains all the protection and essential nutrients that you need.
-Include multi-antioxidants in your diet and skincare. Eat a wide variety of fruit, vegetables and salads to cover all bases. Oily fish, nuts and seeds supply essential fatty acids.
-For skin that is already showing signs of previous sun exposure such as dullness, uneven texture, lines and pigmentation changes, use Skin Essentials by Mariga Collagen Serum every night under Overnight Repair Cream. This fantastic anti-ageing duo will reduce visual signs of ageing while also preventing the formation of new ones. Always use SPF30 in the day, year round.
-Use good quality sunglasses to protect your eyes.
For further advice or to book your comprehensive skin analysis and coaching session call us on 053 9145981 or click here
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