Skin Protection
Protecting your skin from damaging solar rays, drying wind, and dulling pollution is vital to maintaining its vibrant health. Just as an artist requires a smooth, even canvas on which to create a beautiful image, you want your skin to be radiantly healthy and free of blemishes for you to look your best.
The most fundamental protection you can give your skin is cleanliness. Dirt contains bacteria and while most bacteria are harmless, some strains can be trapped in dirt-clogged pores and become blemishes. The skin’s natural oils will oxidize and become visible blackheads if skin isn’t kept scrupulously clean. Traditional bar soaps clean well, but strip skin of moisture; cream or lotion cleansers are gentler to skin.
The outer layer of skin, the epidermis, continuously sheds old skin cells and replaces them with newer cells from deeper within your skin. These old cells can leave skin ashy or dull, but there’s a way to speed up the process and reveal the younger, healthier cells beneath. Exfoliation is the process of removing this outermost layer of dead cells; exfoliating skin gives it a youthful glow and a healthier appearance.
Some exfoliators are physical, using a gentle abrasive to slough off skin cells. Scrubs that have a gritty or sandy texture are physical exfoliators. Others work by chemical processes, weakening the bonds that hold old cells to younger ones and allowing dead cells to be washed off easily. alpha hydroxy acids and enzymes are effective chemical exfoliators and are popular ingredients in anti-aging skin care products.
Exfoliation reveals newer, younger-looking skin, but that skin needs more protection. Sun damage is one of the primary causes of prematurely aged skin, causing uneven pigmentation and lines. Ultraviolet radiation from the sun can even cause skin cancer, not only compromising your skin’s appearance, but also your health. Seek out a sunscreen that provides protection from both UVA and UVB radiation and check your sunscreen’s SPF (sun protection factor); the higher the number, the more effectively the sunscreen will protect your skin. Zinc oxide is a common, effective, and non-irritating sunscreen. No sunscreen can protect skin if you don’t use it regularly, though, so apply a generous amount of sunscreen daily to all exposed skin.
Skin also needs protection from the sun. Solar radiation causes permanent changes in skin pigmentation and texture, eventually leaving it creased and leathery. Sun damage can be more than just cosmetic; it’s also a leading cause of skin cancer, so choosing the right sunscreen is vital to your health and the integrity of your skin. Look for sunscreens containing broad-spectrum sun protection against both UVA and UVB rays and pick the highest SPF (sun protection factor) you can find. Look for products containing zinc oxide, an effective and non-irritating sunscreen. Even the best sunscreen won’t do its job if not applied regularly and generously, though, so wear sunscreen daily on all exposed skin.
If you protect your skin well, it will protect you and stay radiantly healthy for a lifetime.
This was written by a leading dermatologist, who specialises in anti-aging treatments and skin care. Has recently reviewed and recommends the following product: orudis gel 60g