If you enjoy being outdoors and soaking up the sunshine, it’s vital to use sunscreen when you’re out there. Everybody knows that sunscreen protects the skin and helps prevent cancer, but recently there’s also been research into its anti-aging benefits. But how does sunscreen prevent aging.
Importance of sunscreen
Sunscreen safeguards the skin against possible damage from the UV rays of the sun. Routinely applying sunscreen is therefore the best way to avoid photodamage, hyperpigmentation, which can age the skin.
For many years, dermatologists have been warning that most of the premature aging of the skin is caused by routinesun exposure. This was confirmed by a study published in the American College of Physicians’ Annals of Internal Medicine in June 2013. The researchers found that the group of participants that used sunscreen daily, experienced no visible effects of skin aging after 4 years.
How does sunscreen prevent aging?
Most of the physical signs of aging such as wrinkles, irregular texture, sun spots, and pigmentation are the result of excess sun exposure. The UVA and UVB rays also alter the DNA of the skin cells, and this can lead to skin cancer.
Sunscreen contains a combination of organic and inorganic chemicals that work together for optimal skin protection. Organic ingredients absorb the UV rays so that they are not absorbed by the skin, while inorganic chemicals reflect light away from the skin. Since sunscreen prevents the UV rays from reaching the skin, it works against the aging effects of the sun.
Would you like more information on anti-aging skin care? Search our directory to find a practice in your area.
If you are in the Tupelo, MS area, Accent Reconstructive & Plastic Surgery is our featured practice.
You can reach them at www.drmarkcraig.com, or by calling (662) 377-6290.