Summer Skin Damage
Back to school commercials and cooler nights can only mean one thing, summer is ending. It was packed with the beach, outdoor concerts, vacations, sports and picnics. With fall approaching, there should be more on your mind than which legging prints are going to be in. You should be concerned about sun damage. Many of us know today that we should wear sunscreen and avoid tanning beds; however, many people still don’t listen. According to the American Cancer Society it is estimated that nearly 9,500 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with skin cancer every day. Women may be more prone to talking about their skin and sun damage, but skin cancer is common in men too.
Sunscreen is your best source of prevention, tanning oils do not count. Sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher needs to be applied every day to sun exposed areas of your skin. If you’re outside for a prolonged period of time it needs to be reapplied every 2 hours and after getting wet. Also to get the full effects of the SPF it claims, you need to slather it on. Depending on the size of the person, around one ounce is enough to cover the average sun exposed areas of a person for two hours. The majority of Americans don’t come close to using the correct amount. Spray sunscreens are very popular, sweeping the shelves at every store. They are easy, convenient and great if you are trying to put sunscreen on a handful of anxious children waiting to go swimming. However it is hard to tell if the proper amount is being applied because you can’t tell how much is actually coming out. Many of us forget that lips are skin too. You can tell when they become chapped but it is also important to realize they can get burned too and are easily susceptible to getting skin cancer. Find a chapstick with SPF 30 also. You may have to say goodbye to the ones that taste like your favorite candy but there are a lot of great options out there.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, but also the most easily preventable. With all that we can’t control in this world, you might as well get the edge on something you can. There aren’t excuses anymore. We know UV rays are bad for us and thousands of products have been developed to help us. There is a vast array of sunscreens out there for you and your family’s outdoor activities, you can find something that works for everyone. Standard sunscreens are effective but can be greasy and aren’t always the best thing to wear daily under makeup. There is; however, a variety of products to help keep your skin protected and looking healthy.
There are several noteworthy face lotions out there to try. Everyone has different skin and reacts differently to certain products, try a few and see what works for you. A moisturizer is important for your skin to keep it hydrated and also helps with a smoother makeup application. A lot of us think that our foundation protects our skin and some even have SPF in it but it’s not at a high enough level to get the needed protection. An ideal face lotion will have, like your sunscreen, a SPF 30 or higher with antioxidants to decrease the damaging effects of the sun and environmental exposures. My favorite daily moisturizer is by Image. Their tinted moisturizer is amazing for all skin types. It evens out your skin tone and gives you a natural glow, while protecting you from future damage. Win Win!
There are hundreds of corrective serums and lotions that are effective at improving the overall look of your skin, minimizing dark spots and reducing wrinkles. Image, has a full skin line of prevention and rejuvenation, all available at Essentials.
Preventative skin care is essential to a long-lasting healthy look, but many of us already have damage. I’m reminded of this every time I flip my cosmetic mirror to the magnifying side. Reality sets in as every dark spot, broken capillary and fine line stands out. Most of us have done some damage, but lucky for us times have changed. Aside from corrective serums and creams there has been several medical advances that can help reverse the skincare mistakes of our past.
Regular facials are great for overall skin health but a specialized Anti-Agingor Skin Brightening one helps reduce discoloration, age spots and redness. Essentials offers both and has several add on services you can do to customize them to give the most benefits to your skin as possible. Essentials also offers more advanced options to restore skin.
Microneedling is a process that uses a sterile pen-like device, to vertically penetrate the skin with micro-needles. These micro needles penetrate both the dermis and epidermis layers of the skin to create micro wounds and pinpoint bleeding at specific depths. This procedure stimulates the natural healing process of the body, leading to the growth of collagen and elastin which restores the appearance of healthy skin.
DermaSweep MD™ Epi-Infusion treatment
DermSweep’s technology takes MicroResurfacing to the next level through a unique, customizable, treatment approach. The proprietary bristle treatment tips gently lift away the top layer of skin and increase circulation to enhance lymphatic drainage, oxygenation, and the delivery of key skin nutrients. Exclusive infusion solutions formulated with cutting-edge ingredients are added to target specific skincare concerns.
Laser skin resurfacing removes skin layer by layer with precision. The new skin cells that form during the healing give your skin a tighter, younger looking surface.
The skin is your body’s largest organ. It’s important to take care of it daily and take the lead at preventing skin cancer. It’s easy to do with daily sunscreen, protective clothing, and a great SPF 30 moisturizer and chapstick. To repair damaged skin there are specialized facials, lotions, serums, and medical treatments. All these options can help you say hello to a younger, brighter and less damaged surface. Give your skin some love today.