This is information archived from my Summer Skincare Workshop Facebook event on June 28th. My Skin Story
For a long time, I never did anything for my skin. Like, I would clean my face of course, but I never wore moisturizer or makeup. Then I realized that my skin was getting damaged.
Everyone was always yelling at me to wear sunscreen in the summer (which I did!) but it didn't matter. I would burn to a bright lobster red anyway... it didn't matter how much sunscreen, what SPF or how frequently I reapplied it... Red. And after the burn and the red... peeling. Not fun.
My face wasn't much better. That was also red all the time. I would flush (it sort of looks like blushing) but it was more than just embarrassment; my face would flush red in reaction to almost anything: cold, heat, changes in temperature, alcohol, and, yes, adrenalin. So I started wearing makeup to cover the red. I actually would shop for a concealer with a green tone and slather that on my cheeks and neck to cover the red. (Color theory: green and red are opposite on the color wheel and green neutralizes the red.) After I realized that product (!) could actually help my appearance and confidence, I started paying more attention to my skin.
7 Things That Damage Skin
Skin Type Tissue Test
SPF and Photoaging
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. For basic protection, SPF 15 is ideal. Higher SPFs only offer a small percentage more of protection. And here's a dirty secret: SPF only protects against UVB. UVA also causes sun damage and skin cancer.
Ultraviolet light from the sun is categorized based on wavelength. UVA is long wave, UVB is short wave, and UVC doesn't penetrate the ozone.
In order to be protected from UVA rays, you have to see one of these phrases on your sunscreen product:
multi spectrum, broad spectrum or UVA/UVB protection. These products will contain either a chemical UVA protective ingredient (like a
somethingbenzone - there are several - or Ecamsule) or a physical UVA protective ingredient, like titanium dioxide or zinc oxide.
Photoaging is the lifetime accumulation of skin damage as a direct result of sun exposure (or tanning UV rays). There is actually a really fascinating anecdotal evidence of a truck driver who has photoaging effects clearly visible on the left side of his face. So, his face is significantly damaged and wrinkled, dry, and rough as a direct result of being exposed to sun on the left side of his vehicle because he spent so much time in the driver's seat! Crazy, right? Google "
Bill McElligott".UVB rays can penetrate the epidermis, is what causes sunburns, initiates the skin to produce melanin and can contribute to skin cancer.UVA rays can penetrate deeper, into the dermis. Here, the skin's collagen and elastin can be damaged, and over time the dermis thins, causing the epidermis layer to droop and sag.
Sunburns are the initial clue that the sun has damaged the skin. However, signs of early photoaging can also include melanin production in spots (think freckles), the new presence of spider veins, and wrinkles that form around the eyes and mouth. Long term photoaging effects are seen more visibly as deep wrinkles, spider veins around the nose, rough skin texture, and most frightening, the presence of skin abnormalities that could signal skin cancer.
Sun is a significant contributor to skin aging: wrinkles, dry skin and age spots (increased melanin). Most skin damage from the sun happens during the summer. A single, simple way to prevent sun damage is sunscreen. SPF of 15 or higher, apply a lot, reapply frequently especially if you are sweating or swimming, choose one with broad spectrum protections (which has chemical or physical ingredients to protect from UVA as well as UVB). Use lip balm with an SPF. Wear hats, sunglasses and UV reflecting clothing. Make sure ears, neck, elbows and knees are covered. Men, women AND children/ white, ruddy, brown AND black skin all need sun protection (while darker skin have more melanin which acts as an SPF, and dark skin tans more than burns, sun damage is still occurring and skin cancer still is a risk!).Skincare Solutions
How do you find solutions to your skincare problems? Well, you can:
- Try your local drugstore,
- Look in Ulta,
- Browse high end department stores,
- See a dermatologist (especially important if you think you have something that might be skin cancer),
- Ask a friend about skincare products she recommends!
