The Sun Factor

Ask any Dermatologist or Skin Expert their top tip for maintaining healthy skin and they are all likely to agree on one thing - Sun Protection.

Regardless of the weather conditions, SPF is recommended for year-round use. So if you are serious about protecting your skin against ageing or damage then your SPF use is key. Don't just view it as sunscreen to use on your summer holiday or on a sunny day, you need to be incorporating SPF protection into your everyday skincare routine.

Sun Damage

Exposure to sunlight is vital for the production of Vitamin D for healthy muscles, teeth and bones but it also emits a variety of harmful rays that means just a short amount of time spent in the sun has repercussions for our skin both in the short and long term.

UV, Infrared and HEV (High Energy Visible) light are detrimental to skin health and can contribute to rapid collagen breakdown therefore increasing the signs of ageing.

As much as most of us love the darkening of our skin, this is the first sign of sun damage. However, UV exposure can also have long lasting effects that accumulate over time. These include contributing to premature ageing, with issues such as wrinkles, lines and sagging as well as the appearance of dark patches or spots on the skin.

There is no doubt that being in the sun gives us a feel good factor (due to the increased production of Serotonin), it is important to remember the risks associated and damage caused by UV rays. You may be shocked to learn that 80% of visible ageing is caused by the sun.

One of the key ways in which we educate our clients is that it is pointless to spend your well earned £££ on products and treatments to reverse damage such as hyperpigmentation and ageing unless you are using a good quality, high value SPF every day.

Protect & Prevent

To prevent and regulate further damage to your skin, using products that contain SPF is crucial. It is your first defence against premature ageing of the skin as it protects your cells against the oxidative stress caused by UVA and UVB which leads to photodamage causing lines and wrinkles and pigmentation.

Two different levels of sun protection are available; SPF is the level of protection against UVB, whilst UVA protection can be recognised through a star ratings system or symbol on a products packaging. You will also find sunscreens that provide both UVA and UVB protection which are generally called Broad Spectrum.

When looking at SPF's it is important to note that the SPF number specifically refers to the amount of protection a product offers from UVB rays but it is also vitally important that you also protect the skin from UVA rays that cause long-term damage and photoageing and penetrate the deeper layers of the skin reaching to the dermis.

SPF and sunscreen products work by by creating a barrier between the skin and UV rays to prevent the damaging rays from penetrating the skin. Physical sunscreens reflect light away from the skin whilst chemical sunscreen absorb parts of UV radiation before it makes it's way into the skin.

Our Recommendations

• Always use an SPF of at least Factor 30

• Use a sunscreen 365 days a year, incorporating it into your daily skincare routine.

• Sunscreen doesn't have to be another expense, we have some amazing sunscreens in salon which are incorporated into our moisturisers.

• Book a consultation with us and we can talk to you about how to reverse the signs of sun damage and how to prevent it in the future.