Facts on the Sun

UV Rays

The Sun is made up of 3 different types of UV rays.

UVA = Ageing & Cancer

UVB = Burning & Cancer

UVC = Cancer

The UVA rays speed up aging by attacking our healthy skin cells and break down the collagen & elastin in our skin. Essentially this is what keeps our skin plump, moisturized & firm.

The UVB rays are what cause our skin to burn along with cancer

UVC rays cause cancer only. At them moment these particular rays do not penetrate our ozone layer.

UV rays or Ultraviolet Light is the number one cause of skin cancer. Research also proves that our exposure to UV light is only increasing, due to our ozone layer thinning. So really if you are not covered up, you are putting yourself at risk of getting cancer.

Is it ever safe to lie in the sun these days?

I have to state right now that I do not endorse sunbaking of any type, but in saying that there are some cases where a little sun does not hurt. Sunlight gives us our all important Vitamin D, but most of us get our daily requirement just by carrying out our normal daily routines.

Sunlight is also excellent for helping to clear up rashes, psoriasis, excema and skin disorders. The key is to be sensible, wear sunscreen and a hat and only expose yourself either in the early morning (before 10am) or in the afternoon (after 3pm). Always consult your Doctor before you expose yourself to the sun if you suffer from a skin disorder.

The Sun and it’s role in speeding up aging

The skin cells

A healthy skin cell, if we were to look under a microscope, is round, plump and moist. When our skin cells look like this our skin too appears plump and moist. If we do not protect our healthy skin cells they can become damaged and in turn speeds up the aging process. We can help to protect our skin with Anti-Oxidants . Anti-Oxidants act like a barrier around the cell to keep it protected by fighting off free radicals.

Ok what are Anti-Oxidants? The main ones you may of heard of are Vitamin E and Vitamin C. At lot of good sunscreens today contain anti-oxidants to protect our cells.

Free Radicals are nasty guys that attack our skin cells as well as our collagen and elastin. Over exposure to free radicals can dramatically speed up the aging process if we do not protect our skin cells.

The Sun is one big free radical so unprotected skin is just waiting to age fast. This is why wearing a sunscreen daily is so important to keep our skin looking young.

Break down of the Dermal layer from Sun exposure

Our skin is made up of 2 main layers and the one we will be looking at is the Dermal layer. The Sun can play a big part in breaking down the Dermal layer which will accelerate the aging process.

Lets take a little look at collagen & elastin. Both of these hold together the main structure of our skin. Collagen gives the skin it’s strength and support. When collagen is attacked by free radicals from the sun it breaks down and as a result wrinkles appear on our skin. Elastin, like it sounds, gives the skin elasticity. When free radicals from the sun break down elastin, the elastin becomes looser and the result is sagging skin.

The Immune System can also be affected by the Sun. We all have Langerhan cells, and their primary job is to fight bacteria and viruses in the skin. UV rays can permanently damage these cells which can result in the breakdown of skin’s ability to repair itself.

Other Effects of the Sun

1.Pigmentation - Over exposure to the Sun can result in hyperpigmetation and in some cases hypopigmentation.

Hyperpigmentation is the most common form of pigmentation from Sun exposure. It can come in the form of liver spots, or can discolour a whole patch of skin. Other factors such as Pregnancy, The Pill, use of fragrances and stress can also add to the problem.

Hypopigmentation is a rare form of pigmentation, where the skin is permanently discoloured from extreme Sun exposure.

2. Photo toxicity- This is where the skin reacts with chemicals that you may be taking or applying to the skin. The skin becomes photo-sensitive, which means that even with a small amount of UV exposure the skin will burn. The skin can also react with hives and or inflammation and can leave the skin weeping or itchy. Chemicals that can cause photo-toxicity are Retin A or Vitamin A - found in most acne medications- , diuretics, bergamot & antidepressants.

3. Actnic Keratosis- This is where the skin thickens from Sun exposure. Usually small patches about the same size as moles appear. They are raised and have a crusty surface. It is highly unlikely for them to heal and disappear.