Summer has finally arrived, which means it’s time to get out there and enjoy everything this season has to offer. However, you should be careful about how much sun you soak up. It only takes one sunburn to cause significant damage to your complexion that makes you look older than you really are. With that in mind, here’s our complete guide to sun and skin exposure to help you protect yourself from harmful UV rays year-round.

Who Loves the Sun? Not Everyone

Human bodies evolved to reap the maximum health benefits from Earth’s golden star. Sunlight helps you regulate your sleep patterns, keeping you awake during the day and signaling you when it is time to wind down at night. The sun also causes your skin to produce vitamin D, which is essential for good health. However, there’s a dark side of sun exposure: skin damage.

If you paid close attention in those high school science classes, you probably remember light travels from the sun to our planet’s surface in wave form. Ultraviolet, or UV, light, is the kind that damages your skin at the cellular level. There are two types of UV rays: UVA and UVB. Over time, both kinds can affect the health of your skin. 

The more sun exposure you get in childhood, the earlier you will begin to see signs of aging such as uneven tone and texture, wrinkles, and less elasticity. However, UV damage is cumulative, and as a result, you will notice your skin has a harder and harder time bouncing back as you get older. 

A Brief Guide to Skin Cancer

In addition to showing your age sooner, excessive sun exposure can also increase your risk of developing skin cancer, which is the most common type of cancer in the United States.

How do the sun’s rays cause skin cancer? When UV light hits skin cells, it can harm the DNA inside them. This damaged DNA can cause the cells to grow and divide rapidly, creating clusters of excess cells called a tumor. These may be either cancerous or harmless.

Often, the first sign of skin cancer is a tiny blemish or spot on your skin. A cancer that begins in your skin cells can also become more aggressive, eventually spreading to affect other organs in your body.

Dermatologists divide skin cancer into three categories: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Of the three, melanoma is the most severe type, with life-threatening potential. Warning signs of all three of these cancers include changes in the size, shape, or color of a mole or other blemish, a sore that won’t heal, or the emergence of a new skin lesion.

Because all three kinds of skin cancers are highly curable when you detect them and get them removed early, the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends monthly head-to-toe self-screenings to note the location of new or changing moles that might be cancerous or precancerous.

Dr. Seth Matarasso offers innovative Mohs micrographic surgery, the most advanced and effective way to remove skin cancer and prevent it from recurring.  

Ways to Minimize Sun Damage

The most common-sense way to protect your skin from damage, including skin cancer, is to limit how much sun exposure you receive. Avoid spending too long in the sun. If you must be outside on a bright, sunny day, stay away from direct sunlight if possible. Wear protective clothing and sunglasses, and reapply sunscreen frequently between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., which is when the sun’s rays beat down with the most intensity.

If your goal in soaking up the rays is to kickstart your body’s production of vitamin D, remember it only takes 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure to get the job done. You can also get vitamin D from foods and dietary supplements.

When you need to go outside, even if it’s cloudy, be smart. Before you leave your house, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 to your face and body, and reapply it every two hours. 

Sun-Smart in San Francisco 

Limiting the amount of time you spend outside is the best way to protect your skin. If you are worried about sun damage or your chances of developing skin cancer, contact our office today to make an appointment. Not only does Dr. Matarasso provide advanced surgery for skin cancer, but he also offers a variety of cosmetic treatments to help you look your best.

Spring has finally arrived, and you may be one of many Americans counting down the days until your long-awaited spring break. Before you head out to soak up the sun, however, you should know how to protect yourself from the damaging effects of UVA and UVB rays, which are some of the most significant contributors to signs of premature aging. What can you do to practice smart sun safety habits, and is it possible to reverse sun damage you’ve accumulated in the past?

How Excessive Sun Exposure Damages Your Skin

When it comes to preventing sun damage, the first thing you should realize is that the sun’s ultraviolet rays are responsible for as much as 90 percent of the visible aging of your skin, including:

• Wrinkles
• Discoloration
• Brown spots
• Uneven tone and texture
• Loss of skin elasticity

Though you may have spent hours in your younger years laying out at the pool, or routinely visited tanning beds in pursuit of that bronzed-skin look, we now know there is no safe way to tan if you want to keep your skin healthy. The consequences of overexposure to UV rays are both cosmetic and medical. Tanning means doing yourself much more harm than good when it comes to premature aging, while simultaneously increasing your risk of developing skin cancer.

Tips for Preventing Sun Damage

Even if you were careless about protecting your skin in your past, it’s not too late to start developing habits that prevent future sun damage and keep any existing signs of visible aging from getting noticeably worse.

• Wear sunscreen: Regularly applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher is essential if you want radiant, youthful-looking skin. Use the changing of the seasons as your reminder to develop a routine of wearing sunscreen year-round – not just in the spring and summer months. Daily use of sunscreen may even lower your long-term risk of skin cancer by reducing repeated sun exposure, giving your skin time to heal and your immune system the chance to repair some existing damage.
• Hydrate: Sun exposure can dry out the skin, leaving you with rough patches. A moisturizer with hyaluronic acid can make skin appear less wrinkled by attracting and retaining more water in your skin cells. Also, don’t forget to drink plenty of water during the day. Dry skin is more vulnerable to damage from the elements, and when you don’t get enough hydration, your skin will be the first place to show it.
• Get plenty of rest: When the sun starts to set later and later, it can make you want to delay your bedtime, too. But maintaining a consistent sleep schedule is one of the best things you can do for healthy, glowing skin. Restorative sleep gives your body the opportunity it needs to repair the cell damage that adds up during the day due to UV rays and environmental pollutants.

Can You Reverse Past Sun Damage?

If you were a devoted sun worshipper in your teens and 20s, you may be paying the price now in terms of looking older than you truly are. However, the good news is there are proactive steps you can take to reverse sun damage and reveal better-looking skin.

• Exfoliate regularly: An accumulation of dead skin cells can cause your skin to have a dull, tired appearance. Use at-home scrubs and cleansers to remove this dead skin for a smoother, brighter look.
• Fraxel and IPL treatments: Laser skin care is one of the most effective ways to remove years of sun damage while making you look younger and more refreshed. Treatment with these lasers is customizable, based on your concerns, and is an excellent way to renew your appearance.
• Microdermabrasion: Microdermabrasion is a painless, chemical-free way to remove the top layer of skin and reveal a fresh, new surface. This skin rejuvenation treatment also stimulates the production of new collagen, a protein that is abundant in younger skin, but which declines as you age. You will notice anti-aging benefits, including a reversal of sun damage and discoloration, after a professional microdermabrasion session.

Professional Skin Care Solutions for Sun Damage

Dr. Seth Matarasso is a clinical professor of dermatology and a leading provider of cosmetic and medical skin care in the San Francisco area. If you are concerned about sun damage and are looking for non-surgical ways to turn back the clock, contact our office to schedule your appointment.

Is your bottle of sunscreen in storage right now? Take it out. Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean that your skin can take a break from sunscreens. Even if the weather is overcast or slightly cloudy, you should still protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

As you already know, UVA and UVB rays are strong and can cause as much damage to skin in the winter as in the summer. UVA rays, in particular, cause the skin to age significantly, as their radiation penetrates the deeper layers of the skin. Aside from wrinkles, UVA rays increase skin cancer risk. Although there’s a procedure that can detect skin cancer early on, it’s still better to take preventative steps to protect your skin from basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, and/or melanoma.

Why Wear Sunscreen?

While winter layers can provide warmth and coverage, the sun’s rays can still penetrate the exposed parts of your body, such as the hands, neck, and face. In addition to that, the harmful rays can still penetrate your skin through:

• Snow and Ice

Even though it’s gray and overcast outside, snow and ice can still reflect harmful UVA and UVB rays. You’ll never know when they’ll hit your skin so it’s best to put on sunscreen daily. If you’re going to the slopes to ski or snowboard, make sure to put on sunscreen with a stronger formula to keep windburn at bay.

• Thin Ozone Layer

The ozone layer is thinner in the cold months, so the exposure of UV rays in the earth’s surface is higher. With the atmosphere’s thin shield, it makes sense to use sun protection that has SPF30 or higher.

How to Keep Your Skin Protected?

Even if it’s cold outside, be sure to slather on sunscreen. Use these tips to keep your skin protected from winter sun damage.

• Beware of Sweat

You can still sweat even if you’re bundled up, so a one-time application is not enough. Reapply a moisturizer with SPF protection throughout the day to give you maximum coverage.

• Eat Nutritious Food

A healthy diet can add an extra layer of skin protection from the sun’s rays. Fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidants will help your body fight free radicals and sun damage.

• Use the Right Sunscreen

Choose a product that offers a broad spectrum of coverage. In other words, select a product that contains both UVA and UVB blockers for total protection.

Prevention is better than cure, so don’t wait before skin damage becomes a problem. Protect your skin even if it’s winter, and you’ll thank yourself in later years. For more tips about skin protection, consult board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Seth Matarasso.

What are your plans for summer? Are you going to lounge by the pool or frolic in the waves at the beach? Whatever your summer plans are, they likely include a bit of extra time in the sun. Let’s make sun protection a priority this summer! May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, so this is a good time to brush up on how to best protect your skin against UV rays.

Stock Up on Sunscreen (and Use it)

How’s your sunscreen supply? If you’re running low, now is the time to restock. For a summer filled with sun, you’ll need a lot. For a full body application, you’ll need enough sunscreen to fill a shot glass. You should reapply at least every two hours, and even more often than that if you’re getting wet or sweating.

If still have an unused (or partially used) bottle of sunscreen from last year, don’t throw it out. Most sunscreens remain effective for about three years, but look for an expiration date on your bottle to be sure.

Master the SPF Mystery

Are you an expert in SPF? SPF—or sun protection factor—measures a sunscreen’s effectiveness against UVB rays. When properly applied, an SPF 30 can block about 97% of incoming UVB rays. Make sure you wear enough, though. If you use half the recommended amount you are effectively cutting your protection in half. Most people only apply about half to a quarter of the recommended amount. You need a nickel-sized dollop for the face alone, and about an ounce for the whole body.

Cover Up – And Not Just with Sunscreen

Sunscreen is a wonderful way to protect your skin from the sun, but it shouldn’t be used alone. Combine it with other sun-smart practices such as seeking out shade and wearing a hat or light layers to further protect your skin. Sunscreen might keep you from burning, but it’s important to remember that too much sun can still be a problem. Cover up!

Repair Past Sun Damage

If your sun practices in the past haven’t been exemplary, you may have some sun damage. Come see Dr. Matarasso to repair it. IPL (intense pulsed light) or a Fraxel laser treatment may be able to fade the signs of sun damage on your skin.

Beautiful summer skin starts with sun protection!