SKIN and SUN EXPOSURE
What a wonderful time we can spend at the seaside! Isn’t it lovely enjoying warmth and light of the sun after long cold winter! But too much sun exposure can significantly damage our skin and even provoke skin diseases (sometimes even dangerous). Scientists demonstrated that heat from sun usually dries out areas of unprotected skin and depletes the skin’s supply of natural lubricating oils. At the same time, sun’s ultraviolet radiation could cause skin burning and long-term changes in the skin’s structure.
It is well known that prolonged sun exposure can damage the skin and can trigger premature skin aging. There is even special terminology called “photoaging” which refers to the skin damages done from long sun exposure – cumulative effect of ultraviolet radiation during lifetime. Many skin changes which we experience during our life in most cases were triggered by sun exposure or were accelerated by sun exposure.
Photoaging means long-term changes in the skin’s collagen which is the main important structural skin protein – changes triggered by long-term sun exposure. Actually photoaging means premature skin aging because of sun exposure which includes skin wrinkles and so called “actinic purpura” (bleeding from fragile blood vessels beneath the skin surface).
Skin and Sun Exposure
Sun exposure is risky for women with different types of skin and with different colors of skin. But sun exposure could be more dangerous for women with fair skin who could burn easily and who should be included in the risk group for skin aging. So, when we speak about sun exposure, skin type is very important. It is well known that if you have fair skin and light eyes, you should be very careful with sun exposure because you are at greater risk of sun-related skin damage and skin cancers. Women with fair skin and light eyes should afraid of sun exposure because their skin contains less of a dark pigment called “melanin” which helps to protect the skin from the effects of UV radiation.
Smoking women also should be included in the risk group because scientists discovered that smoking speeds up the photoaging processes.
How exactly sun exposure can damage our skin? What are main skin damages triggered by sun exposure? Here is the list of most common skin damages observed after extensive sun exposure:
• Skin dryness due to lost moisture and essential oils,
• Skin wrinkles (fine or deep),
• Unusual skin pigmentations,
• Change of skin texture (rough skin),
• Broken or dilated skin capillaries,
• Sunburn (skin redness, fluid-filled bumps and/or blisters),
• Areas of so called “actinic keratosis” – small, red or brown or yellow, rough spots on the skin.
It should be mentioned that over our lifetime the combination of long sun exposures (especially with unprotected skin) and repeated episodes of sunburn could increase the risk of malignant melanoma and other forms of skin cancer.
Sun exposure can damage not only our skin but also eyes and immune system. Some skin damages could be visible immediately such as skin redness, sunburn, dilated skin capillaries but other influences of sun exposure could be discovered later such as immune system suppression or skin cancer. Long-term skin damages after intensive sun exposure usually build up over time.
Skin symptoms triggered by sun exposure
Skin dryness
After intensive and/or long unprotected sun exposure skin appears dry and flaky; sometimes you can observe more visible fine lines and/or wrinkles on open areas of the skin compared with skin covered by swimming suite or clothes. Itching could be another signal of dry skin after sun exposure.
Sunburn
Sunburn is a common condition after unprotected sun exposure. Usually burned skin appears red or reddish, it cause pain and discomfort. In most cases you can see clear boundary lines between burned and healthy skin – lines showing where the skin has been protected from the sun by shirt sleeves, shorts, swimming suits or other clothes. Severe cases of sunburn usually produce very painful fluid-filled bumps and blisters. Women with sunburn could suffer also from nausea and dizziness.
Actinic keratosis
Actinic keratosis is very specific type of skin damage developed because of unprotected sun exposure. Actiric keratosis appears as a small bump or rough spot that feels like sandpaper. Color of actiric keratosis could be different in different cases and in different people – it could be red, pink, yellow, brown or brownish. Size of actiric keratosis is usually small – like pimple or rough spot. Sometimes it could be itching and/or tender.
Long-term skin changes
Main long-term skin changes could be discovered by professionals – it is changes in skin collagen which could be discovered in special laboratories. Symptoms of collagen changes in the skin include fine lines, deeper wrinkles, thickened skin texture and easy bruising on sun-exposed areas.
In many cases damaged skin symptoms after sun exposure could disappear after few days but some sun damage could be permanent and would need special attention.
Skin and Sun Exposure
How prevent skin damage from sun exposure
• Use always sunscreen daily. Remember that even on cloudy days sun’s UV rays can reach you unprotected skin.
• Avoid sun exposure on certain time of the day – limit your time outdoors when the sun is at its peak (between the hours of 10am and 4pm).
• Apply sun protection cream or other products on all exposed areas of the skin at least 20-25 minutes before exposure.
• During summer at seaside reapply sun protection products often after swimming or sweating.
• Wear special tightly clothes during sun exposure – wear tightly woven fabrics made from polyester or nylon; or wear tightly woven cotton blends. These cloths will insure maximum protection of your skin from sun exposure.
Be aware that some medications and skin care products could increase the negative effect of sun exposure on your skin (some antibiotics, medications for high blood pressure, heart failure, acne and allergies, some drugs for psychiatric diseases). Read detailed instructions or speak with your doctor.
