Can You Really Have Fun in the Sun?

 The sun’s ultraviolet rays can harm the skin below the surface and experts say there is a repair process.

If you ever take a step outside, you are exposing yourself to new sun damage on a regular basis. Experts say that the earliest sign of sun damage is the development of freckles.

While uneven pigmentation, freckles, texture changes, and premature signs of aging should motivate us enough to treat sun damage, the unseen damage to DNA in skin cells should seriously concern us. UV light damages the skin cell’s DNA. The big concern is that we’ll generate enough damage to the DNA by UV light to trigger the formation of skin cancer.

The first step in preventing the damage is a bottle of sunscreen. Experts advise wearing broad-spectrum SPF of at least 30 every day. You can also minimize your exposure by wearing protective clothing like wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, and avoiding the sun between the hours of 10am and 4pm when the UV rays are the most intense.

Here’s another motivator to step up your sunscreen use as of today. A study that followed 32 subjects showed that using SPF for a year allowed the skin to repair some of the sun damage. All the subjects who applied SPF 30 showed an improvement of uneven pigmentation and texture, and most likely these subjects prevented additional sun damage after a year of consistent use.

The theory, experts say, is that shielding the skin from UV damage allows the body to ramp up its natural repair mechanisms to allow the skin cells to reverse the damage from past sun exposure.

Another way to help the reversal process is to use a chemical exfoliant to scrape off the surface skin cells. Alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic acid and lactic acid can also help increase cell turnover, which then minimizes the appearance of dark spots and wrinkles. You can find these ingredients in many cleansers, moisturizers, masks, and at-home peels.

You can also speed up your skin’s regenerative process with antioxidants — internally and externally. Topical vitamin C serums can give you an additional layer of protection from sun damage when used together with sunscreen. This neutralizes oxidative stress caused by sunlight.

Also, dermatologist “in-office” chemical peels and laser resurfacing can work to speed the turnover of the surface layer of the skin so healthier, undamaged cells appear.

Go ahead, have fun in the sun. Keep in mind that it doesn’t matter what your level of sun exposure is, the time to treat your sun damage is now.