Next weekend is a holiday weekend here in the States. We consider it our summer coming out weekend. We get together with friends, we BBQ, we garden, we open up our swimming pools, we go boating, and we check the expiration dates on our leftover sunscreen from last year. What??? You are not aware of this tradition? With much hope, by the time you finish reading this post, you will run, not walk, for your sunscreen and do the right thing.
Sunscreen works to protect the skin from Ultra Violet (UV) damage. We all know that, but by doing that one thing well, it actually makes many physiological actions better. Let’s look at visible aging. Sun damage creates a litany of problems for a youthful appearance, and healthy skin.
When ultra violet rays penetrate our skin’s protective layers, our healthy cells become inflamed, our blood vessels dilate, and our collagen degenerates at a rate significantly higher than our chronological aging would allow. We see the results of this on our skin by noticing, fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, bruises, broken blood vessels and uneven skin tone.
But why does this really happen? Here is a really basic description of what happens inside. When we are born, we come with an owner’s manual—it’s called “Our DNA”. Our DNA is a very specific code that was written for us individually. This code is the rulebook for the health of our cells, and when the cells get damaged, our DNA instructs our body on how to self-repair (if possible). Ultra violet rays have the potential to mess up the DNA in the cells they penetrate. So, let’s say the code I was born with was “ABCD”, and ABCD has worked 43 years on my behalf, without fail. Then one day I decide to plant a tree for Arbor Day. Before I go into the garden, I forget to put on my sunscreen. While I am out there, doing good for the world, the UV rays penetrate my skin, and scramble up the code in some of my cells. Now, instead of reading “ABCD”, the affected cells read “BCAD”. The damaged cells no longer understand the rulebook, and do not know how to work with the healthy cells, so they start fighting. Who wins? Who knows—if you don’t get cancer (which you could), but you get saggy discolored skin, have the healthy cells won? And by the way, the UV rays don’t discriminate, nor do they care if you have worn sunscreen every other day of your life. If you don’t wear sunscreen, your skin will get damaged—that is an absolute. Getting cancer from it is roulette (the worst odds in Vegas).
It has been said (and I am still looking for the original source) that if we all wore a [broad-spectrum] sunscreen, every single day, from when we were babies, we would have found the fountain of youth. Who knew the fountain of youth could be found at Walgreen’s?
Now that you know this, if you could prevent/slow all this down by wearing sunscreen, wouldn’t you do it? Of course you would, and you do when you go to the beach right? But what about when you drive to work, or mow the lawn, or work in your garden? Are you wearing it then? The truth is that most do not. I am just asking you to be conscious of what you might be taking for granted. Please make wearing sunscreen, every single day, and part of your basic routine. Your DNA will thank you!
Professional Tips:
1. Apply sunscreen AFTER applying all other skin care products, but before make-up.
2. Do NOT rely on the sunscreen in your make-up. Better safe than sorry.
3. Do not forget your lips. Apply sunscreen to lips, then apply lipstick, balm, or go au natural.
4. Do not forget the back of your neck, your ears and your chest. Any area that will be exposed to sunlight needs to be covered (even if you have long hair).
5. Re-apply if you find yourself in direct sunlight for longer than two hours, and after getting wet.
6. Never carry over sunscreen from one year to the next. I don’t care what the expiration date is, it is too important to mess with. Buy new sunscreen at least once a year.
