It has been said that nature gives you the face you have at 20 but it’s up to you to nurture the face you have at 50. The first priority should be to guard your skin from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Skin aging is influenced by genetics, environmental exposures, hormonal changes, and metabolic processes. These factors alter skin structure, function, and appearance. While changes, such as thinning and loss of elasticity occurs on sun protected skin with the passage of time, ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and tanning beds leads to photodamage which is known to be the single major factor responsible for premature aging. This specific damage occurs with chronic exposure of the skin to UV light and is called photoaging. Visually, the skin becomes coarse and gradually thins. Laxity, sallowness with wrinkles, and irregular pigmentary (color) changes are also noted. The pores of the skin are larger and often clogged. There is also an increase in development of benign growths, premalignant and malignant growths on chronically sun exposed skin.
Living in Southern California, the sun’s UV rays are powerful for most of the year. Strategies for protecting your skin and information about the best product you can apply to your skin to reverse the signs of photoaging will be presented in our May newsletter. Stay tuned!
