By: Danielle Fisher; Esthetician
The summer may never seem long enough, but the sun in southern California is out every season (we are talking 80 degrees in January- that’s hardly what I call winter!). Although we are very fortunate to have our bright California sky year long, this is the time of year we must be conscious about overexposing ourselves to the sun during outdoor activities, such as the beach, boating, swimming, etc.
This summer it is time to make a change in your skin care regimen to make sure you are beach ready and protected, in order to prolong the inevitable: aging caused by sun damage.
Sun damage is the main external reason we appear older than we actually are. Approximately 80 to 85 % of our aging is caused by the rays of the sun. As we age, the collagen and elastin fibers of the skin naturally weaken. This weakening happens at a much faster rate when the skin is frequently exposed to UVA and UVB rays, thus leading to loss of skin elasticity or facial sagging, not to mention deep wrinkles, hyper-pigmentation, and skin cancer. No thank you!
Sun damage is the main external reason we appear older than we actually are. Approximately 80 to 85 % of our aging is caused by the rays of the sun. As we age, the collagen and elastin fibers of the skin naturally weaken. This weakening happens at a much faster rate when the skin is frequently exposed to UVA and UVB rays, thus leading to loss of skin elasticity or facial sagging, not to mention deep wrinkles, hyper-pigmentation, and skin cancer. No thank you!
Can summer sun fun be undone? Sun damage upon the epidermis can be temporarily reversed, but keep in mind that the sun can penetrate as deep as the dermal layers of your skin, and the damage may surface later in life.
By creating healthy habits for your skin now, there is hope. Preventative measures for skin care include using sunless self tanners, wearing hats and sunglasses, and wearing sunscreen, which is the best protection for our skin. Proper home care, regular skin treatments with an esthetician, and ingredients such as antioxidants, lipids, and AHA’s (alpha-hydroxy acids) can be beneficial for skin that has been wrecked and ravaged by environmental exposure.
My recommendations for treatments to reverse sun damage include Vitamin C facials and Glycolic Peels. L-Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is a powerful antioxidant
which will protect you from free radicals caused by the sun and pollutants in our atmosphere. Vitamin C facials bring out the natural luminosity of your skin and increase collagen production, naturally firming the skin. Sun RX $25
Gycolic acid, which is a type of AHA, is very beneficial method of exfoliating the stratum corneum of the epidermis. Glycolic Peels can eliminate the appearance of hyper-pigmentation, refine fine lines, and condition the skin. Both of these treatments will improve your cell turnover rate, the rate at which you naturally exfoliate dead skin cells, supporting a youthful, glowing complexion.
The beautiful weather we as Californians pay top dollar for could ultimately be the cause of our demise, if we do not take the necessary precautions to shield ourselves from the harmful ultra violet rays.
So am I telling you that you have the power to slow down the aging process simply by avoiding too much sunlight? That’s right. Just call me the fountain of youth!
Danielle Fisher, Esthetician
AIM Medical Center
Advanced Integrative Mind-Body Medical Center
901 Dover Drive Suite 204
Newport Beach, CA 92660
949.722.9884
Call for a FREE consult with Danielle!
