REWORKED: 5 Things You Need to Know About Photoaging

1. A Simple Lesson in Skin Structure

Skin is made up of three layers, the epidermis or outer layer of the skin, the dermis, or midsection of the skin and the subcutis, or the underlying layer of the skin. The dermis may be the most important part of the skin when it comes to maintaining a youthful appearance, as it contains the elastin, collagen and other fibers that build the support system of the skin, keeping it smooth and firm. It is the destruction of these small, delicate fibers through UV radiation which cause photoaging.

2. Ever Wonder How and Why Skin Tans?

Skin damage is often directly related to tanning and sunburns; however, there are two types of UV rays, UVA and UVB. UVB are short waves that cause the dermis to quickly produce melanin in the epidermis, a process that not only gives you a tan, it also helps to protect your body from the radiation that is penetrating your skin. UVB rays are also the biggest culprits for sunburn. Tanning heightens your risks of photoaging, however, the result is skin with more natural protection against the more harmful form of UV rays, UVA.

3. Skin Damage is Not Limited to Sunny Weather

UVA rays are longer and penetrate deep into the dermis where they destroy collagen and increase elastic production, resulting in the formation of wrinkles and thick, leathery skin. The strength of short UVB rays change depending on the time of day, weather and season, but UVA rays are not as easily blocked by environmental factors. This is an important phenomenon to remember, as it may be difficult to sunburn or get a tan on cloudy or overcast days as UVB rays are limited, but you can still suffer UV skin damage do to the presence of UVA rays.

4. The Bad, The Ugly and the Even Uglier

In addition to causing premature wrinkling of the skin, repeated exposure to UV rays can also liver spots, also known as age spots. These unsightly dark spots on the skin have absolutely nothing to do with your liver and everything to do with UV radiation. Liver spots, known in medical terms as solar lentigo, are formed when pigmentation reacts to excessive sun exposure. Wrinkles and age spots are unsightly, but the worst of all effects of photoaging is an increased risk of skin cancer.

5. Photoaging Can Be Prevented

You are never too young nor too old to apply your daily dose of sunscreen. Most dermatologists believe that the greatest effects of photoaging occur before the age of 20, but older skin is more delicate, making sunscreen particularly important for the young and the old. Sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15 should be applied everyday and reapplied every few hours when outdoors.