Now that summer is around the corner many of you are ready to soak up some sun…
Meanwhile, your skin is thinking ‘oh no!’. Being in the sun may feel awesome, as sunlight is essential for human health. Though there are many health & well-being benefits to enjoying sunlight such as generating the production of vitamin D, preventing disease, and promoting good mental health; too much exposure can wreak havoc on your skin. Today, I am here to give you some tips on how to prevent and even undo signs of damage the sun can cause on your precious skin.
What Does Sun Damage Look Like?
Sun damage is what happens when the skin is overexposed to the sun’s harmful UV rays. These rays penetrate the skin and actually cause changes to the DNA at a cellular level. Too much sun exposure can increase your risk for skin cancer and also cause your skin to age quickly.
Even if your skin doesn’t visually show signs of damage yet, that doesn’t mean you aren’t being harmed by the UV rays! That is why you need to follow these prevention tips. Let’s dive in!
Sunscreen, Sunscreen, Sunscreen!
First off, let me mention the most important product you need for your skin outdoors: sunscreen! It’s never too late to start using sunscreen every day! Using broad spectrum sunscreen needs to be on the top of your mind when going out into the sun. See our previous blog for more information on broad spectrum sunscreen here (HYPERLINK), but basically, this type of sunscreen should contain Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide which protects you from the UVA and UVB rays the sun emits.
What are some other products you need?
A Brightening Cleanser
Sun damage can make your skin look dull which is why a brightening cleanser that encourages cell turnover is the perfect addition to your routine.
A Collagen-Boosting Antioxidant Serum With Vitamin C
This easily is one of the most overlooked summer skin care products, but it is super important. Collagen-boosting serums that contain vitamin C offer huge protective and corrective benefits. Vitamin C is best known for its collagen-boosting effect, and for protecting the skin barrier against free radical sun damage. By applying a serum infused with Vitamin C to your skin, you will be able to improve tone and texture. One of our favourites is AlumierMD Everactive Vitmain C with the added benefits of Vitamin E + Peptides https://sasiclinic.com/everactive-ce-peptide/ Many vitamin C serums oxidize in their bottles, turning a brownish colour while they are on the shelf or at home. When oxidized, the vitamin C is no longer beneficial to the skin. EverActive C&E™ + Peptide stays fresh because you only mix the 15% vitamin C into the serum when you’re ready to use it.
Applying this type of serum in the morning after cleansing your skin is the most effective thing to do!
A Great Moisturizer
A moisturizer is designed to keep your skin healthy and hydrated. Sun damage can change the way your skin feels and functions, especially when it comes to hydration. As time goes on, the sun can dry your skin our and decrease its ability to hold moisture. That is why adding a moisturizer to your skin care routine in the morning AND evening is so crucial.
A Corrective Night Serum to Even Skin Tone
A common sign of sun damage is dark spots and hyperpigmentation. Corrective night serums have ingredients that help to lighten up dark spots and even out your skin tone to make it look more natural. Using this treatment in the evening will allow your skin to use its ingredients overnight to repair and replenish its health.
*Quick note… Do NOT use this on the same nights you use retinoid treatment products which we will get into next. This could cause irritation!*
A Retinoid Treatment That Boosts Cellular Turnover
We all know that the night time is the best time to repair your skin. While you are sleeping, your cells are working and rejuvenating themselves. Your nighttime skin routine needs to contain ingredients that will help to facilitate cellular turnover, or cell regeneration to repair problem areas. This will also make sure you have that shiny and healthy morning glow to your skin!
Retinoids are one of the most important ingredients for facilitating cell turnover and rejuvenation. It helps to lighten dark spots, minimize clogged pores, and reduce the appearance of fine lines/wrinkles. Using a retinoid treatment evern night after cleaning and moisturizing is the best thing to do. Only use this 2-3 nights per week though, not every night!
Looking to Reverse Sun Damage?
Want to diminish damage from years of being in the sun and see results fast? Say Good-Bye to age spots, vascular lesions, and discoloration of the skin! Lumecca ‘Intense Pulsed Light’ (IPL) treatment uses a smooth handpiece that delivers 3x more energy to improve efficacy for vascular lesions. What does all that mean for you? With Lumecca IPL we can dissolve skin discoloration quickly, and also treat a variety of lesions with far fewer treatment sessions than other methods! Despite the powerful nature of this treatment, each pulse of light very gently targets deep tissue. The blood vessels beneath your top layer of skin, or epidermis, will constrict, which will effectively reduce redness, fine lines, and wrinkles while brightening your complexion. You can also say goodbye to large pores and uneven skin textures and say hello to your best skin ever.
Making sure your summer skin care routine is in top-notch shape and includes these special treatments will make sure you stay properly protected all summer long!
