Anti-Aging Tip #6 – The Sun Factor

Old looking skin is one of the most obvious ways to show signs of aging.  However, skin that may be perceived as being old might just be sun-damaged. It’s true that skin gradually breaks down as you age which is caused by internal aging factors.  But environmental factors such as too much sun exposure  also have an affect on the aging of the skin with sun exposure being one of the major problems.

Skin on a healthy person that has never been touched by the sun might not show signs of aging until very late in life.  If you spend a lot of time in the sun without protecting your skin, look forward to the signs of aging to show up.   Some of these are freckles, age spots, spider veins on the face, rough and leathery skin, fine wrinkles that disappear when stretched, loose skin, a blotchy complexion, actinic keratoses (thick wart-like, rough, reddish patches of skin), and skin cancer.  

An even more serious problem with too much sun exposure is skin cancer.  Every year, more than a million people in the U.S. find out they have skin cancer.  Of these cases, about 55,000 turn out to be melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. 

Protecting your skin from the sun is the most significant thing you can do to prevent wrinkles, sagging and discoloration.  Limit your sun exposure time, start sporting hats and wear  a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 to cut the risk of skin cancer as well as wrinkles.

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Posted in Women's Health

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