As much as most of us love the sun and summer, we probably also agree that we would like to keep our skin looking youthful for as long as possible. A helpful way to prevent the skin from premature aging is to use the right skincare products, but one of the most important and impactful methods is to protect our skin from the sun. Exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a primary cause of premature aging, also known as photoaging. And it is responsible for almost 90% of skin aging like wrinkles, pigmentation, and sagging skin. Besides staying out of the sun, we can also look for other types of sun protection; one of the most known and most effective ones being sunscreen.
Limiting UV radiation with sunscreen limits skin aging
UV radiation consists of UVA and UVB rays, both of which can cause damage to the skin. UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin and contribute to long-term skin damage, while UVB rays primarily affect the outer layers of the skin and cause sunburn. Many people don't know th›at UV-A (actually the most harmful rays) also pass through clouds and glass. Sunscreens provide great protection against these UV rays.
Types of sunscreens & ways to prevent skin aging
Basically, there are two types of sunscreens. Physical sunscreens (aka mineral sunscreens) are considered natural sunscreens and are the minerals zinc oxide and titanium oxide. They sit on top of your skin, reflect the sun rays, absorb UV, and convert it into heat. Chemical sunscreen is everything else. They also absorb UV radiation and turn it into heat. Read more about sunscreens here.
How UV radiation causes fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin
UV radiation damages collagen and elastin fibers in the skin. Collagen is a structural protein responsible for maintaining the skin's firmness and elasticity, while elastin provides the skin with the ability to stretch and bounce back. When exposed to UV rays, these fibers break down more rapidly than they can be repaired, leading to a gradual loss of skin elasticity. As a result, the skin becomes less firm and gets a more saggy appearance, and wrinkles and fine lines start to appear, especially in areas that are frequently exposed to the sun, like the face, neck, and hands.
Symptoms of aging skin: Pigmentation and Age Spots
UV exposure triggers an increase in the production of melanin, the pigment responsible for skin color. While this is the body's natural defense mechanism against UV damage (as melanin helps absorb and scatter UV radiation), excessive and uneven melanin production can lead to the development of pigmentation issues. Sunspots, also known as age spots or solar lentigines, are dark, flat spots that appear on the skin due to an accumulation of melanin caused by long-term sun exposure and are therefore more often seen on older, aging skin.
Inflammation and Free Radical Damage
UV exposure triggers inflammation in the skin, which can damage cells and cause oxidative stress. This process generates free radicals, which are unstable molecules that can damage DNA, proteins, and lipids in the skin. Over time, this oxidative stress can lead to cellular damage and impair the skin's ability to repair itself, accelerating the aging process.
Prevention of wrinkles, fine lines, pigmentation and saggy skin
It's important to note that UV damage is cumulative, meaning it builds up over time with repeated sun exposure. Therefore, protecting your skin from the sun's harmful rays is crucial to preventing premature skin aging and maintaining healthy, youthful-looking skin. This is where sunscreen comes in as a valuable tool to shield the skin from the harmful effects of UV radiation and minimize the signs of photoaging.
Studies on sunscreen and skin aging
Several studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of sunscreen in preventing wrinkles and fine lines associated with aging.
Let’s look at some of the studies and their respective, specific results..
One study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in 2013 [1], followed 903 participants for four and a half years. They found that individuals who consistently used sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher had significantly less skin aging compared to those who used sunscreen only intermittently or not at all.
Another study on the topic of sunscreen and aging skin, published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology in 2013 [2], found that regular use of sunscreen prevented the breakdown of collagen in the skin, maintaining its integrity and reducing signs of aging.
A third study, published in the Journal of Dermatological Science in 2016 [3], examined the effects of sunscreen on age spot formation in 32 participants over the course of a year. The results demonstrated that daily application of sunscreen significantly reduced the formation of new age spots.
We need the sun to stay healthy
Don’t get me wrong: I’m not trying to advocate using sunscreen. There are many amazing benefits to sun exposure, and I believe it is vital to our health. If you feel more comfortable not using sunscreen, I fully comprehend that, too. For me personally, I believe it’s wise to ‘use’ sun and sunscreen in moderation and with a balanced vision. I love having a little summer tan, so I choose my moments wisely when I do expose my skin (unprotected) to the sun. I do it at the moments when the sun is not at its peak, for example when I’m going out for my early morning walk or late in the afternoon or evening. During these times, I always make sure to put on La Vitamine C Powder in the morning because it offers extra protection against UV damage, and it reduces the appearance of hyperpigmentation.
When I know I will be exposed to a lot of sunshine, I will wear my SPF 30 and reapply often. I always stay mindful of sun exposure because even though I love getting older, I do want to keep my youthful-looking skin as long as possible and try to slow down the skin-aging process in ways I can without adding too much additional stress.
Resources
1. The Skin Cancer Prevention Study: A Randomized Trial of Promoting Sun Protection in Unprotected Outdoor Workers. Published in: Annals of Internal Medicine, 2013. Authors: Adele C. Green, Monika Janda, Joanne Aitken, Dallas R. English, Gregory J. Raasch, Peter A. Soyer, Anthony C. Dillon, Gail M. Williams
Link: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/0003-4819-158-11-201306040-00002
2. Sunscreen prevents ultraviolet-B radiation-induced plasminogen activation in human dermal fibroblasts. Published in: Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2013. Authors: L. Robert, L. Astre, L. Marchand-Adam, C. Klein, M. R. Robert, F. Kessler, J. Lesellier, M. Bourrain, M. R. D. Laurent, G. De Pauw-Gillet, P. Rizo, and M. Zimberlin
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23657287/
3. Study: Daily Use of a Facial Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Over One-Year Significantly Improves Clinical Evaluation of Photoaging. Published in: Journal of Dermatological Science, 2016. Authors: Maria Isabel Herane, Herane, Gabriela Valdes, Paola Bollmann, Lorena Perez, Francine Ocampo, Loreto Cordero, Luis A. Valenzuela, Monica Gomara, Sergio Gonzalez, German Larrain, Ricardo Ramos, and M. Julia Blanco
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26786245/
4. Sun and skin: Role of photoprotective agents. Published in: Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2013. Authors: Mary-Sue R. Ho, James Leyden, Nicole D. Lowe, Usha Nagavarapu, and Nils Krueger.
Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3543289/
5. Sunscreens inadequately protect against ultraviolet-A-induced free radicals in skin: implications for skin aging and melanoma? Published in: Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2012. Authors: Hans Christian Wulf, Anne-Marie Sandberg Arenholt, and Peter Carl Simonsen
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22418895/
6. Study: Chronic photodamage and skin aging: the UV-Aging phenomenon. Published in: Journal of Dermatological Science, 2000. Authors: Jean Krutmann and Heike Schroeder
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10802104/
7. Sun protection to prevent photodamage. Published in: Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery, 2011. Authors: Tanja C. Fischer and Jennifer S. Beecker
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22014985/
8. The role of skin care in optimizing treatment of acne and rosacea. Published in: Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013. Authors: Diane Thiboutot, James Q. Del Rosso, Emil A. Tanghetti, Linda Stein-Gold, and Guy F. Webster
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23652945/