We have a society of sun-worshipers, the glorious golden tan is a We have become a society of sun-symbol of freedom, status and leisure which we all want, sometimes at any cost. But the price we pay for it is often high in terms of I prematurely aging skin and sagging contours. Ultra-violet rays stimulate certain cells in the skin to distribute a pigment called melanin; the same deadly light rays cause changes in the cells of the dermis, leading to rapid aging sagging and wrinkled skin, and in cases of prolonged extreme exposure, to skin cancer.
Tanning is nothing more than a defense mechanism. The melanin that turns the skin brown is the only way the skin has of offering a protective layer to guard itself and the deeper layers of the body from ultra-violet damage. Certainly the damage done to skin cells and to the connective tissues is a great deal worse if the skin is allowed to burn. But even if the skin suffers no burning the damaging changes from exposure to sunlight still occur and so does premature aging. The damage may not show up immediately, until wrinkles appear several years later. To preserve youthful, healthy-looking skin, tan little (go for the pale golden look on your body instead of the baked skin a la St Tropez), and avoid the sun on your face altogether by using a good moisturizer complete with sunscreen, plus a high protection sunscreen that blocks all the ultraviolet rays. Use a lower protection product for your body and let it gently brown. Increase your exposure to the sun gradually, starting with 20 minutes a day (never between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.) and stepping it up by 10 or 15 minutes each day until you build up a good protective tan.
Cigarettes, too, damage the skin. Dermatological tests show that smokers’ skins appear 10 to 20 years older than those of non smokers. This is believed to be because each cigarette you smoke depletes your system of 25 milligrams of Vitamin C which is necessary for the health and strength of our tissues. (more…)