Wear sunscreen. This unilateral skin aging effect is the result of the man having driven a truck for 28 years, exposing only half of his face to direct sunlight. We’ve all been told hundreds of times when excitedly running out the door, on our many and varying life adventures and play days– “Don’t forget sunscreen!” Whether you are off to play at the beach, hike in the mountains, or just another routine day at the office, sunscreen should be a top priority.
Here are some practical tips to help prevent getting a sunburn and to reduce this undesirable photoaging effect:
- Use sunscreen on any exposed areas. An SPF of 45+ is recommended, for it allows even the fairest skinned folks to stay out in the sun for a few hours before reapplying. Try chapstick on your lips. Follow the instructions on sunscreen carefully; reapply when it says to reapply or it may not work properly. Always reapply after leaving the water, as it’ll have washed off.
- Stay out of the sun during peak hours. While these times may vary slightly depending on the season and and where you live, the hours between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm should be spent indoors if at all possible.
- Keep covered up. Floppy hats are cute and large umbrellas work well, but so do beach cover-ups and the like. Long-sleeved cotton shirts are excellent for hiking, cycling etc; see your sports store for special brands that allow breathing as well as cover-up.
- Don’t lie in the sun purposefully seeking a tan. This is not only damaging to your skin but might burn you the first few times you try it at the beginning of the season. If you want to tan, do it gradually and sensibly, with short exposure and building up over time.
For more information on photoaging, also known as “Dermatoheliosis”, the characteristic changes induced by chronic UVA and UVB exposure, please visit The New England Journal of Medicine.
Leave a Reply