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The Sun and Aging

If you’re looking forward to a summer full of hanging out at the beach or other outdoor activities, you might get more than you bargained for. Spending time in the sunshine is good for your body, as well as for your mood, but it can be bad for your skin if you don’t use adequate sun protection. In addition to increasing your risk of skin cancer, sun exposure also ages you. In fact, current research suggests that sun exposure is responsible for 80 percent of signs of aging such as wrinkles and lines. Before you head out to enjoy the summer sun, read on to learn more about the link between the sun and aging, and what you can do to minimize the damage. 

Both short-term and long-term sun exposure can contribute to the signs of aging. Long-term, unprotected sun exposure not only contributes to the development of lines and wrinkles, but also other signs of aging such as yellowing of the skin, loss of elasticity and deterioration of skin texture. Plus, the older you get the more impact sun exposure has on aging. So while the time you spent in the sun when you were in your teens and twenties laid the groundwork for the signs of aging you’re seeing now, you’re incurring even more damage if you’re still spending time in the sun without sunscreen.

Some signs of aging, such as looking saggy or droopy, are related simply to the normal process of aging, in this case gravity. There’s less you can do to fight these effects, short of cosmetic or medical procedures, but for sun-related damage a little prevention goes a long way. In addition, the earlier you start the better your results will be. However, it’s never too late to start shielding your face from the sun. In fact, if you’re already in your 30s or 40s — or beyond — if you start religiously applying sunscreen you may be able to dramatically slow the visible aging process. Plus, it’s actually a really simple step that can potentially produce dramatic results. You need a sunscreen with at least an SPF of 15, but for maximum protection choose one with an SPF of 30 and apply it every day, rain or shine.

At Beauty Universe, we carry a large selection of anti-aging products and everything else you need to protect your skin against the sun’s rays and help slow the signs of aging. Take a look at our entire inventory today, to help ensure you have smooth, vibrant and younger-looking skin for years to come.