How old are you? ... How old is your skin?

Have you ever thought about the true cost of your tan?

 

Did you know that years ago, out of the 100% of rays emitted by the sun, only 1% reached us, but now over 9% does?

 

Did you know that the main cause of premature skin aging is caused by constant exposure to the sun?

 

Did you know that the incidence of skin cancer has increased alarmingly in recent years?

 

The skin is a barrier protecting the body; however, it can be penetrated by certain radiation, such as UV rays emitted by the sun. People with fair skin are more prone to damage from sun exposure. This is due to the fact that with fair skin, 85% of UV rays are absorbed by the superficial skin layers, and 15% reach to deep layers. Deep layers on darker skinned people, on the other hand, only absorb 5%.

 

The effects of sunlight on skin can range from a harmless golden tone up to a malignant skin cancer; it all depends on the intensity of sunlight and how long have a person been exposed to it.

 

What happens when you get sunburned?

 

Sunburn by overexposure may seem like only a temporary irritation, but it can actually cause damage that lasts a lifetime.

 

A blister caused by sunburn during childhood or adolescence doubles the risk and the chances of developing malignant skin cancer. It also doubles the risk of skin cancer if you have had five or more sunburns throughout your lifetime.

 

A severe burn can cause redness, pain, swelling, and even blisters. General symptoms may include fever, chills or stomach pain, indicating an urgent medical attention.

There is no specific treatment for sunburn. Cold compresses, or lotions, especially with aloe, are helpful.

In terms of a medium burn, what happens if skin has been highly exposed to the sun?

 

Premature aging of the skin is the most significant effect, but there is a range of consequences to be discussed:

1.    Dark spots on the skin (moles, freckles)

2.    Actinic keratosis, a very common premalignant condition (darker patches of skin)

3.    Hardened texture of the skin

4.    Wrinkles and marked expression lines

5.    Rupture of capillary and spider veins

6.    Disorders of pigmentation

What are the long term consequences of sunburns?
The more complex complications of sunburns include malignant melanoma and epidermoidal cancer; 90% of these cancers appear in skin areas exposed to sunlight such as the face, neck, ears, hands and forearms.

What can you do to prevent sunburns?

1. Cover yourself – use hats, caps, and shirts.

2. Use sunscreen with Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or more; take into account that sunscreens with SPF over 30 protect about the same.

3. Wear sunglasses

4. Limit exposure to direct sunlight and avoid exposure to sunlight between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM.

 

Are there any medical and aesthetic treatments to reverse sun damage and deal with its consequences?

 

Yes, there are. After all, looking good is also healthy, and there are different types of treatments and therapies, such as:

• BOTOX ® injection is an effective treatment for wrinkles. It immobilizes the muscles responsible for wrinkles and softens their appearance as well.

• Collagen and hyaluronic acid treats wrinkles and lines caused by sun exposure due to the loss of skin's natural collagen.

• Chemical peels and micro-dermabrasion treatments remove dead cells and the outer layers of the skin with a spray of fine crystals. It can also be used to stimulate the growth of new skin. These two techniques are excellent to eliminate or reduce both the scars and minor defects such as damages caused by the sun.

 

The newest therapy for skin rejuvenation is platelet-rich plasma, which is extracted from your own blood. It causes a natural and permanent stimulus on skin cells that give a healthy, youthful and smooth appearance to skin. The technique has no risks or complications because it's your own blood; in simple words, the treatment consists on “rejuvenating your skin with your own stem cells."

There is also a variety of treatments with laser and lighting techniques that can be used, such as intense pulsed light therapy (IPL) and laser skin rejuvenation. However, these treatments are more expensive and require a long period of no sun exposure.

 

The bottom line is…do you and your skin have the same age? Cherish your skin while it is still healthy! And remember -- it is never too late to start protecting it!

Dr. Eduardo Villalobos Villar, Msc
Surgeon, Cod 10 129
Masters in Aesthetic Medicine & Anti-Aging
Universidad Argentina John F. Kennedy

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