As we age our skin also age and looses its shine and elasticity, and how does sun plays its part in it? Please go through the link to know more

1. What is skinaging and how does sun play its part in it?
Without protection from the sun, even a few minutes per day can cause the skin to prematurely age
and over time, the negative effects will be highly noticeable. Sun Damage usually presents as
freckles, age spots, rough or leathery skin, broken blood vessels, blotchy skin, actinic keratosis and
even skin cancer.
Photo Aging is a common term used by dermatologists, simply describing aging caused by sun
exposure. The degree to which any individual experiences photo aging depends on their skin color,
their lifetime of sun exposure, and their lifestyle history.
Those with fair skin typically present with signs of photo-aging sooner and with greater severity,
than those with dark skin. This is not to say however, that dark skinned individuals are exempt from
the negative effects of the sun!
Scientific research shows that with repeated sun exposure, the skin loses its ability to repair itself
efficiently. UV exposure is known to break down collagen as well impact elastin, eventually
resulting in skin with an inability to spring back, presenting with fine lines and wrinkles. In addition
to affecting skin laxity & structure, the sun can discolor and create hyper-pigmentations.
The best line of defense against photo aging is comprehensive sun protection:
Avoid deliberate tanning, including tanning beds
Avoid sun exposure between 10 am – 4 pm, as this is when the sun’s rays are the strongest
Wear a wide-brimmed hat, and long sleeves during the day with an awareness of body parts that
might be exposed. Ie. Back of the neck, legs, feet, ears, scalp
Apply sunscreen that is BROAD-Spectrum year round with an SPF of 30+. Sunscreen should be
applied 20 minutes before going outside and reapplied after sweating or swimming
Consider including an oral supplement prior to sun exposure such as HelioCare™ which helps
protect your skin by building your body’s natural defense against UV. HelioCare has been
scientifically proven to reduce free radical damage & photo-aging.

2. Avoid skin care products that exacerbate free radical damage and move towards those that are
free of suspect ingredients.
Photoaging-
Photoaging or photoageing(also known as "dermatoheliosis") is a term used for the characteristic
changes to skin induced by chronic UVA and UVB exposure. Tretinoin is the best studied retinoid
in the treatment of photoaging.
The deterioration of biological functions and ability to manage metabolic stress is one of the major
consequences of the aging process. Aging is a complex, progressive process that leads to functional
and esthetic changes in the skin. This process can result from both intrinsic (i.e., genetically
determined) as well as extrinsic processes (i.e., environmental factors). Photoaging is attributed to
continuous, long-term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation of approximately 300–400 nm, either
natural or synthetic, on an intrinsically aged skin.
UVB rays are a primary mutagen that can only penetrate through the epidermal (outermost) layer of
the skin, resulting in DNA mutations. These mutations arise due to chemical changes, the formation
of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and photoproducts formed between adjacent pyrimidine bases.
These mutations may be clinically related to specific signs of photoaging such as wrinkling,
increasing in elastin and collagen damage.
The epidermal layer does not contain any blood vessels or nerve endings but melanocytes and basal
cells are embedded in this layer. Upon exposure to UVB rays, melanocytes will produce melanin, a
pigment that gives the skin its color tone. However, UVB will cause the formation of freckles and

3. dark spots, both of which are symptoms of photoaging. With constant exposure to UVB rays, signs
of photoaging might appear and precancerous lesions or skin cancer may develop.
Hyperpigmentation-
Hyperpigmentation can be caused by sun damage, inflammation, or other skin injuries, including
those related to acne vulgaris. People with darker Asian, Mediterranean, or African skin tones are
also more prone to hyperpigmentation, especially if they have excess sun exposure.
Many forms of hyperpigmentation are caused by an excess production of melanin.
Hyperpigmentation can be diffuse or focal, affecting such areas as the face and the back of the
hands. Melanin is produced by melanocytes at the lower layer of the epidermis. Melanin is a class
of pigment responsible for producing color in the body in places such as the eyes, skin, and hair. As
the body ages, melanocyte distribution becomes less diffuse and its regulation less controlled by the
body. UV light stimulates melanocyte activity, and where concentrations of the cells are denser than
surrounding areas, hyperpigmentation is effected. Can also be caused by using skin lightening
lotions. Another form of hyperpigmentation is post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. These are
dark and discolored spots that appear on the skin following acne that has healed.
Symptoms-
Early symptoms of photoaging:
• Dyspigmentation and the formation of wrinkles around regions of skin commonly
exposed to sun, namely the eyes, mouth and forehead.
• Spider veins on face and neck

4. • Loss of color and fullness in lips
Symptoms of photoaging attributed to prolonged exposure to UV:
• Wrinkles deepen and forehead frown lines can be seen even when not frowning.
• Telangiectasias (spider veins) most commonly seen around the nose, cheeks and chin.
• Skin becomes leathery and laxity occurs.
• Solar lentigines (age spots) appear on the face and hands.
• Possibly pre-cancerous red and scaly spots (actinic keratoses) appear.
• Cutaneous malignancies
References-
[1].http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photoaging
[2].http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperpigmentation
[3].http://www.dermatology.ca/skin-hair-nails/skin/photoaging/
[4].http://www.claritymedspa.ca/how-quickly-does-sun-exposure-damage-
age-skin/