In the past, I've been sunburnt and haven't protected my skin as well as I should. Is it too late to prevent skin cancer and premature skin ageing?
Your skin is your largest organ and has a long memory. Sun exposure and ultraviolet (UV) damage is cumulative throughout your life. Research shows that sun damage contributes to more than 90% of wrinkles, brown spots, premature skin ageing as well as precancerous and cancerous skin lesions.
Limiting sun exposure is very important, as the UV rays cause the most damage to the skin. It often takes many years and sometimes decades for the effects to become visible.
But the good news is that taking care of your skin from now onwards may be able to help you to reduce the probability of skin cancers and minimise skin ageing.
What measures do medical experts recommend to maintain healthy skin?
Start sun-safe practices now and never stop. They will become part of your everyday routine and you will quickly become accustomed to them.
How do I go about repairing the damage to my skin or even reversing it?
We are talking about repairing your damaged DNA. Some of your skin cells will repair themselves naturally as they are equipped with natural repair enzymes to help repair sun-damaged DNA cells. However, with age, these repair mechanisms become less effective. They can be replaced with products which contain DNA repair enzymes.
Some medical experts recommend retinoid and topical retinoid, which are vitamin A derivatives. These may help shed damaged skin layers and rebuild damaged collagen. However, be aware that such treatments can lead to increased photosensitivity. So if you decide to use them, speak to your medical practitioner and make sure you practise sun protection rigorously.
Laser treatments may also help remove sun-damaged cells and stimulate collagen production. Some lasers may also be able to treat precancerous skin cancers lesions. It is best to speak to your dermatologist who should be able to advise you on which treatment is best suited.
You can find out more about Solbari's certified UPF50+ sun protective range by clicking the blue links below:
Women UPF50+
Men UPF50+
Sun hats UPF50+
Accessories UPF50+
The Solbari Team
This blog is for information purposes only, always consult a medical professional.
It is very difficult to the untrained eye to identify melanomas and skin cancers because they can come in many different shapes and sizes.
As Associate Professor Rosemary Nixon from the Skin & Cancer Foundation Inc. says, "the earlier a skin cancer is identified and treated, the better the chance of avoiding surgery, or in the case of a serious melanoma or skin cancer, potential disfigurement or even death."