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We all love
the look a suntan gives us, bronze coloring that makes our skin
look glowing, seems to cover up those little imperfections and
makes us look like we spent a week at the beach.
Although these
are visual positives, the negatives far out way the benefits.
The sun is
the single most item that ages the skin. In Mammoth, we are at
a high altitude and the sun is much stronger, and it can take
only a few minutes to be sunburned.
The facts
are that it's not just a severe sunburn that can damage the skin.
Its those 5 to 10 minutes we are outside and get stopped by a
friend at the post office to chat, the quick walk with the dog,
and those short hikes, that take longer than we expected, all
the while we didn't put on sunscreen thinking we don't need it
if we are not sunbathing or skiing etc.
Studies have
shown that a week with these little bits of sun exposure are as
damaging as a full day lying in the sun at the beach. We don't
see the damage immediately, i.e., the sunburn. However, in time,
fine lines, and pigmentation (brown spots) and even skin cancer
can be the negative effect of the tan.
Wearing sunscreen
on a daily basis is important to keeping your skin healthy and
youthful. If you are performing actively in the sun, you should
reapply every two hours. Once a day is not enough, if you plan
on being outdoors all day long; even that SPF 45 will need to
be reapplied.
There are
two basic types of sunscreen — a physical block, such as
zinc oxide, titanium dioxide that works at physically preventing
the suns rays from reaching the skin and a chemical block, such
as parasol and Octinoxate that work at repelling or bouncing off
rays from damaging the skin.
Someone with
sensitive skin, Rosaceae, capillary activity (red cheeks or skin
that flushes easily) should avoid chemical sunscreens, because
they are triggers for aggravating the redness. Sunscreens have
come a long way from the smelly, sticky, thick, white messes they
used to be.
At belladonna
Skin Care and Massage, we carry a full line of Dermalogica sunscreen,
that includes sensitive skin sunscreen, foundation with sunscreen,
tinted moisturizers with sunscreen and the all natural mineral
make-up line of cosmetics by Jane Iredale, (similar to Bare Essentials)
that include Liquid Mineral make-up, loose powder and pressed
powders, all with sunscreen.
There are
many self-tanning products that can provide a fake tan, without
the damaging effects of tanning beds or the suns rays.
Call belladonna
Skin Care & Massage for an appointment to discuss which products
are best for you, (760) 934-3344.
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