Protect Your Skin
Protect Your Skin
Our skin is practically the largest and heaviest organ in our system. Most people may take for granted what our skin does for us. It not only shields us from any external and environmental factors such as bacteria, UV-radiation, heat, or cold, but it actually makes up how we look like. Have you ever imagined a person without any skin? Now, that’s a terrifying thought. An organism would cause that person’s internal organs to crash because of infection. This may be an extreme case, let’s make it simpler. Remember those times when you fell down and scraped your knees and some skin got peeled off? Not only did it hurt, but that part of your knee has opened itself to the germs around you. If you didn’t take care of it, it would probably have gotten infected and damaged.
It doesn’t mean that you damage your skin only when you get hurt. Your every day routine from walking outside in the sun during your lunch break might cause a harmful effect to your skin. Exposing yourself to sunlight may provide warmth, gives off Vitamin D, and has a psychological effect, but it is also considered to be a major cause of skin damage, skin aging, and skin cancer. These negative effects of sun exposure are due to the ultraviolet light.
Protecting your skin from any skin damage you get from sun exposure is the best way to keep a healthy, glowing, and youthful appearance as you get older. The essence of skin protection is sun protection. This should be the most important aspect of your skin care regimen, but it doesn’t mean to that you can consistently avoid the sun’s UV rays, unless you plan to live under a rock.
Even if you seldom go outside, and would avoid the sun, it still doesn’t guarantee that you will be protected from the kind of UV rays that causes skin aging. There are two types of ultraviolet radiation that affect the skin: UVB and UVA. UVB, which causes sunburn, cannot get indoors, while UVA, which causes skin wrinkles, can do so with ease. Ordinary window glass may block UVB, but UVA still gets through. Laminated glass and UV-blocking coated glass are the types of glasses that best blocks UV rays.
Staying under a shade whenever you are outside does not fully protect you from harsh UV radiation, because much of the UV radiation would still remain in the sunlight when it is reflected from water or other common surfaces.
So, here are some things you can do to prevent skin cancer and skin aging:
Avoid the sun at its peak hours. This is usually from 10 am to 4 pm.
Wear protective gear. This would be in the form of thick, dark, and tightly-woven clothes; sunglasses that cover as much of your face; or even a hat.
Use sunscreen that is at least SPF15.
Apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before sun exposure, and reapply regularly.
Use UV protection even on indoors.
Eat and drink right. Watch your diet, and take supplements that minimize the effects of UV damage.
