The natural aging process of our skin is something we have little control over but there are things we can do to slow it down or minimize it. The sun can be detrimental to our skin and plays a major role in its premature aging. With skin that has regularly been exposed to the sun, up to 90% of aging is due to the sun’s rays. Taking steps to protect your skin from the sun is the best way to help maintain younger looking skin. It can also be beneficial to include medical grade skin care products in your daily skincare routine.
Defend Your Skin
In addition to premature aging of the skin, overexposure to the sun’s damaging UV rays can result in severe sunburn, eye damage, and skin cancer. The best defense is to minimize your exposure to them. The American Cancer Society recommends taking the following steps to protect your skin.
- Cover up: When you are out in the sun, wear clothing and a wide-brimmed hat to protect as much skin as possible. Protect your eyes with sunglasses that block at least 99% of UV light.
- Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher: Reapply at least every 2 hours, as well as after swimming or sweating.
- Seek shade: Limit your direct exposure to the sun, especially between 10 am and 4 pm when UV rays are strongest.
- Avoid tanning beds and sunlamps: Both can cause serious long-term skin damage and contribute to skin cancer.
Photoaging
Aging of the skin due to sun damage is known as photoaging. This type of skin aging typically results in wrinkling, sunspots, and other pigmentary changes. With more severe photoaging the results can include enlarged glands, visible blood vessels, thickening skin and skin cancers. Being vigilant with the aforementioned precautions can help you avoid photoaging. While severe photoaging will require a more radical approach, early signs such as sunspots, wrinkles or hyperpigmentation can be significantly reduced by medical grade skin care products and other non-invasive treatments.
Medical Grade Skin Care
There is a variety of medical grade skin care products available. Understanding their benefits and deciding which is best for your skin can be confusing. Your physician or medical aesthetician will be able to determine which products can provide the best results for your skin’s specific condition.
Both SkinMedica and Obagi Medical offer a complete line of medical grade skin care to combat the signs of aging and sun damage. Many of these products are infused with sunscreen to help prevent future damage as well as retinols, vitamins and other nutrients to promote cell growth and skin rejuvenation.
Laser Treatments
In addition to medical grade skin care, laser treatments are another non-invasive method of dealing with aging or sun damaged skin. The PicoSure laser can address skin issues such as fine lines and wrinkles, age spots and brown spots caused by the sun. PicoSure delivers light energy at such an incredible speed that it easily penetrates the skin’s deeper layers to reduce the signs of aging and sun damage.
Consult Your Medical Professional
Let’s face it, we all want to look our best. At Vive Medical Weight Loss and Aesthetics, we can get you there. Our goal is to help you look your very best and ensure your experience with us is as relaxing and comfortable as possible.
Dr. Pinto has had extensive training in aesthetic medicine. His artistic talent combined with his comforting bedside manner allow him to put his patients at ease throughout their procedure. With a precise touch, Dr. Pinto can help erase the evidence of aging while retaining your individual characteristics that make you who you are.
Vive is proud to provide SkinMedica, Obagi Medical, PicoSure laser and many medical aesthetic services. To learn more and to find out which of these services is right for you, schedule a consultation today!
