While you may love spending hours relaxing on the beach, you may not realize the damage the sun does to your skin. Although it may not be visible at first, the extended exposure to the ultra-violet rays does more than just turn your skin a golden tan. These harmful rays are broken into two categories and effect your epidermis on multiple levels.
The UVB rays, which range in wavelength from 290-315nm, do not penetrate the skin, but do cause sunburns. UVA rays, which occur at wavelengths of 315-400nm, penetrate the deeper layers and are largely responsible for DNA damage and pigmentation darkening. To give you a better understanding of what the anti-aging products you bought online are fighting against, our experts have explained how sun damage is affecting your skin.
After a day bathing in the sun, there are two main effects that you can expect to experience immediately. The most common issue is called erythema and refers to sunburn and redness. It can happen almost instantaneously and last up to three days. In more severe cases, it can lead to blisters and scars.
Another result of sun damage is immediate pigment darkening, which can set in after only a few minutes of exposure and fades a short time later. It occurs when UVA radiation causes the melanin to relocate in the skin cells. Since their location determines skin color, the movement can cause them to cluster together and lead to a temporarily altered coloration.
Anywhere from two hours to several weeks after the exposure, other issues can arise. Persistent pigment darkening is an extended variant of immediate pigment darkening and can last up to a day. As the melanin continues to shift, no new melanin is produced. Delayed tanning can also occur due to sun damage and typically takes three to five days to become noticeable. The rate at which it occurs and how long it lasts depends on the shade of your skin.
Along with temporary effects, sun damage can cause permanent damage to the epidermis. One of the most noticeable results it has on the skin is photoaging, which is caused by UVA rays. The signs of photoaging include wrinkles, blackheads, sun spots, and a decrease in collagen production. Some individuals can experience immunosuppression. It results in ultra-violet rays affecting the immune system by altering the operation of the cells that repair DNA damage and fight off infection.
In some cases, sun damage can result in photocarcinogenesis, which occurs after DNA has mutated due to extended exposure to ultra-violet rays. It is the result of immunosuppression as it reduces the likelihood the immune system will recognize damaged cells.
With all of these dangers, it is easy to see why everyone is urged to take care of their skin before, during, and after a day of lounging on the beach. If you would like to buy anti-aging products to help your skin recover from sun damage, we carry a wide selection of creams and masks that will nurture your skin on multiple levels.