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Protecting your skin against the sun is not should take for granted. Sun damage has a cumulative effect. This means that as you age, the damage that the sun has inflicted upon our skin will become increasingly evident.

Studies have shown that both UVA and UVB radiation are responsible for solar damage to the skin. They confirm that the photoaging caused by radiation occurs in the first 20 years of our life. Therefore, the sooner you begin taking precautionary measures, the better off your skin will be.

The cumulative effects of chronic sun exposure on the skin are called dermatoheliosis. The transformation in the skin range from benign propagation of skin cells (hyperplasia) to epidermal dysplasia and neoplasia, both of which can be benign or malignant.

Dermatoheliosis also leads to hyperpigmentation, photoaging and blotchy pigmentation. Solar damage promotes an abnormal deposition of clumps of elastin within the dermis, which is called elastosis. Elastosis is what leads to wrinkling.

As you age, your skin becomes more brittle and less capable of protecting itself from the sun. Also, by the time you turn 70 the melanocytes, cells that produce melanin, per unit area will have declined by about 40%. Since melanin protects you from photodamage, a decrease in the amount of melanocytes means skin that is more susceptible to damage.

Long Term Skin Protection from Dermatoheliosis

Don't forget to protect your skin against sun damage by applying sun protection every day, even on cloudy days. The right skin care products with UVA and UVB protection are ideal. The proper clothing such as wide-brimmed hats and long-sleeved shirts are also essential to protect against sun damage.