Patient Education
September 20, 2023
5 min read
Finesse Plastic Surgery

Sun Safety: Prevent Signs of Aging

Protect yourself from the sun to minimize wrinkles and age spots. Learn sun safety tips including sunscreen, clothing, and avoiding peak sun hours.
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Do yourself a favor this summer and protect yourself from the sun. While an hour here and there without sunscreen might not seem like a big deal, exposure to the sun over a lifetime will significantly speed up the signs of aging. To minimize wrinkles and age spots, and reduce your risk of developing skin cancer, be sure to practice sun safety this summer.

Sun Exposure & Your Health

Sun exposure causes many skin changes that we associate with aging. Over time, ultraviolet (UV) rays emitted by the sun damage elastin in our skin. These are fibers that help to keep skin looking smooth and taut. When these break down, signs of aging such as wrinkles and discoloration begin to appear.

To help prevent these signs of aging, it is important to limit exposure to the sun. This is also important to help prevent skin cancer, which can be caused by sun exposure.

  • Avoid the sun when the rays are strongest. Stay out of the sun in the middle of the day, from around 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when the sun's rays are generally the strongest.

  • Wear clothing that covers exposed skin. Protect skin from UV rays by wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants or long skirts.

  • Apply sunscreen. When outdoors in the sun, apply sunscreen liberally and frequently. Also pay attention to sun protection factor (SPF) values. You should use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or above.

  • Use a hat and sunglasses to protect scalp and eyes. Protect your ears, eyes, forehead and scalp by wearing a brimmed hat. You can also wear sunglasses with UV ray protection to cover the delicate skin around the eyes.

  • Avoid tanning beds and lamps. Tanning beds and lamps are also a source of skin-damaging UV rays.

To help patients choose from numerous products on the market, Finesse Plastic Surgery offers several sunscreens that promote healthy skin. These include ZO® OCLIPSE-C™ Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 50 and fenix® Ultra Protection Sunscreen SPF 30+. If you are interested in either of these sunscreens, we will be happy to discuss their benefits.

At Finesse Plastic Surgery, we offer a wide range of products and services to help you achieve the aesthetic goals that you desire. If you have questions about proper skin care or skin rejuvenation procedures, please contact us.

Contact us at (714) 978-2445 to learn more about sun safety and schedule your consultation.

FPS

Finesse Plastic Surgery

Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon specializing in breast augmentation, body contouring, and facial procedures. Dr. West brings extensive experience and expertise to help patients achieve their aesthetic goals with natural-looking results.

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