The Easiest Way to Fight the Signs of Aging

(ARA) - The sunscreen confusion continues in the United States. For more than two years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been promising a revised monograph for sunscreens. A recent announcement disclosed that the final portions of the sunscreen Final Monograph will not be released until later this year. Exposure to UV light causes wrinkles, hyper pigmentation and saggy skin. Most importantly, exposure to UV rays has been linked to skin cancer. UVA (sometimes referred to as “long wave radiation”) carries less energy than UVB rays but penetrates more deeply into the skin and underlying tissues. Intense, prolonged exposure to UVA can damage underlying structures in the dermis and cause premature aging of the skin. In fact, close to 90 percent of the visual characteristics associated with aging: fine lines, wrinkles, loss of elasticity and hyper pigmented spots, now appear to be greatly increased by sun exposure to UVA.

Sunscreen is still the single most-effective skin care product on the market. Skin should always be protected by an SPF of at least 15 to protect against damage. Some of the most comprehensive sunscreens available are from DDF (Doctor’s Dermatologic Formula). DDF sunscreens block between 75 and 85 percent of UVA rays using a combination of avobenzone, zinc and titanium dioxide. (Avobenzone or PARSOL 1789 is the current industry favorite for UVA protection but has been shown to degrade very quickly in the sun. DDF combines it with other ingredients for uncompromising protection).

“The best anti-aging product on the market is sunscreen,” says Dr. Howard Sobel, a top New York dermatologist and DDF founder. “No new discovery or ‘magic ingredient’ will ever be more effective at preventing wrinkles and age spots than a sunscreen of SPF 15 or greater.”

Dr. Sobel has the following advice on selecting the right sunscreen for your skin:

• Look for formulations that contain micronized particulates of effective ingredients (usually zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) since they provide the most uniform coverage. Micronization allows the particles to get close together, preventing gaps in protection that could cause spotty sun damage. The smaller the particles, the more even the sun shield on the skin.
• The easiest way to remember to wear sunscreen on a daily basis? Pick a multi-purpose product that contains protection. Many moisturizers are now available with SPF to make the morning routine that much easier. And, if you like your daily-use product, you are more likely to remember to put it on every day.
• If you don’t like the way sunscreen feels on the skin or are concerned that sunscreen will cause your skin to break out, look for oil-free or gel products developed for oily skin. Sensitive skin would do best with a product that acts as a physical barrier meaning that the ingredients are not absorbed into the skin reducing the potential for irritation.
• Select a sunscreen that offers more than just sun protection. For example, DDF sunscreens contain the proprietary DDF Redox Antioxidant Complex, eleven antioxidants that nourish skin, repair past damage, reduce inflammation and prevent future free radical damage. Expect the best from your skin care products and look for those that “multi-task.”

Courtesy of ARA Content