Sun Exposure and Skin Cancer

The sun's rays make us feel good, and in the short term, make us look good. But our love affair isn't a two-way street. Exposure to sun causes most of the wrinkles and age spots on our faces. Consider this: One woman at age 40 who has protected her skin from the sun actually has the skin of a 30-year-old!
We often associate a glowing complexion with good health, but skin color obtained from being in the sun – or in a tanning booth – actually accelerates the effects of aging and increases your risk for developing skin cancer.
Sun exposure causes most of the skin changes that we think of as a normal part of aging. Over time, the sun's ultraviolet (UV) light damages the fibers in the skin called elastin. When these fibers break down, the skin begins to sag, stretch, and lose its ability to go back into place after stretching. The skin also bruises and tears more easily -- taking longer to heal. So while sun damage to the skin may not be apparent when you're young, it will definitely show later in life.

How Does the Sun Change My Skin?

Exposure to the sun causes:

• Pre-cancerous (actinic keratosis) and cancerous (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma) skin lesions - due to decreases in the skin's immune function
• Benign tumors
• Fine and coarse wrinkles
• Freckles
• Discolored areas of the skin, called mottled pigmentation
• Sallowness -- a yellow discoloration of the skin
• Telangiectasias -- the dilation of small blood vessels under the skin
• Elastosis -- the destruction of the elastic and collagen tissue (causing lines, wrinkles and sagging skin)

What Causes Skin Cancer?

Ultraviolet (UV) rays are an invisible form of radiation. They can pass through your skin and damage your skin cells. Sunburns are a sign of skin damage. Suntans aren't healthy, either. They appear after the sun's rays have already killed some cells and damaged others. 
Skin cancer is the most prevalent form of all cancers and the number of cases continues to rise. It is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal skin cells. This rapid growth results in tumors, which are either benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Basal cell and squamous cell cancers are less serious types and make up 95% of all skin cancers. Also referred to as non-melanoma skin cancers, they are highly curable when treated early. Melanoma, made up of abnormal skin pigment cells called melanocytes, is the most serious form of skin cancer and causes 75% of all skin cancer deaths. Left untreated, it can spread to other organs and is difficult to control.

To protect yourself:

• Stay out of the sun when it is strongest (between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.)
• Use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher
• Wear protective clothing
• Wear wraparound sunglasses that provide 100 percent UV ray protection
• Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds

Check your skin regularly for changes in the size, shape, colour, or feel of birthmarks, moles, and spots. Such changes are a sign of skin cancer.

Protecting your skin from sun damage is extremely important in order to retain youthful and healthy skin. The Medik8 Physical Sunscreen SPF30 provides immense protection from sun damage as well as from free-radical damage that is generated by UV exposure. This particular sunscreen contains potent, natural antioxidants as well as UV-absorbing substances. Combining all of these great ingredients and properties, the Medik8 Physical Sunscreen SPF30 works wonders in the fight to keep skin youthful, healthy, and glowing.
Unlike some other sunscreens on the market, the Medik8 Physical Sunscreen SPF30 does not leave behind a white or chalky residue on the skin. The formula absorbs very quickly into the skin, immediately providing effective protection. It is free from any chemical sunscreens and works at the optimum level with your natural skin. It is a broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection product that works 30 times your natural sun protection.
How To Use:
Apply the Medik8 Physical Sunscreen SPF30 to skin daily to ensure proper sun protection. Medik8 Physical Sunscreen SPF30 should also be applied after cosmetic/aesthetic procedures.
Main Benefits:
- Contains Zinc Oxide/Titanium Dioxide in order to provide broad spectrum protection against sun damage.
- Works to soothe and calm skin
- Includes Thiotaine, which is a natural antioxidant and amino acid that prevents UV damage, recycles Vitamin C, ensures energy production, and diminishes the appearance of pigmentation marks.
- Contains Red Algae, which produces the most potent and powerful UV-absorbing substances in nature.
- Provides SPF 30 and is Broad Spectrum
- Medik8 Physical Sunscreen SPF30 is 100% physical only sunscreen and does not contain any chemical sunscreens.
- This product is FDA approved and manufactured in a FDA approved facility.
- Convenient to use and easily absorbed into skin, without leaving any white residue behind.
- Combats early signs of ageing.