Looking in the mirror has become a chore. You suddenly don’t go out as much. Even if you don’t have crow’s feet, the sight of them bothers you. Face it, you’re getting older.
Aging is defined technically as a process that involves changes in the structure and flexibility of the skin over time. It usually begins in your late adolescence but may begin as late as your late twenties. Our skin performs several functions. It examines senses including pressure, discomfort, and touch. It also shields us from the elements, aids in the balance of fluids and electrolytes, and, most importantly, aids in the control of our body temperature. Having said that, our skin is visibly overworked. The very least we can do is keep it safe from further damage.
Aging is mostly caused by one of two factors: natural physiological aging (no matter what we do, we will wrinkle) and UV exposure (which accounts for 95% of the wrinkles you may have currently). UV radiation is the adversary that we must resist. How are we going to fight it?
GET TO KNOW YOUR ENEMY
UV rays are classified into three types: UVA, UVB, and UVC. These are rated according on their wavelength. UVA photons have the largest wavelength range while UVC rays have the shortest.
UVA wavelengths are virtually completely safe. The risk is not non-existent, but it is very minor. UVA wavelengths are present in sunlight as it passes through conventional glass. Short UVA wavelengths are employed for tanning in the sun. However, this kind of tanning is not entirely risk-free. It still exposes your skin to UV radiation and speeds up the aging process. Furthermore, around half of all skin cancers are caused by sun tanning.
Unlike UVB and UVC, UVA does not directly harm DNA. It does not induce sunburn, yet it has the ability to penetrate deeply. UVA may generate reactive chemical intermediates, such as hydroxyl and oxygen radicals, that can disrupt DNA. UVA rays harm your skin’s collagen fibers.
Let us now discuss UVB. UVB can only be absorbed by your skin in trace levels. That is, no matter how little the exposure is, it is hazardous if it occurs on a daily basis. UVB, like UVA, may reduce Vitamin A levels in the skin. Unlike UVA, UVB radiation directly damages DNA. It wakes the DNA molecules in skin cells, creating a change in the expanding strand of DNA. This is a mutation that is detected in the majority of skin cancer cases. UVB induces collagen degradation as well, but at a slower rate than UVA.
UVC is the least penetrating because the epidermis, the outermost layer of your skin, is made up of dead cells. This section shields you from UVC rays. UVC is very harmful to living cells and has a burning effect.
PREPARE YOURSELF
The greatest thing you can do to protect yourself from these dangers is to use sunscreen every day. The more SPF (Sun Protection Factor) there is, the better. Sunblock/sunscreen with at least SPF 15 is recommended by experts for daily usage. If you’re going to the beach, bicycling, or hiking, your sunscreen should be at least SPF 30. It’s like having 15 layers of skin every day, or 30 layers of skin when you’re out in the sun a lot.
Don’t believe that if there is no sun, you may avoid UV harm. Even if there is no sun, use sunscreen. Remember that stronger UV rays may penetrate clouds and still do harm to your skin. These are the rays from which you should shield yourself. Some bulbs also emit UV rays, but at a lower intensity. Even if you’re just going to be indoors, it’s still a good idea to apply sunscreen.
There. That is all you need to combat aging. Remember to keep the concepts close at hand. Learn about your opponent first, and then arm yourself. It’s the “art of war”…the “art of beautiful war.”