UV Safety Month

by Anna Wilemon

July 2024

 I jumped for the July subject of UV safety month! I have so many things to share about sun safety you might not know that could change your skin’s life!

We all know that we need the beautiful sunshine for our Vitamin D and good mood, but it can also be our enemy when it comes to premature aging, sun damage and skin cancer.  There are different types of UV rays such as UVA / UVB rays which damage the skin in different ways.

• UVA causes your skin to produce free radicals which attack your healthy skin, therefore causes wrinkles and sunburns.
• UVB rays can cause sunspots (hyperpigmentation) and skin cancer. These rays can also cause seborrheic keratoses (SK’s) which can be unsightly and actinic keratoses (AK’s) which can be precancerous!

The good news is that your MidState provider can diagnose and find the proper treatment whether that be cryogen, laser, peels or a biopsy if needed.

Knowing about how UV rays effect your skin is important, so you know how to prevent damage, aging and texture of your skin. We all know the easiest way to prevent these things is to wear your sunscreen, but not just any kind. We always recommend a mineral based sunscreen. Our favorites for the face and neck are ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica Mineral Sunscreen (Tinted is beautiful) and SkinBetter Tone Smart Advanced Mineral Protection SPF. For the body, ISDIN Fusion Mineral Body SPF or EltaMD UV AOX Mineral Sunscreen Spray are fabulous!

Not only is SPF important, but if you are trying to keep your skin looking as young and healthy as possible, wearing a wide brimmed hat and SPF protective clothing will be your best friend to prevent those pesky sunspots and premature aging. Your body’s natural way of fighting the sun is to activate your melanocytes (dark cells) which creates pigmentation on our skin so the more we cover up, the less sunspots and damage we have in the future. As someone who treats her face with all the lasers, active skincare and chemical peels I try and protect my skin at all costs especially my face and neck. So even though folks look at me a little crazy, I always wear my full coverage makeup when I am going to be outside for any amount of time for another layer of protection over my SPF. This helps prevent even more pigment and redness from occurring, so all my hard work is not lost!

Have you ever noticed someone with a very red neck or chest, but you know they have not been in the sun lately? This is a condition called piokiloderma of Civatte. Sun exposure whether you have worked outside, suntanned, used tanning beds or walking to and from your regular activities over the years can cause this condition.  Piokiloderma is nothing to be concerned about medically, but some people can be self-conscious about it. The good news is that this condition can be treated with laser treatments we have here at MidState. Also, just another reason to wear your sunscreen everyday down your neck and décolleté whether you are on a boat, working outside, on a golf course, or running errands!

Even though the sun can be powerful in the summertime, we do have several treatments / lasers that are safe for patients during these hot months. Book your appointment now without missing a beach trip.

• MOXI
• Sofwave Ultrasound Therapy
• Vbeam
• Laser Hair Removal (wear your sunscreen after)
• BioRePeel
• Dermalinfusion
• Dermaplaning
• Microdermabrasion
• and Facials!