While the baby oil beach days may have felt amazing and your neighbor states that it’s a good idea to visit the tanning booth before going on vacation in Maui, sun damage is no joke. Unprotected sun exposure leads to lines and wrinkles, age spots, dryness, skin discoloration and possibly even cancer. Over time, the UV rays from the sun destroy our skin’s elastin. When these fibers break down, the skin will begin to sag, stretch and lose elasticity. The next thing you know, you’re barely 40 and getting face lifts, collagen injections and wrinkle treatments to heal your damaged skin. The saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is especially true when it comes to sensible skin solutions.

Sun damage isn’t just manifested in sunburns or blisters. There are other effects that are more subtle but just as dangerous in the long run. For instance, deep wrinkles, dryness, freckles, mottled pigmentation and skin transparency are a few symptoms of sun damage. A yellow discoloration, known as “sallowness”, Telagiectasias, known as the dilation of small blood vessels beneath the skin, or Elastosis, known as the damaging of the elastic tissue that causes lines and wrinkles are telltale signs that skin solutions should be sought. Worst case scenario, pre-cancerous lesions appear as a result of the skin’s diminished immune function, which may also lead to full-blown cancer.

Though breast cancer and lung cancer get all the media publicity, skin cancer caused by sun damage is the most predominant. There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Ninety-five percent of all skin cancers are the basal cell and squamous cell types. Luckily, they are less serious and are very treatable if detected early. Seventy-five percent of all skin cancer deaths are a result of melanoma, which occurs when abnormal pigment cells (melanocytes) grow uncontrollably. What may start as skin cancer can spread to other organs and manifest itself as all sorts of cancerous mutations.

Skin cancer is usually detected via a biopsy, where the dermatologist takes a skin tissue sample and examines it beneath a microscope. Often times, the cancerous tissue can be removed and no other treatment is necessary. In some cases, basal cell or squamous cell cancer is treated by Mohs surgery, which cuts out chunks of the cancer. Electrodesiccation and curettage is a fancy name for the physical scraping away of the skin cancer cells, as well as electrosurgery to remove any trace of sun damage. Like any skin treatment, cryosurgery and laser therapy are both viable options. Drugs like Retinoids can also help restore a natural balance.

The human body ages and begins to show signs of this aging process as environmental factors contribute to wrinkles and sagging skin. Some people elect to go under the knife of a cosmetic surgeon but you do not have to be one of these people. Before you start thinking about cosmetic surgery you should consider some alternative methods for getting rid of those pesky wrinkles around your eyes and mouth. Creams and lotions can help stop the process and there are exercises you can do to tone up the face. Find out more by clicking here for more information:

To learn more go to Wrinkle Free Face Beauty Product and at Athena Wrinkle Cream and at Wrinkle Cream Tests

Tags: Sun Damage