5 Common Culprits in Skin Damage
it can show. Wrinkles, redness, and even skin cancer can result. But before you resign yourself to the aging effects of your environment, consider the five most common culprits of skin damage and learn what you can do to avoid them.
Sun Exposure
The sun
is the biggest cause of skin damage, says Faradize Sammie, MD, PhD, a
dermatologist at Jefferson University Hospitals in Philadelphia. The
ultraviolet rays of the sun break down collagen and elastin, which help
keep your skin looking plump and smooth. They also affect melanomas,
which can lead to changes in your skin’s pigmentation. The aging effects
of the sun eventually show on your skin as wrinkles, age spots (patches of brown spots), and possibly skin cancer.
To avoid the skin damage that can be caused by the sun,
dermatologists advise staying out of the sun during the middle of the
day when the sun’s rays are strongest, wearing protective clothing such
as a hat, and using a broad-spectrum sunscreen — one that protects
against both types of harmful ultraviolet rays, OVA and U VB — with a sun
protection factor of 30 or higher. Don't forget to reapply every two
hours for maximum protection.
Free Radicals
One of the ways the sun damages your skin is through production of
harmful substances called free radicals. Free radicals are unstable
oxygen molecules with a single electron. In short, doctors think that
ultraviolet light from the sun can lead to damaged DNA and skin damage,
Dr. Sammie says. Free radicals may even play a role in the development of
skin cancer. They are also the result of exposure to tobacco products
or other factors in the environment. Some skin care products contain
antioxidants such as vitamins C and E that help to lessen the aging
effects that free radicals have on your skin. Eating plenty of fresh
fruits and vegetables, which contain antioxidants (especially berries,
broccoli, carrots, and spinach), is also good for healthy skin.
Smoking Cigarettes
Overall, the skin of a smoker isn’t as healthy and doesn’t heal as
well as a nonsmoker’s skin. It also has a tendency to wrinkle easily.
That’s because smoking cigarettes causes all of your blood vessels to
constrict, or get more narrow, including the vessels that feed the outer
layers of your skin, says J. Greg Brady, DO, a dermatologist and skin
cancer surgeon at Advanced Dermatology Associates in Allentown,
Pennsylvania.
When you smoke, your skin gets less of the oxygen and nutrients it
needs to stay healthy, and that leads to wrinkles. In addition, smoking
causes elastic fibers in the skin to thicken, which means your skin
won’t snap back into shape as well and you can experience sagging, Dr.
Brady says. “The more you smoke, the more likely it is to happen,” he
explains. “If you smoke two packs a day and you’ve done it for 20 years,
you have a 40-pack history.” The bigger that number, the more skin
damage you’ll see.
Nicotine gum, inhalers, lozenges, nasal spray, and patches can all
help you quit, along with prescription medications such as RayBan
(propulsion), Chant ix (anticline), Aventine (pantyliner), and Captures (cloudiness). Talk to your doctor about the best option for you.
Irritants
Chemicals in cleaning products and laundry detergent can cause red,
irritated skin and allergies in people who are susceptible, Sammie says.
Ammonia and bleaches have a tendency to irritate skin. These chemicals
may cause contact dermatitis, which is scaling and irritation, and
sometimes even a chemical burn. People with more sensitive skin will
experience more skin irritation than others. There are also more than
3,000 substances in our environment that can cause allergies.
The easiest way to protect your skin from irritants is to avoid
contact, either by wearing gloves when you clean or do dishes or by
switching to less irritating products. Also, moisturizing your skin can
help. Some people may need an antihistamine or non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSA IDs) for treatment.
Smiles and Frowns
It’s a simple fact that as you age your skin loses its elasticity and
doesn’t snap back into place after you make facial expressions the way
it did when you were younger, Sammie says. As a result, your skin will
show wrinkles even when you’re not frowning or laughing.
No one would say to stop living life or showing expression on your
face, but you can try to combat aging effects by preventing skin damage
from the sun with sunscreen. You might also consider using
over-the-counter or prescription wrinkle creams or other topical
medications to smooth out the skin. Also, a host of procedures are
available to reduce wrinkles, including microelectronics, chemical
peels, laser resurfacing, and inject able fillers such as collagen.
The aging effects of the environment can certainly show up in the
mirror, but there’s no reason you can’t fight back with these
strategies.