Some sunlight is both beneficial & beautiful

Early morning, just as the sun is coming up, is Ideal for soaking in some "good" rays. But alas, exposure of just 15 minutes and no more than 30 minutes in the morning after daybreak for your daily baskin.'

Sunlight can kick off the chemical and metabolic chain reaction that produces vitamin D. Research shows that many people have low vitamin D levels. There is a well-documented relationship between low vitamin D levels and poor bone health.

Sunlight may help shake off the blues, as it increases the levels of serotonin in the brain, which is associated with improved mood. Not surprisingly, serotonin levels are highest in the summer.

Sunlight exposure, particularly morning light impacts how much melatonin your brain produces. Melatonin may likely be what tells your brain when it is time to sleep.

Sunlight can be especially important in regulating our circadian rhythms; our natural body-clock. Our circadian rhythm tells our body when to sleep, when to wake, when to eat and when to release different mood-altering hormones.

However, unprotected direct sun exposure only takes 15 minutes to damage your skin.

Too much time in the hot sun can lead to a number of "not good" health conditions. These include sunburn, dehydration, hyponatremia, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke. In addition:

Exposure to UV radiation causes early aging of the skin and damage that could lead to skin cancer.

One way to determine "good" sunlight to "not good" sunlight is to follow the shadow rule:

If your shadow is shorter than you, the "not good" sun's rays are at their strongest, and you should find shade.

Take measures to protect your skin from ultraviolet (UV) radiation from direct exposure to sun or tanning beds. UV radiation has been linked to increased melanoma risk. And children who haven't been protected from sun exposure tend to develop more moles and freckles. 

Researcher Professor Michael Kimlin from QUT's AusSun Research Lab said a study found UV exposure during a person's first 18 years of life was the most critical for cancer-causing skin damage and skin aging.

It’s imperative that you and especially your children, follow these skin protection tips: 

• Avoid peak sun times. For many people in North America, the sun's rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Try to schedule outdoor activities for other times of the day, even on cloudy days or in winter. When you are outdoors, seek shade or use a sun-protective umbrella.
• Use sunscreen year-round. Apply sunscreen about 30 minutes before going outdoors, even on cloudy days. Use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Apply it generously and reapply every two hours — or more often if you're swimming or sweating. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.
• Cover up. Sunglasses, broad-brimmed hats, long sleeves and other protective clothing can help you avoid damaging UV rays. You might also want to consider clothing that's made with fabric specially treated to block UV radiation.
• Avoid tanning lamps and beds. Tanning lamps and beds emit UV rays and can increase your risk of skin cancer.
• Be extra careful around water and sand. These surfaces reflect the damaging rays of the sun, which can likely increase your chance of getting a sunburn.
• Keep babies younger than 6 months old completely covered and in the shade.Keep babies younger than 6 months old completely covered and in the shade.

While much of sun damage is permanent, proper treatment can reduce some signs of sun damage that are making you look older. To treat signs of aging, board-certified dermatologists often use more than one type of treatment to give you a more natural and healthy appearance. Derm Texas will research, appropriately select and then apply the most suitable ensemble of dermatological medical and cosmetic treatments for your particular skin type and condition to achieve best results.  

Do not overlook the seriousness of wearing sunglasses.

UV light ages all structures of the eye. Corneal damage, cataracts and macular degeneration are all possible chronic effects from UV exposure and can ultimately lead to decreased vision. Long-term consequences can result in serious vision threatening eye conditions like cataracts or macular degeneration. After exposure, symptoms appear within eight to 24 hours. Similar to burning your skin, you can experience a wide range of symptoms with an eye sunburn.

Damage to your eyes that results from sun exposure is, unfortunately, not easily treatable. The retina, cornea, and macula generally remain permanently damaged when overexposed to UV light. It is imperative to wear quality sunglasses. Not only can they be a fashion statement but also provide critical and necessary protection for your eyes. 

The eye is one of the most sensitive areas on your body and it is relatively easy to unknowingly damage them. The same UV rays that damage skin are the same rays that may seriously damage your eyes. 

How do you know if your eyes have UV damage? In addition to pain, photokeratitis symptoms may include:

• Red Eyes.
• Watery Eyes.
• Blurry Vision.
• Headaches.
• Gritty Feeling in the Eyes.
• Sensitivity to Light.
• Halos Around Lights.
• Twitchy Eyelids.

For your skin, sun damage is reversible to some extent; but one can't completely undo the changes to your skin. But, no matter how many years of sun damage your skin has suffered;

It's not too late to start reversing the damage.

Consider scheduling an appointment with Derm Texas to talk with our board certified dermatologist about designing an individualized treatment plan that may help take your skin back to its younger, healthier days. 

This above is general information and discussion about medical, cosmetic and surgical dermatology. The words and other content provided above, and in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. If the reader or any other person has a medical concern, he or she should consult with an appropriately-licensed dermatologist or other health care worker. Derm Texas images, brochures, descriptions of procedures, websites and other advertising material are intended solely for illustration examples of our services and products and do not represent our patient or any individual or results.