The Beatles first sang “Here Comes the Sun” in 1969 while producing their Abbey Road Album. And while it’s long been considered a lovely ballad by music critics, it may not resonate with southwest Florida residents because we feel like we’ve always got the sun, especially in the summer.

That said, if you see or feel the sun coming, it’s likely coming on strong, and the medical staff and aestheticians at Naples-based Tru Glō Medspa urge you to take appropriate measures to protect your skin from its damaging rays. Excess sun exposure is one of the biggest causes of premature skin aging. It plays a more significant role in developing wrinkles, age spots, collagen breakdown, and irregular skin cells (moles and other blemishes) than genetics, smoking, poor diet, or stress. It’s also the leading contributor to the development of skin cancer.

How the Sun Affects Your Skin

The sun emits a spectrum of ultraviolet (UV) radiation that penetrates and damages your skin. Longwave “UVA” rays penetrate deeply into the thickest layer of skin known as the “dermis.” Over time, this UVA penetration can cause premature skin aging and wrinkling. It also suppresses the immune system and plays a role in skin cancer formation. Medium wave “UVB” rays only penetrate the skin’s surface area, but also cause skin damage over the longer term. UVB rays cause sunburns and play a vital role in developing cancer and melanoma. The shortest waves—“UVC”—theoretically represent the most damaging threat, but our atmosphere blocks them. Sunlamps, suntanning booths, and beds also produce the same harmful UV rays emitted by the sun. Thus, you should take the same precautions with indoor tanning equipment as with the sun’s natural rays.

Protecting Your Skin from the Sun’s Damaging Rays

The easiest way to protect your skin from the sun is to remain inside during daylight hours. Of course, most of us live in Florida to enjoy the beautiful weather and natural outdoor beauty, so that’s not going to fly. When you go outside, you can protect your skin by wearing appropriate clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat, long-sleeved shirt, and full-length pants. You can also limit sun exposure by spending as much time possible in shady areas, especially between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. when the sun’s UV ray emissions are the strongest.

Absent these protective measures, the best preventive strategy for warding off sun damage is to consistently wear broad-spectrum sunscreen on all exposed body parts. Choose sunscreens with micronized zinc oxide and/or titanium oxide that physically block UV ray penetration. While chemical-based broad-spectrum sunscreens also block UVA and UVB rays, sunscreens with physical blocking properties are believed to be more effective.

Along with using a broad-spectrum sunscreen, make sure it has a minimum 15 sun protection factor (SPF) rating. Most dermatologists recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF of between 15 and 30. You can use higher SPF-rated sunscreens, but SPF 30 effectively blocks 97 percent of UVB rays. While SPF does not specifically rate the sunscreen’s protection from UVA rays, as long as it is also labeled as “broad spectrum,” it should protect from UVA rays, too.

Proper Use of Sunscreen

To get the most effective protection from your sunscreen, follow American Academy of Dermatology guidelines, which include:

• Apply sunscreen to dry skin at least 15 minutes before venturing outdoors.
• Apply enough sunscreen—typically at least one ounce—to cover all exposed skin.
• Exposed skin might include the tops of your feet, neck, ears, and top of your head, areas which people often neglect.
• Don’t forget to protect the lips by using a lip balm or lipstick with an SPF 30 or higher rating.
• Reapply sunscreen every two hours or whenever the previous application is compromised by swimming or sweating.
• When using sunscreen sprays, make sure to rub it in everywhere for even coverage.
• Do not rely on sunscreens that are more than three years old or have an expired expiration date.

Check Out the Medical-Grade Skin Care Products at Naples-Based Tru Glō Medspa

Tru Glō Medspa’s line of medical-grade skincare products includes an extensive selection of broad spectrum sunscreens to meet all of your skin protection needs. Offering compatibility with all skin types, contact our Naples, Florida-based medical spa to determine which of our sunscreens is perfect for your skin by calling 239-919-7009.