It's Ultraviolet Awareness Month: Are You Keeping Your Skin Safe?

Keeping your skin safe in the Florida sun is no easy feat. As invigorating as the sunshine may feel, it also brings a host of dangers to your body. Since Ultraviolet Awareness Month is celebrated every May, it’s the perfect opportunity to remind yourself of the sun’s negative impacts on your skin and the most effective strategies available to prevent and heal the sun damage in the future.

The Dangers of Ultraviolet Light

Ultraviolet light, or UV light, is one of the many forms of the sun’s energy received by the Earth. UVA and UVB rays break through the ozone layer and atmosphere, but since they are not visible to the naked eye, it’s difficult to know when and how intensely UV rays are penetrating your skin. Unfortunately, as our planet’s ozone layer has become weaker, a higher percentage of UV rays have been able to enter the atmosphere and pose serious threats to the health of your skin.

UV rays have the power to directly impact the DNA and health of your skin cells. This is what leads to sunburn, wrinkling, discoloration, and the formation of skin cancer. It isn’t just hot, sunny days that can cause skin damage; these harmful UV rays are even present on cloudy days when the sun doesn’t feel like a direct threat. As soon as you walk outside, your skin becomes vulnerable to UV rays, so it’s always important to utilize prevention methods.

Protecting Your Skin From UV Damage

There are many different strategies that you can utilize to enjoy the sun without putting your skin in harm’s’ way. First, try to maximize your time outside before 10 am and after 4 pm. Since the sun is strongest between 10 and 4, you can minimize your risk of sun damage by simply avoiding exposure during the worst time. Light, protective clothing can also make a big difference in protecting your chest, arms, and legs. To keep your face and neck healthy and safe, wear a hat with a wide brim, sunglasses, and SPF 30 sunscreen.

If sun damage has already gotten the best of your skin, there are fortunately many different cosmetic treatments you can utilize to rejuvenate your skin and eliminate signs of sun damage. Brickell Cosmetic Center & Spa offers a number of treatments like the HydraFacial, Microdermabrasion with LED, and Pixel RF to remove signs of sun damage from the skin and stimulate deep healing that returns the skin to its former healthy state. Call us today to make the appointment that will shed years from your appearance and help you feel better than ever!