By Dr. Nixcela Ares, Founder of Dr. NAR Beauty

What is Photo-aging?

Photo-aging is premature skin aging resulting from prolonged and repeated exposure to solar radiation. Photo-aging include fine and coarse wrinkles, depigmentation, and loss of skin elasticity. It can be prevented with the use of sun protection.

Individuals with fair and less pigmented skin are at increased risk for photo-damage and sun-induced skin cancer. Exposure to sunlight over a lifetime has a cumulative effect on the skin.

In populations with darker skin, wrinkling is not readily apparent until the age of approximately 50 years, and the severity is not as marked as in lighter-skinned populations of similar age.

What are the types of ultraviolet radiation?

The sun emits three different types of ultraviolet radiation: Ultraviolet A (UVA), ultraviolet B (UVB), and ultraviolet C (UVC).

Ultraviolet radiation A (UVA) and ultraviolet radiation B (UVB) are responsible for photo-aging with UVA being the major contributor. Ultraviolet C (UVC) is the most damaging types of UV radiation. However, it is completely filtered by the atmosphere and does not reach the earth’s surface.

Which is more harmful – UVA or UVB?

UVA is thought to have a larger role than UVB in photo-aging because it can penetrate deeper into the dermis than UVB and is at least 10-fold more abundant than UVB in terrestrial sunlight.

How does ultraviolet radiation damage the skin?

The mechanisms underlying UV-mediated damage to the skin’s connective tissue involves the formation of reactive oxygen species, cell surface receptor-initiated signaling, protein oxidation, and mitochondrial damage.

How does melanin protect the skin?

Melanin, synthesized by melanosomes in melanocytes, accumulate within keratinocytes and melanocytes and function by absorbing harmful UV rays to protect DNA and prevent cellular damage.

Does darker skin have more natural skin protection?

Greater amounts of melanin do confer greater protection against damage from UVA and UVB radiation. However, a common misconception is that persons with highly pigmented skin are not at risk for sun-related damage. Dark skin can burn, and anyone can get skin cancer.

 Does strict sun protection cause vitamin D deficiency?

Strict sun protection may increase the risk for vitamin D deficiency, but most individuals do not apply enough sunscreen for this to be a significant problem. Oral vitamin D supplementation is a safe, well-tolerated, and inexpensive alternative to achieve adequate vitamin D levels.

Are there other environmental factors that damage the skin?

 In addition to sun exposure, several environmental factors may contribute to premature aging of the skin such as:

• Air pollution– There is growing evidence that exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollutants, including lead, particulate matter (soot, exhaust, industry), nitrogen oxide (car exhaust), sulphur oxide (industrial plants), and ozone (ground level), may contribute to skin aging.
• Tobacco smoke– The role of smoking in accelerating skin aging is corroborated by observational and epidemiologic studies. The so-called “smoker’s face” is characterized by prominent perioral and periocular wrinkles and uneven complexion with a grayish hue. The mechanism of tobacco smoke leading to facial wrinkling is poorly understood but is thought to involve impaired collagen biosynthesis and collagen degradation.

What are the signs of photo-aging?

Sun-induced changes include fine and coarse wrinkles, solar elastosis, lentigines, mottled pigmentation, actinic keratoses, telangiectasias, loss of translucency and elasticity, xerotic texture, sallow color, actinic purpura, actinic elastosis, cutis thomboidalis nuchae, guttate hypomelanosis, precancerous lesions, skin cancer (basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma), and melanoma.

In darker skin, premature aging typically manifests in the midface with prominent nasolabial folds, due to increased skin laxity, but fewer wrinkles. Dyschromia can also be a prominent feature in these patients. Other signs may include mottled pigmentation, rough skin, dermatosis papulosa nigra, seborrheic keratoses, and solar lentigines.

How can photo-aging be prevented?

 The first line for photo-protection includes: sun avoidance and the use of sunscreens and protective clothing.

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation tends to be the strongest at peak hours (10 AM to 4 PM) during summer months and at high altitudes. Water, snow, and concrete can reflect up to 90 percent of the UV rays, whereas shade decreases the amount of UV by 50 to 90 percent. Staying away from the sun in the peak hours or seeking shade may considerably reduce sun exposure.

Daily use of broad-spectrum sunscreens, which provide protection against both UVA and UVB radiation, prevent premature aging of the skin. A sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or greater or applying a lower SPF sunscreen twice may ensure proper protection.

In addition to sunscreens, clothes, hats, and sunglasses provide uniform and reliable protection against UVB and UVA and are easy to use. Factors that increase the ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) in clothing include synthetic (e.g., polyester), tightly woven, thicker fabric, darker colors, and washing with optical whitening agents or UV-absorbing chemicals.

How is sun damaged skin treated?

There are several ways to naturally repair sun damaged skin: deep-cleansing your face, applying natural plant-based topical antioxidant, like the Dr. NAR Beauty Facial Moisturizer, eating antioxidant-rich foods, drinking plenty of water, getting good sleep and appropriate exercise.

Other treatments for sun damaged skin include: Botulinum toxin type A injection, chemical peels, dermal filler injections, dermabrasion, laser skin resurfacing, intense pulse light therapy, and tretinoin treatment.