News Taffy

Do you worry about getting wrinkles, crows feet and age spots on your face? Have you considered any type of cosmetic procedure to reduce the appearance of wrinkles or get rid of them altogether? Or are you still young enough that you don’t have wrinkles and haven’t given them a thought? If you like the way your skin looks now, you had better start to take care of it so that it stays that way as long as possible.

One of the main reasons our skin ages is largely within our control - sun exposure. Many doctors now say that years of sun exposure is the leading cause of wrinkles and other types of skin damage. Despite all the news reports on TV and in magazines and newspapers about the dangers of sun exposure, teens and young people still want to have a tan. More alarming is that teens and twenty somethings think that tanning beds are a safe alternative. I overheard a conversation between two young women discussing going to the tanning bed to get a “base tan” before going to the beach. We are vain enough to want that tan when we are young but we are not smart enough to recognize that the sun causes that wrinkly, spotty, leathery look by age 40 or so.

I keep preaching to any within earshot that the reason I don’t look 52 is that I have stayed out of the sun when possible and used sunscreen earlier and more often than most people my age. Though I have seen some research suggesting that spray tans may also be harmful, there is nothing definitive yet. So if you must have a tan, use a self tanning lotion, wipes or go to a salon that offers spray tans.

Don’t think that surgery, Botox, creams or any other procedure will totally fix the sun damage you accumulate through the years. As with any other disease, prevention is better than a cure. So keep these simple rules in mind and share them with everyone.

*The sun causes your skin to age more quickly and can cause brown spots and skin cancer.

*Limit sun exposure by avoiding the sun between the hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., when the sun’s rays are the strongest.

*If you must be out, wear protective clothing and a hat and sunglasses to shade your face.

*Wear sunscreen of at least 30 SPF on exposed skin year round. 

* Yes, you can burn on a cloudy day, even during the winter. 

*Even dark skinned people can burn or suffer skin damage over time. 

*Tanning beds are not safe and harm your skin just the same as the sun.

I have written about this topic before, but the message is just not reaching everyone. So before you tan this summer, think about the wrinkles you’re causing if skin cancer isn’t enough to scare you back indoors.

Until next week,

Lisa