As I have preached for many years, applying sunscreen on a daily basis is the most powerful preventive tool to protect against the appearance of aging skin. Increasing clinical evidence shows that if you use sunscreen every day, you will not only prevent photodamage, but you will also see fewer fine lines and pigmentation changes.
A recent study published in Dermatologic Surgery, a prestigious medical journal, researched 32 women, ranging in age from 40-55 years old, who all used a sunscreen with SPF of 30 every day for one year. During the examination, the researchers assessed each women using photography and self-assessment questionnaires every 3 months.
The doctors conducting the study thought that they would see the skin remain in its previous state without sun-related damage. They were frankly surprised to see that the skin not only did not visibly age, but they actually saw significant improvement in the skin’s appearance over that year.
Other dermatologists assessed these same photos independently, and saw significant improvement in all aspects of photodamage starting at week 12 and continuing until the end of the study. Skin texture and pigmentation rated as 40-52% improved over the first year, while fine lines reduced 18-34%.
The women themselves also saw significant improvement. 68.8% of them reported that the sunscreen helped their skin look more firm, and with a greater degree of skin tone and texture.
The theory is that the skin is always trying to repair itself from damage caused by sun exposure. By blocking the sun’s damage with the daily use of sunscreen, your skin is allowed not only to repair old damage, but also to get back to looking healthier. Sun protection with sunscreen allows the skin to repair itself and even improve.
In this study, the improvements occurred continuously over the course of a year and did not worsen during the summer. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of using sunscreen every day to improve the signs of aging and reduce the risk of skin cancer.
Protect your skin from sun damage and help reverse it by using sunscreen every single day regardless of whether the current season is winter, spring, summer, or fall. In fact, our website offers an excellent array of quality sunscreens.
Wherever you buy your sunscreen, whether it’s from Maine Laser Skin Care or not, make sure it is broad spectrum (i.e. able to protect you from both UVA and UVB rays) and has an SPF of at least 30. If you happen to have last year’s sunscreen hanging around the house, check the expiration date on it because all sunscreens eventually expire. If the expiration date has indeed passed, it is okay to throw the sunscreen out.