December 19, 2003, Newsletter Issue #104: Sun Smarts

Tip of the Week

Proper nutrition, good health and hygiene practices are essential to healthy living, looking better and feeling better about yourself. It is a subject I feel passionate about. The following information can change the way you feel about sun worship.

Did you know that your skin is your body’s largest organ? The skin is an open book to your state of health. Your skin is a dynamic, ever growing organ. It keeps the good things in and the bad things out. Perhaps the most important function of the skin is to provide the protective barrier on the outer surface of the body. This barrier controls the rate of water loss from inside the body and prevents water from getting into the skin from outside. Formation of new, healthy skin cells requires good nutrition and protection from harmful environmental stress.

The greatest environmental danger to the skin is the sun. Without sun exposure, the skin does not wrinkle, change color or become marred with spots. Excessive sun exposure damages the immune system in the skin, destroys both collagen and elastin production and kills some normal cells. Heat and cold also damage skin and reduce functionality. The environment contains many chemical agents that react with the skin and create free radicals which in turn react with the compounds in the skin. Fortunately, proper diet and proper hygiene practices can help reduce the visible signs of damage caused by the environment.

Start every day by cleansing your face and then apply a sunscreen specially formulated for your face with an SPF of 15 or more. The damaging UVB rays of the sun are present even on cloudy days, over time creating havoc on your skin. You will not notice the damage tomorrow when you look in the mirror. However, 20 years from now, you may find yourself staring at a stranger in the mirror, asking yourself "Why". The answer is the sun. What a terrible paradox that something so seemingly delightful as the glorious sun, can be so extraordinarily dangerous.
Just like brushing your teeth, putting on your sunscreen should be part of your DAILY (365 days/year) routine.

In case you were wondering...:

What Are Free Radicals?
A free radical is a chemical with a very reactive chemical bond. The chemical bonds, which hold atoms together to make molecules, contain pairs of electrons. A free radical essentially has no pair, therefore it will "steal" an electron from other molecules in order to gain a pair for its’ lone electron. The structure of the molecule that loses the electron is subsequently changed, thus causing damage.

What is Collagen?
Collagen is a tough protein that prevents the skin from tearing except under the most extreme conditions.

What is Elastin?
Elastin is a more delicate protein which provides elasticity to the skin so that when it is stretched, it goes back into shape.

Enjoy the outdoors, but play it safe in the sun. Your skin will thank you later.

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