Did you know that the sun is more responsible for aging of the Skin then the actual aging process? Yes, that’s right. UV rays originating from the sun are the primary cause of sun spots, wrinkles, reduction in skin elasticity, pigmentation, as well as the degradation of skin texture. In fact, scientific studies have observed that effects of the sun are responsible for about 80-90% of how old or young one looks according to their age!
Meaning that how one looks right now could be as a result of how much sun they’ve been exposed to. Here’s a breakdown of the complex relationship between the sun and the skin.
Ultraviolet rays
For those who may have missed it in Biology class, sunlight consists of two vital components; Ultraviolet A and Ultraviolet B. When these rays come into contact with one’s skin, they generate free radicals that cause a lot of harmful effects to your physiology.
For starters, they Damage the DNA, proteins and cellular structure. They also result in the damage of connective tissue such as elastin and collagen within the varying layers of your skin. Lastly, they cause harm to the sensitive cells that are present in one’s eyes.
UVB
Looking at these rays separately, UVB can at times be useful. In fact, in minimal amounts, UVB rays result in the synthesis of Vitamin B for the skin. They also cause tanning via specialized skin cells known as melanocytes that produce more melanin.
Unfortunately, most tanning enthusiasts have no idea that tanning is an automated response to DNA damage. The more tanning one does, the more DNA damage they get. Apart from this, UVB rays are also the main cause of sunburns worldwide.
UVA
On the other hand, UVA rays have a much deeper penetration capability as compared to UVB. In turn, they damage varying skin structures such as elastin and collagen. Surprisingly, despite their deep penetrating range, they do not stimulate tanning. Instead, they play a big part in the aging and deterioration of one’s skin.
So it’s no surprise that some animals come naturally equipped with anti-sunburn features as you can read if you view story.
Sun Exposure results in 90% of Changes Linked to Aging
| Photo from Unsplash |
According to the World Health Organization report, a consistent over exposure to sunlight can result in severe conditions such as skin cancer, cataracts, and eye inflammation.
It seems that the immune system also happens to be a victim of the harsh effects of the sun. Repeated exposure to unforgiving UV rays can result in reduced efficiency of the immune system, greatly increasing the chances of contracting diseases.
Moreover, overexposure will also result in the reduction skin elasticity. This is where the age factor comes into play. With reduced elasticity, the texture of the skin changes, leading to sags and bags; not to mention premature wrinkling.
Therefore, it’s vital that one pays just as much attention to the health of the skin as they would to that of their heart. Remember, the skin is the largest organ of the body. Plus it plays an important role in one’s appearance and societal status. Simply put, a healthier skin will mean a happier life!
