Prevention is Always the Best Course of Action(Nat...

For some people, while sun protection is still important, no amount of “slip, slap, slop” will allow prevention of hyper-pigmentation, or a darkening of the skin, which is technically what a suntan is. Exposure to UV rays, whether natural or artificial, signals the skin to produce melanin, which causes the skin to darken naturally.

Some people, however, produce extra melanin even without the sun. In fact, it is the overproduction of melanin that causes freckles, age spots, dark under eye circles, and other skin problems. For these people, products containing a natural cell tint deactivator (tyrosinase inhibitor) can help.

Certain substances found in nature have a natural cell tint deactivator (tyrosinase inhibitor) as part of their make-up. These include such things as Vitamin E, ginkgo leaves, and an extract that is derived from the saffron plant. However, getting enough of the necessary ingredients can sometimes be different.

Recently, it has been shown that anthocyan, a type of polyphenol, has worked very well as a natural cell tint deactivator (tyrosinase inhibitor). Anthocyan can be derived from foods, such as blueberries, red cabbage, dark grapes or grape juice—in short, just about any food that has a natural deep coloration can be a source of anthocyan. When combined with other ingredients which are safe for use on the skin, the result is a skin lightening product.

Prevention is Always the Best Course of Action (Su...

Sun protection is so easy to achieve that there is really no excuse not to take advantage of the products and practices that afford it. In fact, there is a saying—“Slip, Slap, Slop”—that is designed to help people remember exactly how to do it. Let’s take each of these in order.

“Slip on a shirt.” This is what “slip” stands for, and it simply means cover up exposed skin. Wear light-colored clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt on top and pants on the bottom, in a tight enough weave that will not allow the sun’s rays to penetrate.

Some clothing manufacturers have actually designed garments that have a sun protection factor, or SPF, just as some sunscreens do. The clothes even come in varying degrees of SPF, from low to high. These garments have been especially welcomed by very fair-skinned people as well as parents who want to start the good habit of sun protection as early as possible in their children’s lives.

“Slap on a hat.” Wearing a hat will provide protection to the scalp and ears as well as the face. Some people forget, until it is too late, that the scalp and ears are just as vulnerable, if not more so, to sun damage as the face is. The wider brim a hat has the more sun protection it will have. However, even a baseball cap can afford some shade.

“Slop on the sunscreen.” This does not just mean suntan lotion, although it affords the greatest sun protection. It is a good idea to look for skin care products that contain ingredients that afford at least a minimal amount of protection. Many types of lotions and face make-up contain sunscreen, making it possible for a person to look good and still practice good skin damage prevention.

Prevention is Always the Best Course of Action

This is the first in a line of helpful post about how to protect your skin from thew sun. Skin lightening treatments are available, and in cases where hyper-pigmentation or hypo-pigmentation occurred either naturally or as a result of disease, trauma, or other reasons, can be deeply appreciated. Anyone who has a port wine stain birthmark or large areas of vitiglio-both natural occurrences-especially on the face, are probably thankful that they have access to such treatments. Those who suffer from psoriasis but have the disease well under control can also take advantage of these treatments. As with any condition, however, prevention is always the best course of action. And, where the skin is concerned, sun protection is the best method of prevention.

Melasma