Sun Damage and Aging Skin

It's a fact that sun damage and aging skin go hand in hand. The tricky part is that we do need some sun to be healthy.

The key to this dilemma seems to be the word, "damage." Somehow we need to ensure that we get the right amount of sun without creating damage to our skin.

Making the choice even more difficult is the fact that each of us seems to need a different amount of sunshine. Fortunately, there are some basic guidelines that will help you determine how much is right for you. We'll go over these in the next section.

But what about if some damage has already happened? Below we'll address that as well.

Getting the Right Amount of Sun

We need sun to increase our amount of naturally occurring vitamin D as well as to feel happy. Here are some general guidelines about how to get the best amount of sun possible for you:

  1. Avoid sunburn - If you're ancestors all lived in cloudy northern climates, you may only be able to get 10-20 minutes of sunshine in the middle of the day before you burn. On the other hand, if your ancestors came from areas of the world near the equator, several hours of sun might not cause burning.
  2. Build up gradually - After a long, dark winter in the northern parts of the world, your first exposure to sun should be limited. Gradually increase the amount you can tolerate without burning until you reach your natural limit
  3. Find ways to get sun even in winter - Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) happens when you don't get enough sunshine in the winter. If you live in a rainy or snowy environment, consider getting a device that provides you with full-spectrum light and use it every day.

Healing Sun Damaged Skin

There are 2 basic approaches to healing damaged skin - from the outside and from the inside. Both approaches are important to succeed.

From the Outside

The obvious choices here are creams and lotions as well as professional skin treatments.

Key idea: make sure your skin has enough moisture

From the Inside

Think about your food choices and your herbal and nutritional supplements to help heal your skin from the inside. We'll be having more information here on both outer and inner approaches healing sun damage and aging skin in the weeks to come.

In the meanwhile learn more about sun damage and aging skin.