Ever think about how your skin looked in those younger photos? Supple skin, no pores to speak of, and all one color with no spot to find! Living in Florida has it’s perks, but also has damaging effects on our skin.
The Sunshine State averages a 7 or higher on the UV index scale over 6 months out of the year, an intensity that most of the country never even reaches in the height of summer. And during those dreaded June through August days, we average a 9 here in Central Florida. When we expose our skin without a sun block, we allow our skin to absorb UVA & UVB rays, causing damaging effects like skin cancer, pre-mature aging, and disliked visual side effects like wrinkles and spots.
When our skin is exposed, melanin in our skin cells is activated to overproduce, creating a “tan” or darker color to the skin. Sometimes the tan is even, sometimes it creates spots, and sometimes it causes a staining of the skin, known as melasma. All three of these is referred to as an uneven skin tone, and becomes more noticeable as we age due to multiple occurrences of exposed skin and our cell turnover decreasing.
So when the spots arrive, what do you do? Three major factors are key to seeing a change in the skin tone: 1. exfoliate 2. correct 3. protect.
Exfoliating the skin removes that dull, dead layer of skin that is holding down clumped pigment, and creates a bright, luster glow. Options of both physical (scrubs) and chemical (acids) exfoliants are on the market, and offer multiple solutions for different skin types. Physical exfoliants, like the Skinceutical Micro-Exfoliating scrub, are the most common way to remove the dead layer of skin, but can be uneven and not appropriate for sensitive skin. Chemical exfoliants, like Skinceuticals Retexturing Activator, are recommended more often by medical professionals due to the effectiveness of the product and more even exfoliation. Problematic skin types may be recommended a combination, depending on skincare concerns.
Correcting the skin with procedures in office, as well as at home, is the second step to skin tone success. At home products, like Skinceuticals Advance Pigment Corrector, delivers results just as well as a formulated prescription in clearing spots, reducing blotchiness, improving radiance and overall skin tone with less irritation. Most Doctors treat uneven skin tone with a combination of retinol and hydroquinone, ingredients that cannot be used on sensitive skin, cannot be used with corrective in-office procedures, and usually causes irritation. The Advanced Pigment Corrector was tested against this blend, saw comparable results, and even more importantly, decreases the likelihood of future dark spots returning. This is a breakthrough for medical aesthetics, which is why this product was awarded the prestigious “Big Breakthrough” award for 2013 Allure Magazine’s Best of Beauty. At home care is vital for the changing process to work, because the product remains on the skin, and works in conjunction with in office procedures. Medical procedures, like peels and lasers, correct previous sun damage by breaking up the clumped melanin and bringing it the to the surface that can be physically removed. Peels and lasers are corrective only if you maintain your regimen at home and use a SPF daily.
Protecting the skin with a physical blocker is the last step in achieving desired results. Exfoliating the skin and correcting the skin are vital, though will make you more sensitive to daily sun exposure. Your daily SPF is dependent on the active ingredient and the percentage. A sunscreen is what most products that are over the counter contain. The common ingredients listed are chemicals, and block a percentage of radiation, allowing a tan to occur. These need to be re-applied every hour to 2 hours, and should not be used when attempting to change to complexion. A sunblock is either a titanium or zinc oxide, has a white tint, and blocks all physical rays. A sunblock is what is always recommended by a medical professional while going through treatments or for skin tones more susceptible to sun damage. Medical grade skincare lines, like Skinceuticals, will never offer a sunscreen, due to the ineffectiveness and ambiguity of the protection it offers.
The summer is the perfect time to start looking into what products you have, what you are needing, and when to start using them. Leave the spots to the cheetas, and come to Millefiori for a consultation on what are your best options. (321) 821-4778