Prevention of Premature Aging and Skin Cancer

It's time to face facts. You look older than most people your age. The lines on your face say it all: premature facial lines have added years to your actual age. This can lead to some of life's most embarrassing moments, like being mistaken as the older sibling of your kid sister or father of your date, instead of her date.

It takes only a few hours under the sun for a lifetime of damaged skin, premature aging and possible skin cancer. Ultraviolet light is the culprit. When one is exposed to the sun and becomes tanned or burned, individual cells and DNA become damaged.

Some cells die and some repair themselves by getting rid of the damaged DNA. Cells that cannot repair themselves eventually become defective cells. UVR (Ultra Violet Radiation) lowers the body's immune system, and this makes it difficult to destroy defective cells. Defective cells that are not destroyed can slowly grow and produce a cancerous tumour.

"Excessive sun exposure certainly hastens the deterioration of the skin's appearance and is a common finding among patients in their 40s and 50s who seek facial rejuvenation," says a researcher. "That deterioration began a long time ago. More unsettling to us as caregivers is treating patients with skin cancer because the disease is largely preventable," the researcher added.

Here are some tips to protect yourself from premature aging and skin cancer:

Minimize sun exposure. Utraviolet rays are most dangerous between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Cover up. If you can't avoid sun exposure, wear a hat, shirt with long-sleeves and pants.
Use a sunscreen that has an SPF of at least 15 (protects from UVA and UVB rays). Apply every two hours.
Protect your lips. The lips are very vulnerable to skin cancers - use a balm of SPF 15
Wear sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection. Regular daily protection against the sun, combined with the regular use of well-formulated skincare products, is of the greatest importance to 'preserving' the skin.

Take better care of your skin with CetaphilÂ® Gentle Skin

Cleansers dermatologist-recommended products specially formulated for any skin type and condition. They won't irritate skin the way regular soaps do nor strip it of its natural protective barrier. CetaphilÂ® products are fragrance-free and non-comedogenic and won't disturb the skin's natural pH balance, making it an excellent choice for daily skin cleansing. CetaphilÂ® comes in the original liquid formulation for the face and the new bar for the rest of the body. A variant, CetaphilÂ® Oily Cleanser is also available for oily skin.

Apart from superior skin care products, make sure to visit a dermatologist periodically for expert advice. Premature aging and skin cancer can be prevented as long as you listen to expert's advice and take the necessary steps to follow them. Your skin will thank you for this.

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