Lofty Intentions
July 27, 2009
by Dr. Michael J. Freeman, Dermatologist
If you ski or snowboard, protect your skin from the sun. The higher up the mountain you go, the more you are exposed to harmful ultraviolet (UV) light. Unless you use sunscreen and take other measures to protect your skin, you could increase your risk for skin cancer. Bear in mind that the earth’s atmosphere filters 4% fewer UV rays for every 1,000 feet above sea level. Many ski resorts in North America and Europe are at, or above 5,000 feet, where there is 20% more UV radiation than there is at sea level. Add to that the fact that the increase in UV rays at high altitudes become even more dangerous as they reflect off the snow.
Researchers have found that people apply far less sunscreen than is recommended by the products’ manufacturers. Additionally, people seldom reapply it as often as they should. For maximum efficacy, read the instructions on the sunscreen label carefully and follow the directions.
P.S. Apply sunscreen 15-20 minutes before venturing into the sunlight.
Yet Another Reason to Quit!
July 20, 2009
by Dr. Michael J. Freeman, Dermatologist
Until recently, researchers had known that smokers look older than non-smokers of the same age, but they did not really know why. New research shows that smoking destroys collagen (the material responsible for the skin’s elasticity and resilience). When researchers exposed normally covered areas of the study participants’ skin to ultraviolet light, they found that the gene for MMP was more active in smokers’ skin than in non-smokers’ skin. This finding suggests that the skin of smokers loses more collagen when exposed to sunlight. This helps to explain why the skin of smokers is more wrinkled than that of non-smokers.
If your skin is prematurely aged from smoking or cumulative UV exposure, see your dermatologist for help. There are many techniques available today to greatly diminish if not totally erase the evidence of life’s wear and tear on our skin.
P.S. Smoking also promotes wrinkling about the mouth and eyes as a result of the puckering and squinting that occurs while drawing on a cigarette.
The Villages Office