A solid preventative skincare routine is one of the best ways to ensure a flawless complexion even as you age. The ingredients you include in your skincare lineup can help to treat existing issues while simultaneously preventing outside causes of aging, so it’s important to make sure that the products you’re using can help to support your appearance from all angles. Some days it may feel tedious to complete every single step of your skincare routine, and you may be tempted to pass over some products that you may find superfluous. However, skipping over certain steps can have a profound negative impact on your appearance in the long run and can’t afford to be skimped on. If you have found yourself regularly cutting down on your skincare routine because it feels tedious, there’s one step that dermatologists agree you should never miss if you want to maintain your ageless glow for years to come.
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One of the primary reasons that your skin begins to age over time is the years of damage that it has incurred. While you may be following an airtight skincare routine complete with retinol and other serums, it all means nothing if you aren’t protecting your complexion from sun exposure and UV rays. Skipping out on sunscreen each day is one of the best ways to guarantee premature aging as your skin is continuously exposed to damaging rays.
“Most signs of premature aging are caused by environmental factors, like sun exposure. As we age, our skin's collagen and elastin fibers naturally loosen. However, UV-induced radicals quicken the process and damage those fibers, creating oxidative stress. Sunscreen helps slow the process and slow the effects of the sun on the skin,” explains Shawnda Dorantes, RN, BSN, FNP-S, master nurse injector and co-owner of Beauty Lounge Medical Spa.
Preserving your complexion from sun damage is vital for maintaining collagen and elasticity, keeping wrinkles and fine lines at bay, as well as protecting you from melanoma and other diseases. “If sunscreen is skipped in one's anti-aging skincare routine, the skin can easily become damaged by photoaging and excess melanin. Over time, sun spots, uneven pigmentation, redness, peeling, fine lines, wrinkles and rough skin can all appear,” says Dorantes. While it may feel excessive to apply sunscreen when you have no intention of sitting out in the sun, more and more studies have revealed that daily sun exposure can do just as much damage to your appearance, so applying sunscreen even when you’re just running errands is a good habit to get into to upkeep your skin over the years.
Skin that has not been exposed to the sun or has been protected is much more able to withstand the test of time as your skin cells are protected from harsh UV rays that expedite the aging process. “You can decrease your risk of skin cancers such as squamous cell carcinoma and many melanomas by 40% by using this anti aging step daily. Also, 80% of aging is photoaging (try looking at your backside where not much sun has been and compare the skin tone and texture to your sun exposed face!),” says dermatologist Beth G. Goldstein, M.D. Not only can skimping on sunscreen cause you to age more rapidly, but it can even be damaging to your health. Whenever possible, cover up from the sun and even on days when you don’t plan on getting exposure, always wear sunscreen to support a healthy and glowing complexion.
While your skincare routine may feel tedious, it’s vital that you remember to apply sunscreen everyday, even when it feels like a chore. The younger you start using SPF daily, the better served you will be in preserving your complexion against signs of aging, minimizing sun damage so it won’t reflect in your face years down the road. However, regardless of your age you should be using sunscreen each morning alongside your other skincare products to reduce further damage while the rest of your routine works to reverse existing imperfections. A proper skincare routine is the best line of defense against aging, and sunscreen should be at the top of the list of products you use everyday so you can look your best.
