While much of the United States experiences dramatic changes in climate relative to the season of the year, in Houston, summer is pretty much year round.
Though the sun is pleasant to bask in, there is now more awareness than ever about the threats it poses to our skin’s health. During this time of year with extended daylight hours, when even regular activities like eating are enjoyed outdoors, people are at an especially increased risk of sun damage.
The Main Culprits of Sun Damage
The main culprits of sun damage are two forms of electromagnetic radiation emitted from the sun: UVA and UVB rays.
- UVA rays can penetrate the skin at depths that produce molecular changes and contribute to aging and skin cancer.
- UVB rays cause the color change of tanned or burned skin.
- UVC rays do not affect us as they are absorbed by the atmosphere before they reach the Earth.
These intense forms of light are abbreviated as UV rays, short for ultraviolet radiation. When a rainbow is present, violet is the last color than can be seen by the human eye; we are not able to view the sun’s rays as they are ultraviolet, or beyond the last color visible to us.
Because of the invisibility of these rays, previous generations of Americans were not as diligent about sun protection as they are today. Recognizing they exist today allows us to employ preventative measures against skin damage caused by the sun like:
- Skin cancer
- Premature lines
- Skin laxity
- Brown spots
Over time, the accumulation of the sun’s penetrating rays can weaken the underlying collagen and elastin, which are known as our skin’s building blocks. In the same way a building can face architectural weaknesses caused by damage to its structure, the skin can also deteriorate from the inside out.
Sun Protection Factor or SPF
Health and aesthetic concerns have led to preventative measures through the use of SPF (Sun Protection Factor), each of which has corresponding number that denotes how much time individuals can remain in direct sunlight before burning.
When a sunscreen label reads “SPF,” it is offering skin protection against UVB rays only, or those than contribute to a tan or burn. People are only shielded from the more harmful UVA rays that can cause skin cancer or wrinkles if the label reads “broad spectrum protection.”
Treating Sun Damaged Skin
Those with existing damage to the skin can turn to Mirror Mirror Beauty Boutique to reverse the signs of aging and promote future skin health. Our office offers a variety of minimally invasive, non-surgical treatments that can be performed alone or in conjunction with other surgical or non-surgical treatments.
We also offer medical grade skincare products along with customized skincare routines to ensure an optimal care plan that continues at home. Many of the products available contain an SPF to further protect the patients’ skin year-round.
Treatments that Resurface and Exfoliate the Skin
Laser skin resurfacing, microdermabrasion, and an array of chemical peels provide patients a way to restore youth and vitality to the face, neck, décolletage, and hands.
- Laser treatments can be customized to focus light intensity on certain areas of the face, and utilize the most advanced technology of the three options.
- Microdermabrasion and chemical peel treatments seek to restore the skin in a similar fashion, by first speeding up the process of cell renewal. Once the skin sheds the upper layers where more damage is present, the healthier skin that has been protected is then visible.
- Microdermabrasion utilizes mechanical exfoliation while chemical peel treatments offer chemical exfoliation.
Schedule a Complimentary Consultation To Assess Your Skin
If you’re interested in learning more about preventing and reversing damage to your skin caused by the sun, then it’s time to contact Mirror Mirror Beauty Boutique and book a consultation today. During this meeting, one of Mirror Mirror’s expert estheticians will perform skin assessment, review your medical history, and a treatment plan will be discussed. Reasonable and expected outcomes will also be discussed, including more about the recovery, risks, costs, and financing options.
A patient coordinator is available during our office hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday at 281-810-9083. You can also reach us by email. Every treatment is monitored by Dr. Paul Vitenas. He has practiced in the Houston area since 1990. He has been named one of Houston’s Top Doctors and America’s Top Plastic Surgeons. He’s also been awarded Houston’s Most Compassionate Doctor and a Top Doctor for Women.
The office of Mirror Mirror is conveniently located in the heart of Houston. If you are not in the area, we can consult with you online and assist with travel arrangements. We think you will see the reflection of something great at Mirror Mirror Beauty Boutique.