Start Your Damage Control Now
Have you spent countless hours soaking in the sun this summer? You may have gotten more than you bargained for while tanning. Overexposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun can cause skin damage and even skin cancer. And, don’t be fooled—just because you can’t see the damage immediately doesn’t mean that it isn’t there. Sun damage often affects cells deep beneath the surface of your skin and can lurk there for several years before the damage is noticeable.
While many believe certain skin changes are inevitable as you age, most of the skin changes associated with aging actually result from overexposure to the sun. These skin changes, referred to as photoaging, can show up as brown and red spots, wrinkles, loose or sagging skin, unevenness in color, and a leathery texture—changes most would like to avoid.
The New Year lends itself to reevaluation. In the warmth of my office, I ponder some ambitious resolutions while staring at the neatly organized clutter invading my desk. A sea of yellow sticky notes frame my computer monitor while to my right, two stacks of neatly aligned and prioritized papers beg for attention. A half full or half empty (depending on how you look at it) coffee cup rests upon three identical notepads while a systemized stack of paper scraps with hieroglyphics scribbled on them sits next to a tall but tidy pile of receipts.
