It is a fact...80% of the signs of ageing can be prevented by wearing a high-quality, broad spectrum sunscreen.  UV rays create free radicals that stimulate the collagenase enzyme to start eroding away the collagen bed.  This will accelerate the ageing process.  5% is controlled by your genes and the other 15% is how you take care of yourself.

 

What is the secret? Avoid the sun?  While this doesn't seem like much fun for some people, it is the key to maintaining good skin quality.  Wearing your sunscreen, rain or shine, can help to accomplish the same results.  However, don't let SPF 60 mislead anyone.  It will never last in your skin long enough to get you to that time length.  Sunscreen should be reapplied after four hours or earlier if you are sweating or exposed to water.  What you put on your skin in the morning is most certainly gone by the end of the afternoon.

 

Only visible light is blocked by clouds.  UVA/UVB rays still pass through clouds to damage your skin.

By the age of 30, due to declining hormones, the collagen bed is normally starting to deteriorate at the rate of 1% per year.  If your skin is sun damaged, this rate increases to 2% per year.  We live under the harsh Australian sun, so by regularly removing unavoidable sun damage, you prevent the accelerated ageing process. 

 

Chemical peels and IPL, are excellent ways to reverse sun damage in the skin and slow the ageing process.  While surgery is desired by some, keep in mind that it does not do anything for the quality of the skin.  Proper care is still an important step in maintaining the effects of surgery longer to rejuvenate the skin.