Sun Protection Factor

Unprotected exposure to the sun - called photo aging - is the leading cause of premature extrinsic aging. Over time, repeated unprotected sun exposure causes the skin to lose its ability to repair itself. UV rays break down collagen and elastin and prevent the creation of new collagen (which is why sun-damaged skin is much less firm than healthy skin).

Yet it is so easy to prevent.

By wearing sunscreen each time that you are exposed to the sun, you can greatly reduce the signs of premature aging on your skin - keeping your skin healthier and younger for longer.

You've probably noticed that sunscreens have an SPF - a sun protection factor (Illustre Essenza™ Ultra SPF has a sun protection factor of 30). That number indicates the length of time that a person can be exposed to the sun without getting a sunburn. For example, if you would normally burn in 20 minutes without any sunscreen at all, you could stay out 30 times that long - 600 minutes (10 hours) without burning if you wear sunscreen with an SPF of 30. Yet recent research has cast doubt that sunscreens with higher SPFs actually provide greater levels of protection.

Whatever the specific protection factor you use, your sunscreen's effectiveness may be limited by your skin type (if you have especially fair or sun-sensitive skin), how much sunscreen you apply and how often you apply it, the activities you engage in (swimming or sweating may cause your sunscreen to rub off quickly), and the amount of sunscreen that your skin actually absorbs. So in practice, applying sunscreen thoroughly - and applying it more often that is required according to its SPF - is probably the best way to avoid sun damage.

Years ago, the most common type of sunscreen was Zinc Oxide. Pictures of days at the beach and the pool in the 60s and 70s are inevitably filled with lots of white noses, people using Zinc Oxide to protect themselves against the sun's harmful UVA and UVB rays. Zinc Oxide went out of style once sunscreens that rubbed in clear were introduced.

Yet research shows that Zinc Oxide - found in an advanced patented form in Illustre Essenza™ Ultra SPF - is one of only four sun protection products that provides full protection against the sun's UVA rays (which cause long-term damage rather than immediate burns) as well as UVB rays (which cause the redness, pain, and swelling we all know as a sunburn).

Find out about the local programs established by the American Cancer Society (ACS) that serve to educate the public about cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, survival, and quality of life by visiting www.cancer.org

To contact Luminoso Studios™, please give us a call at 800-408-1168 or e-mail us at sales@luminosostudios.com.