In a simpler time, people used to lay out in the sun, oiling our skin for a "deeper tan", blissfully unaware of the long-term damage that we were causing.   But as a generation of sunbathers aged, we found out that there were two very real prices to pay for that indiscretion.

Sun Exposure and the Risk of Skin Cancer

The first price began to surface in the growing number of skin-cancer cases found across America.  Studies confirmed that one of the major contributors was unprotected sun exposure.  Newer studies show that using a high SPF factor sunscreens (SPF 30 or more) reduces the risk of skin cancer by at least one third.

Premature Aging of Skin

The second price for careless sun habits has many forms and names; photo-damage, hyperpigmentation; "liver spots", fine-line wrinkles, collagen breakdown, and others. But it all comes down to a premature aging of the skin.  This is caused by a range of UV rays that are not necessarily associated with a sunburn but go deeper into the tissue building up a long-term damage to the quality and function of the otherwise healthy skin.

Here again, studies show that a quality sunscreen with an SPF of greater than 15 is the single biggest factor in avoiding these premature skin aging issues.  CNN reported on new study findings that regular sunscreen use protects against photoaging: the wrinkling, spotting, and loss of elasticity caused by exposure to the sun's ultraviolet radiation.

With sunscreens coming up as the hero for both reducing cancer risks and keeping the skin looking younger and healthier, we have all the reason we need to use an effective sunscreen daily, don't we?

The new lifestyle factors that are creating new skin damage risks

In recent years, the massive increase in the amount of time which individuals spend indoors, and/or in front of a screen of some type, has created new assault to the health of your skin.   High Energy Visible Light (HEV), is emitted from smartphones, iPads, computer screens, as well as certain times of LED lighting that has been increasingly used due to it's lower energy consumption profile.   This is an entirely new skin care concern that did not exist 25 years ago because the majority of the devices emitting HEV rays did not exist, or were only used in very limited ways.  But with so many people spending more and more time in front of, and under this devices, the evidence of the aging effects on the skin is starting to mount?

How to protect from HEV?

Multi-function Moisturizer with SPF50 and Lipo-shield HEV protection.

Ultra Clear is unique because it has the consistency and texture of a quality moisturizer (it provides a healthy dose of hyaluronic acid and pure ceramides that promote a natural moisturization in skin), but it also uses a mineral zinc oxide based broad spectrum protection that gives the highest FDA recognized rating of SPF50 sun protection from the widest range of UVA and UVB rays. To this, they have added a fractionated melanin ingredient called Lipo-shield, that extends that broad protection to include the range of HEV radiation as well. The result is a very comprehensive level of skin protection, but because it is formulated on a moisturizer base, it goes on exceptionally sheer, making it very acceptable for daily use, as a moisturizer, and under just about any type of makeup or foundation.
"In the fight for healthy skin, we have found the having the very best ingredients and cutting-edge technologies is not enough," said Jessica Gallego, Vice President at Cal Pharma. "It has to be formulated in a manner that gives all the benefits without leaving any film, or sunscreen smell. You should only know you are wearing it by the benefits it is giving you."
Fortunately, the risk has not gon un-noticed and there are a few products on the market which address the issue.  Most notably, Cal-Pharma, the makers of professional skin-care products in Seal Beach, California, have incorporated HEV protection in their popular Ultra-Clear Daily Skin Hydrator with and SPF 50 rating.

Perhaps we don't live in those simpler times but have tools we never had before to keep our skin not only looking younger and healthier, but that also promote a healthier skin function for a quality of skin that will last a lifetime.   And we now know how sun care habits can dramatically reduce the risk of skin cancer.  That makes it a pretty good time live in.