How To Prevent UV Damage To The Skin

Summer in the Okanagan is approaching, and you know what that means! It’s time to check-in that we’re doing all we can to prevent UV damage to the skin caused by the sun.

That being said, to keep your skin as youthful and healthy-looking as possible, it’s important to take measures to protect our skin from the harmful effects of UV rays year-round. 

UV damage to the skin can lead to premature aging, wrinkles, sunspots, and even skin cancer. At Smooth Effects Kelowna, we prioritize educating our clients on how to prevent UV damage, and here are some of our top tips.

 

4 Tips For Preventing UV Damage

1. Wear Minimum SPF 30 Every Day

The most important step to protect your skin from UV damage is to wear sunscreen with a minimum SPF 30. Make sure to apply the sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming or sweating. 

Even on cloudy days, UV rays can penetrate through the clouds, so wearing sunscreen is important all year round. Make it part of your morning skincare routine!

Not sure what the best SPF products to prevent UV skin damage are? Try the Vivier Sheer Broad Spectrum SPF 45 or Elta MD sunscreens.

 

2. Wear A Hat To Protect Your Face

Wearing a hat can provide additional protection from the sun's harmful rays.

Choose a wide-brimmed hat that covers your face, neck, and ears to prevent sun damage in sensitive areas. Add some hats to your wardrobe that you actually enjoy wearing and complement your outfits to make this an easier habit to master!

Also, it’s important to note that wearing a hat does not replace wearing SPF. Hats can block up to 50% of UV rays, which is helpful⁠—but you should do both for the best UV protection.

 

3. Use Vitamin C Serums To Boost SPF

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can boost the effectiveness of SPF in protecting the skin from UV damage.

Vitamin C serum helps neutralize free radicals that can damage the skin and reduce the risk of developing skin cancer. Applying a few drops of Vitamin C serum to your face and neck in the morning can provide added protection against UV damage.

If you’re wondering which Vitamin C skincare products to try, Smooth Effects Kelowna carries a variety of Vitamin C serums to choose from. We recommend booking a free skin consultation to have one of our Medical Aestheticians help you choose the right Vitamin C product for your skin.

 

4. Use Products With Tyrosinase Inhibitors To Prevent Pigmentation

Tyrosinase is an enzyme that helps produce melanin, the pigment that gives colour to the skin.

UV exposure can cause an overproduction of melanin, leading to dark spots and hyperpigmentation. Products with Tyrosinase inhibitors can help prevent pigment from developing and reduce the appearance of dark spots. 

At Smooth Effects Kelowna, we recommend using products like Vivier Radiance Serum, Skin Brightening Cream, Vivier Corrector 2, Skinbetter Science Even Tone Correcting Serum, or Viver Advanced Skin Lightening Serum to prevent and treat hyperpigmentation with the use of Tyrosinase Inhibitors.

 

Protect Your Skin From UV Damage This Summer

By wearing sunscreen, a hat, using Vitamin C serum and products with Tyrosinase inhibitors, you can reduce the risk of developing skin cancer and prevent premature aging, wrinkles, and dark spots.

If you need help deciding on the best treatments or products to prevent UV skin damage, contact or visit us at Smooth Effects Kelowna. We would be happy to help!