Blog

Is Sunscreen Enough?

June 19, 2010

Photodamage to our skin gives us telltale broken capillaries (telangiectasias) and brown spots (lentigos). The damage is often a little worse on the side of the driving window!

 

Recent research shows that reducing exposure to ultraviolet alone is not enough photoprotection. Infrared rays penetrate even more deeply into the dermis than UV and also trigger damage to the dermis and epidermis.

 

We believe that our patients should use daily photoprotection (analogous to daily grooming by brushing our teeth!) in the form of a high-number sunscreen (eg. SPF 60 which includes: Mexoryl SX, titanium dioxide, Parsol 1789) and also antioxidants (topical vitamin C & E) to protect against the infrared band of the electromagnetic spectrum.