Fun in the sun is not the care for skin. Particularly with mature skin, age spots just keep coming. The sad truth is that sun damage happened in the past. In fact, most sun damage

occurs before the age of 18. To move forward with the healing process, skin care professionals must first have a clear understanding of what is taking place within the skin.

Practitioners often think of the sun and skin as elements that do not mix. Although skin can have adverse reactions to the sun, it must be remembered that the sun is needed to keep body and mind healthy. The key is awareness, moderation, and balance. When the skin is overexposed to ultraviolet rays, the trouble begins. Understanding that skin is the largest uninterrupted organ of the body should be the foundation of treating and healing skin. Within the layers of skin there are two protective barriers — the top dead layer, which protects the melanin layer that protects internal organs from the radiation of the ultraviolet rays the sun produces. The combination of the two ensures that the human body is protected and remains healthy.

SKIN EXPOSURE

The outermost layer is dead, having no blood supply whatsoever. The top layer of skin protects every cell, tissue, organ, and body system. It does this through the hardened layers of skin called keratin and the pH balance of skin, which is acidic in nature. Overexposure of the skin will change the pH balance and can have adverse effects on the health of the skin. Using a daily skin care regimen with the proper ingredients and pH balance is vital in treating and healing skin. It is only through a daily skin care routine that true healing can take place.

The second protective barrier, the melanin layer, produces more melanin in the skin to stop the radiation from entering the body and frying the internal organs. There are two ultraviolet rays to be keenly aware of: UVA (A stands for absorbs and aging) and UVB (B stands forburn). Both rays can have long lasting effects on the skin, creating a multitude of skin problems such as brown spots, hyperpigmentation, broken capillaries, premature aging, fine lines, and wrinkles to name a few. Everyone, depending on their ethnicity, reacts differently to sun exposure to these ultraviolet rays. For example, if a client is type I on the Fitzpatrick Scale, their skin is going to be much more vulnerable compared to someone who is type III.

The question of what is occurring begins with a suntan. Once again, this is the body’s way of protecting its internal organs from radiation. When people are overexposed to the sun, the skin begins producing more melanocyte cells that turns the skin brown. It is this barrier that stops the ultraviolet rays from entering and is the diseased skin. However, society has made people believe that a suntan signifies health – this could not be further from the truth.

SUNBURN

A sunburn occurs when the UVB rays have reached the capillaries within the skin. A good example is fire. Fire is both red and hot. This is exactly what a sunburn creates in the skin. The capillaries become inflamed and the results of that sunburn are either broken or weakened capillaries. Capillaries are a continuation of the body’s blood supply and is where the healing and treating of sun damage comes into play. There is only one way to heal skin and that is through the blood supply. Blood supply both nourishes and heals. Due to the arteries and veins being too large, the upper layers of skin are nourished through these capillaries. If they are weakened or broken due to sunburn or pressure, healing can be challenging.

The first step in treating and reversing sun damaged skin will be through nourishing and healing. When looking to treat skin from a health standpoint, the circulatory system should be at the forefront of any decision made for the client. This can include the products that are used for

treatments, machines used in treatment, or homecare recommended. If a client does

not have enough blood flow moving through the skin it is up to the skin care professional to figure out what means will be used. They should also recommend the client to increase vascular activity within the skin. This is the key to improving the health of skin. Starting with a comprehensive consultation and skin analysis will assist in choosing the correct plan of

action for each client. Knowing if the client has any circulatory issues, such as

medication and diet are determining factors of what will be recommended. Once the skin care professional has identified where the client’s sun damage has occurred and how severe, they can begin prescribing to meet their client’s skin wellness goals. One must be cautious and not overly aggressive. Patience and consistency will be necessary as it takes time to heal.

TAKING ACTION

Now more than ever sun and skin are what motivate clients to enter spas. Guiding clients requires a deep conversation concerning sun exposure. Choosing the right course of action will depend on the client’s skin goals. However, starting slow and working up to more advanced treatments will most certainly provide a healthier outcome. The healthier the skin is going into any advanced type treatment, the better the results.

A skin care professional needs to have their client incorporate a good sunscreen protectant in the healing process. When a more holistic approach is taken it is guaranteed to bring about positive change. Sun damage cannot be reversed, but practitioners can make significant progress by meeting the requirements of the skin as an organ. Give the largest uninterrupted organ what it needs, and it will respond resulting in healthy, radiant, beautiful skin.

Gina Marie has over 30 years of experience in the skin care industry and has been educating professionals and consumers for most of her career. She feels strongly that when treating skin from the health standpoint one can achieve remarkable results. Gina Marie brings a wealth of information to the industry as she has extensive experience in retail, manufacturing, wholesaling, public speaking, educating, marketing, and skin therapy treatments. She is considered a leading expert in the skin care field and has a strong desire to share her wealth of knowledge in the advancement of the beauty industry. As a result of her leadership, Gina Marie was nominated for the 2019 Aestheticians’ Choice Award for Brand Educator and has been featured several times in professional skin magazines.

Gina Marie has over 30 years of experience in the skin care industry and has been educating professionals and consumers for most of her career. She feels strongly that when treating skin from the health standpoint one can achieve remarkable results. Gina Marie brings a wealth of information to the industry as she has extensive experience in retail, manufacturing, wholesaling, public speaking, educating, marketing, and skin therapy treatments. She is considered a leading expert in the skin care field and has a strong desire to share her wealth of knowledge in the advancement of the beauty industry. As a result of her leadership, Gina Marie was nominated for the 2019 Aestheticians’ Choice Award for Brand Educator and has been featured several times in professional skin magazines.