SUN PROTECTION-The most important anti-ageing treatment of all.

According to a British Association of Dermatologists survey carried out in recent years, many Britons are unaware that sun protection can keep the skin looking younger, believing instead that applying a daily moisturizer, eating a healthy diet, drinking plenty of water and having facial treatments will suffice.

In fact, such measures will have nowhere near the anti-ageing impact of sun protection. Not only does exposure to UV increase a person's risk of skin cancer, it also affects the elastin in the skin, which leads to wrinkles and sun-induced skin ageing such as roughness, increased thickness and blotchy pigmentation. So, even though you might feel instantly better with that tan, years later you will live to regret it! In reality, each tan is giving your skin irreversible sun damage which will become very evident not far down life’s winding road!

Even though we may live in rainy, cloudy old England it is still essential to protect your skin from damaging UVA rays every single day. UVA rays are constantly present, no matter the season or the weather. If you think you can't get sun damage on a cloudy day, tell that to the UVA rays! They are so powerful that they also penetrate some clothing and even glass. When was the last time you applied sunscreen before getting behind the wheel?

These photos say it all! This lady sat in the same position at work in front of a window to her left for 15 years Look at the difference between the appearance of her skin on the two sides of her face. The left certainly has aged far more and even has a precancerous lesion.

UVA rays used to be considered relatively safe, in terms of the sun's rays, and that's why tanning beds, which use UVA rays, took center stage. We now know that using tanning beds before the age of 30 can actually increase your risk of skin cancer by 75%!

UVB Rays are the rays you can blame when you get sunburn. Unlike UVA rays, these rays aren't always the same strength year round - They're more prevalent in the summer months, however they are able to reflect off water or snow, so it's always important to protect yourself all year round. UVB rays are responsible for causing most skin cancers. While large doses of UVA rays can contribute to cancer, it's the UVB rays that are commonly to blame.
All sunscreens protect against UVB rays, but it wasn't until recent years that sunscreen started including UVA protection, and in fact, not all sunscreens do. Look for one that specifically says UVA/UVB or "broad spectrum coverage" on the bottle.

Our Environ range of skin care includes a highly effective sunscreen endorsed by the Cancer Association of South Africa. It is suitable for any age, even babies, and contains a reflective agent(titanium dioxide), UVA and UVB absorbent filters(Ethyl MethoXycinnamates and Butyl Dibenzoylmethane)as well as antioxidants Vitamin C , Vitamin E and Beta Carotene, to give a three armed attack against the damaging rays and free radicals. It should be applied every morning for anti-ageing protection after moisturising. If you want a tan…fake it!