The Hidden Costs of Sun Exposure

As summer ends and we bid farewell to long days and countless hours under the sun, it’s time to focus on repairing and rejuvenating our skin from the prolonged sun exposure. Taking care of our skin goes beyond achieving the appearance of youthful skin, but it strengthens the skin’s ability to serve as a barrier from harmful bacteria, help heal wounds and maintain hydration (1). Although the integrity of our skin is complex, the steps we can take to support our skin health are simple.  

Rehydrate & Nourish 

Hydration is a key aspect of the skin that influences its physical and mechanical properties (2) and spending several hours under the sun can lead to dehydration of your skin. A great addition to rehydrating and maintaining hydration is to include hyaluronic acid in your skin care routine. Hyaluronic acid is a key component of the extracellular matrix, found in tissues like the skin. The properties of hyaluronic acid allow it to bind to water, create volume, and provide structural support (3). You can find hyaluronic acid-containing skin care products in various forms such as serums but is often included as a main ingredient in moisturizers and cleansers. (Learn more about hyaluronic acid.) Protect your body’s natural hyaluronic acid from oxidative damage by including antioxidants in your diet. Consume a diet rich in fruits and veggies or fill the gap with a specially formulated Garden of Life's Raw Resveratrol that is a powerful whole food antioxidant formula with 23 powered fruits and vegetables. † 

Exfoliate and Correct  

Our face and neck are the most vulnerable areas susceptible to photoaging due to the increased exposure to the sun. Chronically aged skin is characterized to appear leathery, lax, coarsely wrinkled, and has uneven pigmentation (4). Skin exfoliation is a great way to help with depigmentation and help with improving skin texture. There are different methods of exfoliation that vary from using an acid like glycolic solution topically or exploring chemical peels (5) or other treatments with a licensed professional. Alternatively, a less invasive option is to add a Vitamin C serum (6) to your skin care routine which can help to even skin tone and reduce the appearance of dark sports. 

Nourishing Within 

Revitalizing skin health goes beyond topical treatments; consuming a balanced and nutritional diet is critical to ensuring your skin has what it needs to function optimally. Consuming protein rich foods provides your body with the building blocks of skin cells, including keratinocytes, which are the main cells in the outer most layer of the skin. These proteins help maintain the skin’s structure, integrity, and barrier functions (7). Additionally, antioxidant-rich foods protect the skin from oxidative stress, while vitamin C-rich foods support collagen production. Collagen promotes healthy skin and helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. One easy step to ensure you are on track to younger, healthier skin, is to incorporate Garden of Life’s Sport Grass Fed Whey + Skin Protein Powder to your skin care routine. This specially formulated vanilla-flavored protein powder contains 20g of protein and 3.5 g of a Skin Rejuvenating Blend of Marine Collagen Peptides and OptiMSM®.  

Continue to Protect 

After implementing the beneficial measures to revitalize and repair your skin from the summer sun, it remains crucial to maintain the protection of your newly rejuvenated skin. Seal your morning skin care routine with an SPF, or even substitute your daily foundation with a tinted sunscreen!  

The Takeaway

As much benefit as spending time in the sun has on our mood and overall wellbeing, the damage to our skin can leave lasting changes if not corrected. By shifting your focus to repairing and rejuvenating your skin from sun damage through subtle changes in your skin care routine and nourishing your body within, you can ensure your skin remains healthy and youthful. Although we are embarking into a new season, the season of healthy skin will always be in all year around. 

References:

1. Lim, K.-M. (2021, March 16). Skin epidermis and barrier function. International journal of molecular sciences. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8002265/  
2. Mojumdar, E. H., Pham, Q. D., Topgaard, D., & Sparr, E. (2017, November 16). Skin hydration: Interplay between molecular dynamics, structure and water uptake in the stratum corneum. Scientific reports. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5691061/  
3. Walker, K., Basehore, B. M., Goyal, A., & Zito, P. M. (2023, July 3). Hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic Acid. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482440/
4. Rittié, L., & Fisher, G. J. (2015, January 5). Natural and sun-induced aging of human skin. Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4292080/
5. Grajqevci-Kotori, M., & Kocinaj, A. (2015, December). Exfoliative skin-peeling, benefits from this procedure and our experience. Medical archives (Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4720453/  
6. Telang, P. S. (2013, April). Vitamin C in dermatology. Indian dermatology online journal. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3673383/  
7. Cao, C., Xiao, Z., Wu, Y., & Ge, C. (2020, March 24). Diet and skin aging-from the perspective of Food Nutrition. Nutrients. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7146365/