How does the sun affect your skin?

The science behind the sun’s effect on your skin.

Being a New Zealand based company, at Emma Lewisham we are acutely aware of the sun’s effect on the skin.

Long days in the sun is how we love to spend our summers and enjoying the slopes during winter but we also understand the importance of protecting your skin against the suns harmful rays.

UVA rays deeply penetrate the skin, damaging skin cells and collagen. UVB rays cause the skin to burn and tan, having more of an effect on the outer layers of the skin.

Both rays of ultraviolet (UV) light lead to photoaging of the skin. As aging processes begin, the skin’s ability to repair itself decreases.

The creation of free radicals also contributes to premature aging. Enough exposure to UV rays creates what we called free radicals. Free radicals trigger a chain of events in the skin that increases the rate of collagen breakdown.

Black and white microscopic image of tissue showing two distinct regions - one with oval-shaped cellular structures embedded in a matrix on the left, and a more densely stained region with folded or layered structures on the right.

Microscopic image of a plant stem cross-section stained purple

But it’s not all bad news, with the right protection you can enjoy the sun without impacting your skin. It’s important to get a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects from both UVA and UVB rays. This is because they are actually different wavelengths and not all SPF filters protect from the same wavelengths. Always shop for at least an SPF 15 or above.

Help compensate for failures of sunscreen (human error during application) by neutralising free radical damage that sun exposure causes. This is why, while it’s important to shield the skin from UV rays it’s also important to bolster the skin’s antioxidant defence. We can do this through antioxidants such as Vitamin C, E and CoQ10 – all of which you can find in our products.

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