Ask any dermatologist and doctor what the biggest secret is to stop the aging process- and the answer is quite clear and unanimous. Wear sunscreen.

According to Dr Maureen Allem at Skin Renewal, ageing signs of sun damaged skin become visible from as early as the twenties, especially with excessive sun or environmental exposure.

Pigmentation is probably the biggest problem with sun damaged skin but redness due to enlarged vessels or capillaries, causes discolouration of the skin.

While these ageing signs do not really show up so much in your twenties, come late thirties, and BOOM! You will see a sharp increase in skin changes clearly ascribable to photo-ageing such as pigmented spots and sun-damaged skin, fine lines, rough texture.

Say Dr Allem, “awareness of the damaging effect of UV radiation on facial appearance and sun avoidance and protection before the age of twenty will help reduce the risks for developing sun damaged skin later in life.”

But ageing is not the only problem, skin cancer is a very real threat. “The skin ages when the epidermis (outer layer of the skin) begins to thin, causing the junction with the dermis (outer layer) to flatten. Sun-damaged skin has a thicker epidermis, which is "dead" and irregular. There is increased water loss from the skin and a decrease of the sebaceous glands, which provides natural moisture to the skin. More abnormal cells accumulate in aged skin, especially if there is chronic sun damage, which can lead to pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions,”says Dr Allem.

Don’t get us wrong, we LOVE the cute freckles on our model, but pigmentation is not pretty. To get rid of sun damage click here for the treatments Skin Renewal offers : skinrenewal.co.za/sun-damaged-skin

We have found two excellent sunscreens which are both recommended by dermatologists.

Heliocare 360 on right:

Protects against UVA, UVB, visible light and infrared-A with SPF50 and PA. Superharged anti-oxidant Fernblock® protects skin health. Contains DNA repair enzymes. Additional anti-oxidants Vitamins C & E plus green tea extract.

Dermaceutic Derma Defence on left, comes with a lovely tint, matched to your skin tone which is perfect for male and female users:

Key ingredients include Xylitol which provides intense skin hydration. Pigments homogenize the skin complexion making it more uniform in appearance. Licorice Extracts inhibits tyrosinase activity to protect against pigmentation. Vitamin E Ester is a powerful antioxidant that combats free radical damage. Mineral filters create a stable physical barrier against UVB and UVA rays.

We have heard of BB & CC creams and now we introduce a DD cream which stands for Daily Defense. Apart from providing daily high sun protection (SPF50) with UV filters, it also provides optimal hydration and complexion homogenization which evens out the skin tone making it more uniform, smooth and radiant.

dermastore.co.za

Production: Mia Ziervogel

Photography: Neil Kirby

Model : Nicole Alvez Boss Models bossmodels.co.za

Make up: Deirdre Holtzer