Skin protection is a key to good health

A past history of not making the best choices when it comes to skin care, along with a desire to take better care of her skin and to help others do the same is one of the things that motivates Vicky Marwitz.

A registered nurse working for Coryell Health as well as a Mary Kay cosmetics consultant, Marwitz talked about the importance of skin care during a meeting of the Gatesville Exchange Club.

'I remember all the damage I did (to her skin) as a teenager, like laying out covered in Crisco or iodine which was definitely not good," she said.

It was a different time and not nearly as much information was readily available about the importance of skin care, but people still need reminders about the best way to care for skin, Marwitz said. She mentioned some "fun facts," including that skin is the largest organ in the body, with each person having an average of 21 square feet of skin. Skin also replaces itself about once every 28 days. It helps to regulate the body's temperature, disposes of waste and protects the body.

While there are other things in the environment that can have a negative impact on skin, "the sun is your number one enemy when it comes to skin damage," Marwitz said. "It can be harmful on a sunny day or a cloudy day – it doesn't matter."

Different types of ultraviolet rays have different impacts on the skin, causing mutations that can be revealed only years later.

"As you age, those damaged cells come to the top," Marwitz said. "It can sometimes take years and years before damage is revealed."

Sunburns are not only painful but can cause long-term damage to skin. Marwitz said it's important not to peel skin after a sunburn, but instead to let the skin come off naturally. It's also important not to intentionally pop blisters, she added.

The best ways to treat a sunburn are with water and a light moisturizer, and aloe products can be beneficial as well. Products containing alcohol actually do more harm than good when it comes to treating sunburns, Marwitz said.

UV rays from other sources can be even more damaging to skin than sunlight, Marwitz said.

Tanning beds can increase one's risk of skin cancer by 75%, as the UV rays from those devices are 75% more intense than natural sunlight, she said.

UV rays not only can cause skin damage or lead to skin cancer, but can also be harmful for the eyes, causing cataracts, Marwitz said.

Other than staying out of the sun for prolonged periods, the use of effective sunscreens can play an important role in protecting the skin.

Marwitz said dermatologists recommend people use sunscreen with a skin protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, and up to 30%. Sunscreens with an SPF of 15 block 93% of the sun's rays, while those with a 30 SPF block 97% of those rays. She said the benefit of higher SPFs than 30 is minimal, and is often used as a marketing technique.

Many times, sunscreen is not used effectively, Marwitz said: "One ounce of sunscreen should cover the body, and it should be reapplied every two hours."

Antioxidants which can be found in many foods (details are available on the internet) can help keep skin healthy as well, Marwitz said, and Vitamin C plays an important role in skin health.

She said gentle cleansers and toners can help keep facial skin healthy, and can be used by both women and men, and night creams can also help the skin.

But the easiest and most effective way to protect skin is found in a bottle and easily applied.

"Always make sure you wear sunscreen when you spend time outside," Marwitz said.