I’ve been focusing on sunscreen because it’s Skin Care Awareness month. Another factor to consider before you go out in the sun is that certain very common medicines and skin care products can increase your sensitivity to the sun and heighten your reaction to the sun. Prescription drugs, such as antibiotics or Accutane, over-the-counter pain relievers, herbal remedies such as St. John’s wort,  perfumes, exfoliating skin care products, and even some sunscreens can increase sensitivity to the sun. Pain aside, a bad sunburn or excessive sun exposure increases the risk of skin cancer. My SPF-40 Lotion Mist Sunblock is formulated to block UVA/UVB rays and is PABA-free with soothing aloe to reduce inflammation and is safe for children to use. Like all of our products, it is allergy-tested and fragrance free.

SPF is a measure of how long a person can stay in the sun without burning. An SPF 30 means thirty times longer than if you went out with nothing on. It’s important to keep in mind that all skin is different. A woman with very pale skin, of Irish heritage, for example, may last only a minute or two before her bare skin turns pink, so an SPF 30 would give her 30 minutes before she needed to reapply.

UVA and UVB: SPF measures a product’s ability to block UVB (burning) rays. A product’s power to shield against UVA (aging) rays is not currently labeled. UVA rays break down collagen and elastin fibers supporting skin. It doesn’t matter what your nationality is, if you don’t want wrinkles you need to guard against UVA light.

Sunscreen vs sunblock: Sunblocks are physical barriers; they sit on top of skin and reflect the rays off of it. The SPF-40 Lotion Mist Sunblock is a high power, lightweight mist that helps protect skin from harmful UVA/UVB rays. The mist helps prevent sun induced damage, as well as soothes the skin with aloe to reduce inflammation. Sunscreens are chemical UVA shields. They sink into tissue and when light hits them, they create a reaction that neutralizes the radiation. The Sunless Tanning Bronzer is a safe tanner with SPF-15 which offers a beautiful and natural-looking tan all year round. Not only does this bronzer give you amazing radiance, it is also rich in antioxidants and vitamins to leave your skin smooth and supple.

Over the next few days Dr. Copeland will answer frequently asked questions from her patients.

Do you have a skin care question for Dr. Copeland? Please email us: customerservice@drcopelandskincare.com

Using an Alpha Hydroxy Acid exfoliating cream once or twice daily will gently exfoliate your skin without irritating or flaking. The AHA cream stimulates cell renewal, and contains Kojic acid, a potent pigment-reducing agent that helps even out skin tone.

After exfoliating, use the Pigment Formula, which efficiently helps reduce the appearance of brown spots, sun spots, and liver spots. Applied twice daily after the AHA cream, this powerful pigment lightening formula helps lighten skin discolorations, but be patient because it takes 6-8 weeks for brown pigment to fade.

You might also try using the Microdermabrasion Formula once a week before applying the AHA cream or Pigment Formula, for deep exfoliation which will help correct environmental damage.

Of course there are other steps to help improve your skin’s appearance, like daily use of Rewind Advanced Day Serum  loaded with hyaluronic acid and a powerful blend of anti-wrinkle ingredients to plump and brighten your skin.

The most important step to reducing the appearance of brown spots is sunblock. I recommend using the SPF-40 Lotion Mist Sun Block to provide UVA/UVB ray protection and help prevent sun-induced damage. Following with a layer of sunblock after exfoliating and brightening will help reduce the activation of pigment cells, which will help your pigment reducer work more effectively.