| To see how a lifetime of sun exposure ages the | | | | street clothing can be out of place or prohibited in |
| skin, compare an elderly person's neck and hips. | | | | swimming areas. Protective options are not |
| The neck gets year-round sunlight, and by old age | | | | necessarily stylish, and wearing long sleeves and |
| its skin is wrinkled, blotchy, and loose. But the skin | | | | pants in the sun can feel hot. Hats can fall off |
| on the hips--usually covered by clothes--is | | | | during sports and chores; men seem to prefer |
| smoother, more even, more supple. The aging on | | | | baseball caps, but caps don't protect the ears or |
| the hips is natural; the aging on the neck is | | | | neck. Hats are banned in some schools, leaving |
| premature and preventable. We can shield our | | | | kids exposed during outdoor recess, lunches, and |
| skin from the sun's damaging rays by wearing a | | | | classes. And even when worn, hats usually don't |
| sunscreen, blocking the sun with clothing, and | | | | protect the lower face and neck. |
| avoiding sunlight. Each tactic has its own benefits | | | | Sun Avoidance |
| and drawbacks. | | | | Staying out of the sun is the ultimate anti-aging |
| Sunscreens | | | | strategy. It costs nothing. No potentially harmful |
| Sunscreens form a chemical or physical barrier to | | | | chemicals come into contact with the skin. No |
| prevent sunlight from harming the skin. Their | | | | telltale white film mars the complexion. The skin |
| value has been proven by research. By applying a | | | | can breathe and cool off, free of heavy lotions |
| sunscreen, a person can go out at any time of | | | | and clothes. There is no need to study up on |
| the day, pursue any activity, and still be | | | | sunscreen ingredients and clothing ratings if we |
| protected. No hot or confining layers of clothing or | | | | just steer clear of the sun. |
| cumbersome umbrellas are needed. | | | | But sun avoidance has its share of drawbacks. |
| Even with these advantages, sunscreens have | | | | Staying out of the sun entirely is impractical if not |
| limitations. A common complaint is that to stay | | | | impossible. Some business meetings, civic duties, |
| effective, sunscreens must be put on often. | | | | and medical appointments call for daytime |
| Users may forget to reapply sunscreen after | | | | attendance. Participating in many sports would be |
| swimming or sweating, thus leaving themselves | | | | out of the question. A stigma also comes with |
| open to skin damage. Another problem is with the | | | | sleeping in the daytime unless a person works at |
| feel of the sunscreen on the skin. Greasy, chalky, | | | | night. A greater problem is a potential deficiency |
| and heavy are a few of the ways people | | | | of Vitamin D. This condition is a real possibility for |
| describe it. Physical sunscreens contain tiny | | | | people who get less than 15 minutes of sunlight a |
| particles of zinc or titanium and can leave a white, | | | | day (depending on skin color, season of year, |
| ghost-like film on the skin. Chemical sunscreens | | | | amount of clothing worn, and latitude). Exposure |
| can cause irritation, and there is debate over the | | | | to the sun is the main way people get Vitamin D, |
| safety of some ingredients. What's more, many | | | | a key nutrient that reduces the risk of colon, |
| sunscreens are formulated mainly to block the | | | | breast, and prostate cancers, as well as other |
| burning ultraviolet B (UVB) light, but only weakly | | | | diseases. |
| hinder the deeper penetrating, aging ultraviolet A | | | | Sunscreen, clothing, or avoidance: What's the best |
| (UVA) light. | | | | defense against photo-aging? While we're lucky to |
| Protective Clothing | | | | have so much information, it can sometimes |
| Around the world men and women wear clothes | | | | overwhelm us. It's tempting just to ignore the |
| and use accessories to shield themselves from | | | | threat of sun damage and hope for the best. Of |
| the sun. Many countries have fallen away from | | | | course, that way of life would eventually catch up |
| this custom, but as recently as the Victorian era, | | | | with us. A more reasonable approach involves |
| women wore gloves and hats and carried parasols | | | | reducing sun exposure to essential activities and |
| to keep a beautiful complexion. Interest is | | | | to those that truly add enjoyment to life. During |
| rekindling in protecting the skin with clothing; this | | | | these activities, defend the skin with a |
| time around, tightly woven high-tech fabrics, | | | | broad-spectrum sunblock and well-chosen clothing |
| sometimes treated with a sun block, are featured. | | | | and accessories. With a good strategy and |
| Some items, for example, swim shirts, match an | | | | consistency we can succeed in slowing |
| active outdoor lifestyle. | | | | photo-aging. In that way, when we've reached a |
| Despite the benefits, many people resist covering | | | | wise old age, we won't have to have mismatched |
| up. The high-tech clothing is usually pricy, and | | | | body parts. |