UV Awareness Month was established to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the skin and eyes from sun-related damage. UV rays are responsible for a wide range of mild to severe skin conditions, including premature aging, uneven skin tone and texture, and skin cancers, to name just a few.
That healthy glow from exposure to the sun may not be as healthy as it looks! Slathering your skin with sunscreen helps, but the protection disappears as it is washed off by water and sweat, leaving your skin exposed.
There are two types of damaging UV rays: UVA and UVB. These two forms of light energy harm both the skin’s surface and the deeper structure, triggering an array of adverse biological effects. UV ray damage includes DNA mutations, oxidative stress, inflammation, immunosuppression, and premature aging.
Recent scientific research has established that natural polyphenols have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties that effectively reduce the damaging effects of sunburn. The natural properties of polyphenols also ward off “photo-carcinogenesis,” the first phase of tumor growth. These discoveries bring new hope for skin health, from disease prevention to aesthetics.
It stands to reason that if polyphenols ward off these adverse effects, they should be widely used by the population at large.
The impact of skin inflammation extends far beyond the discomfort of a painful sunburn. Skin conditions such as dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, and acne are the body’s response to an overabundance of free radicals. Reducing UV ray inflammation with bioavailable polyphenols does much more than keep your skin firmer and healthier and lessen sunburn damage. The polyphenols rebalance skin with an excess of free radicals, significantly reducing inflammation.
Highlighting the purpose of UV Awareness Month, many health professionals now advise protecting skin from direct exposure to UV rays and adding an organic polyphenol supplement to maintain healthy, disease-free skin for the long term.