N Skin Care Alert

Putting a STOP to Age Spots

Now that you’re in your middle years, you might have noticed those flat, light or reddish-brown areas on your skin. Like most light-skinned women, you have what is more commonly known as age spots.

Often called liver spots or lentigos, these develop even at an early age of 30. Some are as small as a freckle while others can spread to several centimeters in diameter. They appear most often on the following:

●  the back of the hands and wrist  ●  the chest  ●   face and throat  ●  the upper back and shoulders  ●  any area exposed to sunlight

The REAL cause of Age Spots

We begin to age the moment we are born, and throughout our lives the effects of skin aging accumulate over years of sun exposure.

As children, we have already become exposed to the sun. Up to about age 20 years, the most prominent effects of aging are in growth and development. Then beginning in our 20s, the effects of aging start to become visible in the skin.

The sun emits three forms of UV light: UVA rays which cause premature aging and skin pigmentation; UVB rays which cause redness and sunburn; and UVC rays, the most toxic and which cause skin cancer.

UVA rays are absorbed into the epidermis and remain in high intensity all day long, unlike UVB rays. Overexposure to UVA rays cause age spots by stimulating the pigment cells in the skin, which clump together to form irregular blotches of dark color.

The presence of age spots on your face and body tells a simple message:  you’ve had way too much sun. The effects of UVA rays are not immediately apparent, but show up years later in the form of age spots and other age-related skin conditions.

Since most of the sun damage to our skin occurs before we reach our 20s, it is therefore important that children be taught to use sunblock daily as early as possible to prevent skin aging later in life. Doctors agree that it is safe to use sunblock even on babies as young as 6 months. Of course, babies of that age don’t get exposed to so much sunlight to need a daily sunblock. But once they reach the age when they often play out in the sun, it’s time to train them to make sunblock a part of their morning routine.

The first thing you need to do to prevent age spots is to use a broad-spectrum sunblock with an SPF of at least 15 to protect your delicate skin from harmful ultraviolet rays. Make sure that your sunblock contains zinc oxide such as Godiva Green Tea Sunblock Cream. It contains zinc oxide, nature’s original sunblock and the ONLY sunscreen that works throughout the UV spectrum for complete sun protection.

Apply Godiva Green Tea Sunblock Cream daily over the face, neck and arms with gentle circular motion until the cream vanishes into a matte finish. Let dry for 30 minutes before sun exposure. A single application is sufficient for all-day protection. However, you must reapply if the sunblock is wiped off.

AHA! A Solution to Age Spots

Age spots are generally harmless but those who are uncomfortable with these dark areas can try using an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) cream. Studies have shown that AHA improves sun-damaged skin and speeds up cell renewal, leaving you with smoother, younger-looking skin.

Make sure you use an AHA cream that’s formulated for sensitive skin to prevent irritation and which contains natural AHAs from fruits, known to be gentler on the skin than synthetic AHAs such as Godiva Fruit Acid Revitalizing Complex. Apply Godiva Fruit Acid Revitalizing Complex on evenings to lighten age spots and accelerate the production of fresher, creamier skin.

Lighten Up!

After applying the AHA cream, you need to follow up with a natural whitening cream to suppress the formulation of melanin which causes skin pigmentation. Whitening creams work best with AHA creams. Again, make sure that your whitening cream has naturally-derived active ingredients such as Godiva Licorice Whitening Cream.

Avoid chemical whitening creams containing harmful hydroquinone which cause dry skin, burning, irritation and redness. Prolonged use of hydroquinone can also lead to irreversible effects like dark patches on the skin and hyperpigmentation (increase in pigment production). So, be wary of whitening products with hydroquinone to avoid patchy skin.

Make sure you’re protected from the damaging effects of the sun to prevent age spots and other skin pigmentations. With proper skin care, you’ll defy skin aging and have fresher, younger-looking skin all throughout your golden years!

ý In the News

The Truth behind Parabens in Anti-Perspirants

Many individuals are nowadays concerned on the issue on parabens being one of the causes of breast cancer. False reports have circulated through the Internet for years, and up to now, the myth on parabens being the cause of breast cancer continues to be debunked even by the American Cancer Society and the World Health Organization.

What are Parabens?

Parabens are a group of chemicals commonly used all over the world in almost all consumer products, food, and beverages for many years now. It provides a critical role in preventing infections by preventing contaminations from bacteria and fungi.

Parabens are recognized as safe by the World Health Organization. The US Cosmetic Ingredient Review trusted by the FDA concluded parabens as safe for use in cosmetic products. 

There are of course many published studies on parabens addressing the issue of carcinogenicity; however, these are unsupported by any renowned health organizations and agencies.

Godiva always makes sure that the products it provides to its clients are effective, safe and beneficial to their skin, especially to their health. Thus, Godiva Natural Skin Care products are formulated to be safe and effective. Even pregnant moms and children as young as 6 months old can use Godiva products.

For more information, visit this article from the American Cancer Society clarifying the issue between anti-perspirants and breast cancer.

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