Understanding Our Skin Memory
The existence of skin memory determines the risk of more skin damage over time. Damage to the DNA of cells increases, and preventing it becomes difficult with time.Skin MemoryIt is real and not just a poetic term or the name of a novel; it’s a phenomenon that skin specialists are paying more attention to.
Skin memory is related to sun exposure and the damages that occur later. The skin is the largest organ in the human body, measuring about 2.43 meters in area and weighing 4 kilograms.
The Layers of Skin
The skin is composed of three layers:
- Hypodermis
- Dermis
- epidermis
These layers act as a barrier against the external surface of the skin and protect us against aggressive influences and environmental changes. Additionally, they play a significant role in our appearance and self-esteem. When we look in the mirror, we see a large part of our skin tissue.
Many people do not pay attention to skin care and protecting it from the sun. In the following article, we aim to explain what skin memory is so you can better understand its importance.
What Does Skin Memory Include?
Skin memory is a fascinating phenomenon, though it is not the same as brain memory. Instead, we are discussing the fact that if the skin is exposed to too much sunlight, it will be more susceptible to skin damage in the future.
In other words, those who lack sun protection will show lesions on their skin after several years. The biggest issue is that these lesions can sometimes be benign, or in other cases, precancerous or even cancerous.
Being in the sun for a long time, you may not even realize that you have sufferedfrom sunburnbut this does not prevent these lesions from appearing. That’s why it’s important to regularly usesunblockwith a protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 on all parts of your body.
How Does Skin Memory Work?
Ultraviolet rays fromsunlightpenetrate the thickness of the skin and are divided into two different types of radiation: UVA and UVB.
UVA rays can pass through clouds and even glass, reaching the middle layer of the skin.
This type of radiation is associated with deep penetration in processes of aging caused by sunlight and sunspots. Similarly, it can causeskin cancerthrough damage to DNA and cellular mutations.
UVB rays are responsible for sunburn because they cannot penetrate deeply and only reach the epidermis. However, they may also be related to skin cancer. Therefore, you should protect yourself from both types of rays.
The concept of skin memory is based on the fact that these rays alter the DNA of cells. Initially, any damage to DNA will repair itself. However, over time, the damage increases to the point that it becomes irreparable. When the cellular repair process concludes, cancer emerges.
Always Take Care of Your Skin
Skin memory has existed since birth. When children are exposed to sunlight without any protection, the risk of damage increases even more. This is why skin care is crucial during times of day when the rays are strongest.
At the same time, you should note that skin memory and skin cancer are closely related. Having light skin and colored eyes are risk factors, but people with dark skin are not exempt either.
There will be many problems, one of the most common being skin cancer. Therefore, never forget to protect your skin. Also, stay away from tanning under ultraviolet rays and remember, although you may not see immediate damage, it will appear over time.
So today, protect your skin to stay healthy in the long run.
