Summer Skincare
By Terri Neal

The sun is shining bright and summer has finally arrived. We are drawn to the sun for its warmth and that lovely golden color so many of us love. You can't wait to get to the beach to start working on your tan. Nothing looks better than a tan to offset that new outfit. But, the evidence supporting the damaging rays of the sun are clear and we all know about the dangers of unprotected sun exposure and skin cancer.

There are ways to keep your skin looking its best and prevent summer skin dilemmas.

•   Water is the key. Fluids help detoxify the skin, keeping it looking soft and dewy and clear. Drink at least 8 glasses a day, and enjoy plenty of the season's fresh fruits and melons.

• The face is the first to show the signs of dehydration. Living in Southern California poses a real challenge to some skin types, says Kelli Neal, aesthetician at Ajna Health Spa. That is why it is so important to work with a skincare professional. One of our most effective treatments to re-hydrate, replenish and really make your skin radiant is our Hydralessence Facial Treatment. It includes a cooled fruit mask for long lasting, deep penetration.
• Favorite product pick for summer: Sheer Tint Moisture by Dermalogica. It comes in several shades, gives great even coverage, is a full spectrum sunscreen SPF15, while providing moisture and antioxidant protection.
• Just as your skincare needs change, your makeup palette should change as we head into our summer months. Mineral makeup is a natural sunscreen SPF26 and provides a sheer coverage that allows your skin to breathe. It is important to have a professional match up your colors as the natural pigments react with your own body chemistry. Check your makeup for any hidden filler, such as talc, dyes or fragrance, which will actually worsen some skin conditions. A qualified skincare professional will be able to provide you  with an ingredient analysis, which can be really shocking to find out what’s really in that very pricey high end makeup line you’ve been using!
• Until now, the search for appropriate sunscreen for oily, acne prone or sensitive was frustrating, says Desiree Bauer, aesthetician at Ajna Health Spa. People are so fearful of breakouts, that they resist wearing sunscreen. Dermalogica has launched a new Solar Defense Line with impressive new technology to address any skin type or condition, from oil free matte to super sensitive formulas.
• Want to get rid of those embarrassing post shave bikini line bumps? Try professional waxing or sugaring. Unlike shaving, it only needs to be done every three or four weeks.

WHAT YOU MUST KNOW

There is no such thing as a safe tan, whether it is from the sun or a tanning booth. Even if you tan slowly without burning, the damage is hazardous to the health of your skin.

• Nothing is more important to your daily skincare routine in the summer than keeping it moisturized. Our featured treatment for summer is the Hydralessance Facial. A perfect treatment during the summer months when dehydration shows the most. This facial includes a cooled fruit mask for long lasting, deep penetrating hyradtion Take advantage of the extra 20% savings by purchasing this facial as a series to keep your face looking radiant all summer long.
• A product's SPF (sunscreen protection factor) number tells you how long you can stay in the sun before getting burned. SPF is crucial, but it is only a measurement regarding sunburn (UVB) rays. Many sunscreens do not have inqredients that can provided true full-spectrum (both UVA and UVB) coverage.

•  UVB radiation is the sun’s burning ray and has an immediate, harmful impact on skin. Damage from UVB rays takes place within the very first minute of walking outside

• UVA rays are the sun’s silent killers. You don’t feel them but they are the primary cause of skin cancer and wrinkles. (UVA rays penetrate through clear glass windows that do not have a UV coating.) Even on a cloudy or hazy day, the suns rays are present and impact the skin.
• The only three ingredients approved by the FDA that can protect from UVA damage are avobenzone, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. It is critical that one of these ingredients appear in the active ingredient list of any sunscreen.
• If you are looking for a less irritating sunscreen for your kids or yourself, choose one that contains only pure titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide as the active ingredients. These non-chemical ingredients are less irritating than other types of sunscreen agents
• Oxibenzone (also called benzophenone-3) is a UVA absorbing sunscreen ingredient that sounds similar to avobenzone, but is not the same. While benzophenones and oxibenzone due provide some UVA protection, they are not as effective as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide or avobenzone.
• Using AHA, BHA, Retin A, Renova, Differin, or any topical retinoid will make your skin more vulnerable to sun damage due to surface exfoliation and changes caused by using these products, which makes sun protection extremely important.

APPLYING SUNSCREEN

• The rule is that the last item that you apply during the day is your sunscreen. If you apply sunscreen and then apply your moisturizer or an acne product, you could be inadvertently diluting or breaking down the effectiveness of the sunscreen you’ve just applied. You must apply sunscreen liberally or you will not get the amount of protection listed on the label. Also, don’t forget your neck, décolleté or hands. If left exposd to the sun’s damaging rays, are the first to show signs of aging in the form of dark spots and aging skin.

TO TAN OR NOT TO TAN

An alternative to sun damage, to have that sun-kissed look, would be to opt for a professionally applied spray-on tan. The results can be very impressive, and usually last about five to ten days. The best of the spray-on tans is Sun FX, due to its aloe based all natural formulation.

ERASING THE SUN

While nothing is more important than protection, once we have sun damaged skin advancements in medical aesthetics provide many options to “erase” the signs of aging. There are a variety of treatments including cutting-edge medical resurfacing technology that replaces damaged skin with fresh new skin.

• Superficial peels remove the very outer layers of skin with a blend of fruit acids essentially exfoliating. The results are an improvement in luster and fine wrinkles when combined with daily use of prescribed skincare products.
• Mid-depth Peels are a mixed blend of acids layered to create impressive results raging from smoothing out fine to medium wrinkles, evening skin complexion and pigmentation, even tightening the skin.
• The latest and most effective resurfacing procedure to treat sun damage, fine lines, saggy skin, hyperpigmentation (brown spots) and acne scars is the Fraxel Laser. Dr. Robert Gould performs this procedure at Ajna Health Spa. The Fraxel Laser treatment has the effectiveness of the CO2 or erbium lasers, but without the side effects, and with little or no downtime.

In the end, it its ultimately up to you to care for your skin, the body’s largest organ.