Five mind-blowing facts about skin that will change the way you consider skincare forever
Published on: 06/08/2018At Nefera we’re strong believers in the role scientific insights and information plays in the health of our skin. Informed men and women make better choices when it comes to protecting and caring for their skin – so learning is a key part of the process when it comes to combatting premature ageing. In today’s blog we share five mind-blowing facts about skin that will change the way you think about and shop for skincare forever.
Higher SPF doesn’t = better protection
Sometimes we’re asked why our day cream doesn’t contain a ‘higher SPF’ than factor fifteen. The reason for this is complex. To explain it’s necessary to briefly explain how sun exposure ages the skin. There are two types of UV rays in solar light relevant to the skin – UVA and UVB. UVA rays penetrate deeply into the skin, causing a tan which causes pigmentation. UVB rays are responsible for sunburn – but they also cause photo-ageing, permanent pigmentation changes and cancer. A broad spectrum sun cream targets both types of ageing, damaging radiation. SPF or ‘sun protection factor’ refers to how long you can be exposed to the sun before the radiation begins to take effect. This means that a broad-spectrum sun cream of factor 30 will be much more effective than one that is factor 50, but doesn’t offer broad spectrum protection. In any case it’s always best to seek shade on sunny days and minimise skin’s exposure to the sun.
Collagen depletes after age 21
Collagen is skin’s natural bricks and mortar – a structural protein responsible for keeping it smooth, soft and supple. Collagen stores begin to deplete at age 21 – reducing by 7% every ten years. By age 40 we are losing 1% collagen each year. As collagen stores deplete, skin loses thickness and elasticity, causing fine lines and wrinkles to appear. Although 1% doesn’t sound like much, even a 3% loss can be visible.
…and once it’s gone, it won’t come back without help
The bad news? Once collagen is gone, its gone. But the good news is that there is are ways to supplement the lost collagen. When done correctly these processes can combat the collagen loss – and even restore it to its existing natural level. This takes commitment and dedication alongside a two-layered approach. The first layer concerns inner nourishment – as collagen is produced as a result of a good diet. If your diet isn’t nutritionally fulfilling your skin will generate even less collagen. Powdered marine collagen supplements support the body’s natural ability to produce collagen – so including these also helps. The second way to help skin produce more collagen is via a select number of topical treatments. It’s important to note that collagen as an ingredient does nothing for the skin – its molecule is too large to penetrate the surface. Instead look for treatments and products that contain active ingredients proven to stimulate collagen production. Nefera contains active ingredients and sophisticated nanotechnology to ensure swift, sound delivery to the lower layers of the skin.
Every minute your skin sheds 30,000 cells
That’s right – 30,000 cells are shed each minute. Often they are disposed of but in many cases they lie dead on the surface of the skin. This can result in a dull, lacklustre skin tone – but it also causes a build-up that can trigger breakouts. For these reasons regular yet gentle exfoliation is very important – as this helps to keep your skin healthy with a noticeable glow.
Stress has been shown to cause premature skin ageing
We’re all increasingly aware of the negative side effects of stress – but did you know that its impact on our skin has now been proven? Various studies aimed at discovering how stress can change the skin (if at all) found that stress can cause skin to become and lose its ability to regenerate, resulting in visibly accelerated premature ageing.
