85% of ALL AGING is a result of UNPROTECTED ultraviolet (UV) sun exposure. It is important to understand how sun damage accumulates over time and how to protect sun exposed skin from damage.

Facial skin will only age and degrade about 20% by the age of 80 if PROTECTED and UNEXPOSED to the sun and other pollutants.

Collagen and elastin break down dramatically when exposed to UV sun rays and oxidative stress. Unnecessary sun exposure resulting in actinic keratosis damage is the #1 culprit in visible aging, wrinkling, course texture, enlarged pores and lax skin. One blistering sun burn increases the chances of developing skin cancer tenfold. Tanned skin, sought after as a mark of beauty, is an outward representation of our skin’s attempt to protect its DNA from damage and mutation.

Fine lines that result from repeated facial expressions, the passage of time and gravity are normal. But DEEP wrinkling is NOT a function of normal internal aging. Deep wrinkles are a result of UVA rays penetrating deeply into the skin causing the breakdown, disorganization and cross-linking of collagen. De-hydration of the skin and free radical damage are very common in all cases of sun damage leading to thickened skin that appears flaky, dull and rough.

The most BENEFICIAL ANTI-AGING product to prevent and reverse sun damage is broad spectrum, high quality sun block. Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide are high quality broad spectrum protectors approved by the FDA when used at appropriate levels. Formulated with Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide, our T4 sun screens are the best weapon to save you from premature and visible aging, as well as skin cancer.     

 How do you bring your skin back to optimum health when you have clearly spent too much time in the sun? Most sun damage occurs in early childhood but damage continues thru our lifetime. Sun damage is cumulative and gradual. Prevention is the key. Sun damage is reversible with at home face and body exfoliating skin peels like our 10% Mandelic or 15% Glycolic, Lactic & Pyruvic Face & Body Peels and strong T4 antioxidant home care products such as our Extreme Retinol Crème, 20% Vitamin C Super Serum and Collagen Boosting Face Repair Crème with Retinol & Vitamin C. These methods help remove precancerous cells such as actinic keratosis by helping to remove damaged cells. T4 at home topical skin peels and antioxidant skin products are tools available to help prevent potential long-term battles with skin cancer.

T4 at home exfoliating skin peels are formulated to help repair aging skin damage caused by external factors such as the sun. They will brighten, provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support, and improve overall skin texture.

An all natural, alpha hydroxy peel is a skin resurfacing technique to exfoliate away the top layers of dead and damaged skin. The benefits of peels are multifold. First, they remove the dead, rough and uneven top layers of skin to reveal a smoother, even textured surface. Second, they speed up the skin’s inherent repair and rejuvenating mechanisms to produce new skin cells. Third, they increase cellular turnover and reduce the appearance of sun and age spots. These changes are manifested in a more healthy and youthful appearing skin. Skin cancer is the most prevalent form of all cancers in the United States. Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer and causes more than 75% of all skin cancer deaths. It is estimated that 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form and some signs include non-healing open sores, reddish patches, shiny pink, red or tan nodules, pink elevated growths and scar like tissue. Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common and often appears as persistent rough, thick, scaly patches that may easily bleed. It can also look like warts or open sores with a crusted surface. Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer but in many cases, all forms of skin cancer can be stopped in its tracks.

Many people are under the misconception that purchasing a higher number SPF such as an SPF 50 instead of SPF 30 means the SPF 50 is stronger & offers better protection than the SPF 30. By FDA standards, SPF stands for sun burning factor, and the SPF number labeled on the outside of your sunscreen only protects you from UVB-sun burning ray protection, not UVA-cancer & basal cell carcinoma protection. Let's say your nose typically burns within 10 minutes of direct sunlight with no sun protection on. When you purchase a SPF 30 sun block, the number 30 means you can remain in direct sun-30 multiplied by10 times, or 300 minutes before re-applying your sunscreen to prevent burning your skin. As a SPF number goes up it becomes less efficient. As the number increases, the increment of protection gets smaller and why the FDA will not endorse or approve a SPF over 50. In order for a SPF product to protect you from both UVB burning & UVA cancer causing rays, it must contain good quality micronized titanium or zinc oxide. Rest assured, T4 Skin Care SPF products are only formulated with full broad spectrum titanium & zinc oxide.

The American Cancer Society recommends using a sun block 365 days a year because sun block is proven to prevent squamous & basal cell carcinoma because it curtails inflammation. Try our T4 SPF 30 Natural Mineral Eye & Face Moisturizer or our SPF 30 Vitamin C-Oil Free Day Creme-formulated with titanium and zinc oxides. Forty to 80% of the sun's UVA & UVB ultraviolet rays pass thru clouds & over caste conditions. It is important to wear sun block during non-sun, cold and rainy days 365 days a year. During sunny days, please avoid direct, extreme sun exposure between 11 am & 3 pm when the sun induces the most UVA & UVB damage. UVA radiation from sun & tanning booths does more damage to the collagen & elastin fibers & generates the most wrinkles & skin cancers. It is also extremely important to properly hydrate after sun exposure with T4 Intensive Healing + Hydrating Creme w/ Retinol + Vitamin C or T4 Collagen Boosting Face Repair Crème with Retinol & Vitamin C.