Summer is in full blast, and the sunshine feels so good. However, more sun means protecting skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays. Gina Kaufman, nurse practitioner and owner of Solstice Med Spa in Castle Rock, provides expert guidance on skin health throughout the summer months.
Regarding sunscreen, Gina explains, “UVB rays are the rays that will burn you. The UVA rays will be the ones that cause signs of aging. Over-the-counter sunscreens are broad-spectrum UVA/UVB because they have some, but almost all of them do not have the proper UVA.”
Without proper protection from UVA rays, people notice sunspots and wrinkles despite actively reapplying sunscreen.
She adds, “There is value in having a medical-grade sunscreen because you want the proper UVA protection and protection against environmental pollutants and blue light.” That’s correct, folks. Blue light from computers, phones, and televisions negatively affects skin, too.
Gina swears by keeping it simple regarding a healthy skin regimen.
“I’m so simplistic with my skin care because you should be,” she says. “The number one thing to put on your face daily is your Vitamin A.” There are over-the-counter or prescription-grade retinol options.
“The number two thing to be on is going to be vitamin C,” Gina continues. “The trick is, does your vitamin C need to be medical grade, or can it be over-the-counter? It really needs to be medical-grade, and I’m a big proponent that not everything has to be medical-grade, but there are a few things where it does make a big difference.”
The last active ingredient that Gina recommends is niacinamide. This ingredient is a form of Vitamin B3 and can be found standalone or in other products.
One major mistake people make is using skincare products together when they shouldn’t. For instance, Gina mentions that using Vitamin A and C together will not work as they cancel each other out. That's also true when using any acid ingredient like alpha-beta hydroxy acids, which cancel out Vitamin A and C. The only acid that doesn’t is hyaluronic, since it works differently from other acids and draws in water.
Gina’s most crucial advice for healthy skin is also simple. “A good skin care regimen every day is better than the best inconsistently.”
“A good skin care regimen every day is better than the best inconsistently.”