By Verne Maree
Issue 85 - August 2009

It’s ironic, isn’t it? The power of light, which of course originates entirely from our sun, is the basic force that supports all life. Yet exposure to the sun’s harmful rays is also responsible for many of the symptoms of ageing that our faces begin to reflect in our thirties.

A second anomaly is that the power of light can be harnessed to literally undo the damage that sun exposure – and a host of other factors – have inflicted on our skin. As the first generation to benefit directly from amazing new breakthroughs in laser, IPL and other light- or heat-based technology, how lucky we are!

With a constant stream of new machines and treatments coming onto the market, however, it can be well-nigh impossible to decide on your own which is best for your needs. What you need is an experienced, highly trained clinician, preferably one who comes recommended by a trusted source.

Be warned, though: it’s addictive. Once you’ve seen results from a single session of laser treatment – in my case the softening of lines around the eyes, the miraculous (but unfortunately temporary) shrinking of pores on the nose, and the visible smoothening of my facial skin – you can’t help wondering what a second treatment would do. And when a few IPL treatments fade those incipient sun-spots and leave you glowing, brighter and tighter, you know in your bones that they won’t be the last.

Light can be used to treat much more than the symptoms of ageing – take tattoos, for example. I think the choice of getting a tattoo or not has more to do with your personality than your age bracket. One of our closest friends – a gorgeous woman – waited until she was over 50 (and her boys had left home!) to have a sexy design etched a few centimetres above her bottom. Call me a wuss or lacking in imagination, but I’ve never been even slightly tempted to go under the needle. It just seemed so permanent.

Not so anymore. Laser has comes to the rescue with a safe removal treatment that is said to produce excellent results. (See below for more.)

What next? I’ve heard it said that there comes a time when non-invasive treatments are no longer enough to do the trick. Generally, this happens when the collagen content of the dermis has naturally diminished to the point where the skin no longer has the capacity to bounce back. When that stage has been reached, it’s up to each one of us to decide whether or not to undergo the expense, discomfort and downtime of going under the plastic surgeon’s knife.
 

Until then, let there be light!

The Great Sun Debate

The damaging effects of solar radiation, such as heightened risk of melanoma and other carcinomas of the skin, have been well documented.

But you can’t avoid the sun completely, and what’s more, you shouldn’t try to. Even the Greeks and Romans – clever, wonderful people who also espoused the benefits of spa baths and massage – recognized the positive effects of sunlight. And in recent years, research data has been mounting in support of the benefits of spending time in the sun.

It has also been known for a long time that sunlight improves acne; a particular range of violet light destroys the bacteria that cause it. More crucially, we need regular exposure to natural sunlight to produce the Vitamin D required to keep our bones strong and healthy and prevent osteoporosis. Other diseases associated with Vitamin D deficiency include multiple sclerosis, breast cancer, bowel cancer, prostate cancer, lymphoma and diabetes.

How much sun is enough? Some say ten to twenty minutes a day, at least every second day, depending on where you are and the time of day.

In addition to strengthening your frame, sunlight also helps keep you cheerful and sane. Especially in Scandinavian and other northern countries where the lack of sunlight during winter months causes the depressive SAD (seasonal affective disorder), daily exposure to light-boxes that give off a bright light mimicking natural light has brought relief. Light therapy – not to be confused with laser therapy – has also proved effective in treating bipolar disorder, postpartum depression, sleep disturbances, premenstrual syndrome and more.

As with many other aspects of health, it’s all about moderation, of course. It’s hard to imagine eating more Brussels sprouts or seaweed than is good for you; we’re much likelier to binge on the dessert buffet … or over-indulge in time on the sun-lounger. As always, a little of what we fancy does us good.