Wellbeing
Leap into spring this month
Spring will officially start the end of this month when the
clocks go back and we all have to get up an hour earlier. The
sun will shine and the temperatures should get above 20ºC and
hopefully we can start taking off our layers of winter clothes
that we have taken to wearing (although I have seen the
occasional blue legs in shorts walking around the Balcón de
Europa belonging to a determined tourist, determined that is
to get wind burn or pneumonia, I’m not sure which). option is a non-starter for most people, after all we didn’t
move here for the rain. So the first thing you have to
remember is to use a full sun block that protects against both
UVB and UVA rays. Then there are various skin whitening
products on the market that gently fade away brown spots.
Many beauty treatments that were at one time salon-only
treatments can now be bought over the counter and as such
should be used with care if you decide to go DIY.
The downside is that we will have to start showing more flesh,
the same chests, arms and legs that we have neglected all
winter. I know it’s easy to overlook what won’t be seen but
these are the very parts of our bodies that can alter a persons
perception of our
age, in some cases up
to ten years. These
areas are prone to
visible signs of ageing
due to exposure to
the weather’s natural
elements and sun
damage. The least we
can do is give
ourselves a little bit of
TLC to push the
balance back in our
favour. For example, chemical peels and dermabrasion that remove
the top superficial layer of skin replacing it with a new healthy
skin. Normally several treatments are required to achieve the
best results. If your age spots require something more
aggressive beauty
salons can offer IPL
which destroys the
pigment that causes
the discolouration of
the skin or you can
visit a dermatologist
who can use a
freezing agent such
as liquid nitrogen to
destroy and lighten
the problem areas.
Remember no
matter which treatment you choose and regardless of how
much money you spend, if you immediately make a bee line
for the sun those brown marks will reappear. Once the
pigment in the skin has been damaged it is more susceptible to
the sun’s rays.
Just as dry, dull skin can add years to a woman’s age, a radiant
glow can take years off. This means we need to start whole new
body routines, hydrating the skin which will not only make it
look better but make it stronger. Use a moisturising body wash
to keep your skin supple post shower and don’t forget to
exfoliate off those dead skin cells. Protecting your skin and
keeping it healthy can help slow down its loss of collagen,
elasticity and the ageing process.
As a child I enjoyed snorkelling and although both my brother
and myself normally retuned from the family holidays abroad
as white as when we left I still managed to burn my face on
one occasion. This means that if the sun is shining I apply a
whitening cream with a total zinc block. On the rare occasions
when I forget I can see a pale brown line of freckles forming
and framing my childhood snorkelling mask.
Don’t ignore brown spots or age spots on the chest or backs of
hands - they are a sign of ageing just the same as when they
appear on your face. They usually appear in women in their
40s and can seem to appear overnight. Age spots or freckles
normally appear on sun damaged skin and the only sensible
thing to do if you have them is to stay out of the sun.
Don’t let the sun take you by surprise this year, be prepared
with sun block and smooth hydrated arms, chests and legs.
As we do live on the Costa del Sol, I will assume that this
EMMA HALL
42