At Skincare we take interest in your skin, whether that be through providing you with quality cosmetic solutions, such as our Obagi skin care, or through our professionals’ help and advice blogs to make sure that your skin is receiving the treatment it not only deserves, but physically requires.
Research into the Damage
The damage from the sun’s UV rays can continue on into the night, according to research Yale University. It makes sense when you think of sun as a giant ball of nuclear material emitting radiation; just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean that it’s not there – or more specifically… everywhere.
By simply moving into the shade you are not removing yourself from the sun’s UV rays’ omnipotence. The damage that they cause can continue occurring in your skin cells for many hours after the initial exposure and can, ultimately, increase the risk of skin cancer within the individual.
Conducting research on the skin cells of mice, also known as melanocytes, the particular pigment found to be responsible for the damage process was melanin. Exposure to the UV rays causes it to produce small molecules – called cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) – which in turn form abnormal bonds in the DNA helix.
CPD Production
The CPDs actually form the bonds during the exposure to the UV light, however research has shown that these CPDs can continue to be produced for a further three or more hours ‘into the night’, or after the skin cells have ceased being exposed to UV rays. At this point, the body’s natural defence mechanisms eventually work to overpower the process and they production of CPDs ceases.
When conducting the tests on humans, the results essentially mirrored that of the mice. However when it came to the length of time the CPDs were produced post-exposure, the times varied, suggesting that the effect on mice can’t be completely extrapolated to reflect that of the effect on humans.

To speak to one of our skin specialists with regards to further information for post-sun protection, or to discuss our range of products and services, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01481 736699 where one of our friendly and knowledgeable professionals will be eagerly awaiting your call.