Recently, I went to the dermatologist for my annual skin screening. While measuring my moles and scanning my body for any new beauty marks that sprouted from time spent in the sun, they issued the usual reminder: sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen! After handing me a goodie bag of sample sunscreens to try, all I could think was: What about internal protection? How can I strengthen and protect my skin from the inside out? While what we choose to put on our skin can offer protection and improve complexion, long-lasting support and overall skin health starts at the cellular level. During the summertime, when your skin is exposed to increased environmental stressors like UV radiation, heat, and more, C15:0 can help foster and maintain healthy, resilient skin. And adding this longevity nutrient to your daily routine is easy with fatty15. Let’s learn about the top five summertime skin stressors, how they can accelerate skin aging, and how fatty15 can strengthen and support your skin.
5 Summertime Skin Stressors
Summer is when your skin gets hit the hardest by a cocktail of stressors that can accelerate skin cell aging. Here’s what to watch out for, why it matters, and what you can do.
1. UV Radiation
Just because it’s cloudy outside doesn’t mean UVs aren’t out and about. The sun emits ultraviolet radiation (UV), with three types of rays—UVA, UVB, and UVC—some of which can sneak through clouds, windows, and bounce off the sand and water. Each of these rays penetrate and affect your skin’s various layers—the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis—differently.
UVC rays are so short they’re absorbed by the ozone, so they pose little to no risk to your skin. UVA rays are the longest and can thus penetrate the deepest, all the way down to the dermis, where they break down collagen and elastin and can cause the release of free radicals. It can also alter cell DNA, which can lead to cancer. UVB rays, on the other hand, are shorter and are absorbed by the epidermis, causing you to tan and burn. They, too, can cause DNA damage and cancer.
Together, exposure to UVA and UVB rays can speed up fine lines and wrinkles, trigger hyperpigmentation, and increase skin cancer risk. So that’s why dermatologists harp on the importance of using a broad-spectrum sunscreen (minimum SPF 30+, reapplied every two hours) and wearing ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) sun hats and clothing that is 50+. Eating foods with antioxidants like vitamin C is also great for added UV defense.
2. Heat-Induced Inflammation
Heat from the sun, hot showers, saunas, and even exercise can cause vasodilation and lead to chronic low-grade inflammation. This can weaken your skin barrier and break down collagen faster over time. During the hottest months, cool rinses, facial mists with niacinamide or panthenol, and avoiding prolonged heat exposure when possible can help protect your skin from the heat’s less-than-desirable effects.
3. Dehydration
Summer sun, salty oceans, and dry air-conditioned spaces all pull moisture from your skin. And when your skin is dehydrated, it can appear dull and show fine lines more readily. Your skin also has a tougher time healing when it is dehydrated. Along with staying properly hydrated with water and electrolytes, it would behoove you to apply a hydrating serum (think hyaluronic acid), mist your skin throughout the day, and use a good moisturizer.
4. Free Radicals, Air Pollution, & Ozone
Free radicals are produced both naturally by the body and in our external environment. In the body, they play certain roles in normal bodily functions; however, an excess of free radicals can lead to oxidative stress and damage to cells and DNA, potentially contributing to various diseases and aging. In our external environment, pollution and ground-level ozone levels can generate free radicals; since these levels tend to be higher in the summer due to increased sunlight, higher temperatures, and stagnant weather patterns, we’re exposed to more of them now.
However we’re exposed to them, free radicals can degrade our skin lipids, lead to pigmentation and sagging, and disrupt our skin microbiome. Cleansing gently but thoroughly at night and using topical antioxidants like vitamin C, E, ferulic acid, or resveratrol during the day can help.
5. Skincare Overload
When it comes to skin health, more isn’t always better. And in the summer, we are often putting a lot more on our skin (hello, sunscreen!). With this in mind, you may want to rethink your summer skincare routine to give your skin a chance to breathe. Most importantly, you want to ensure that the products you are using won’t cause adverse reactions from sun exposure.
For example, retinol and AHAs, when mixed with strong sun exposure, can cause irritation, redness, and a compromised skin barrier, making your skin more vulnerable. So it’s better to use actives sparingly and strategically. Try buffering retinol, using lower concentrations, or skipping them during high-sun days.
While you can certainly mitigate your exposure to some of these summer skin stressors, skin health, strength, and resilience can be bolstered from the inside out—and one longevity nutrient that supports long-term health and wellness at the cellular level is the ticket. It’s C15:0.
C15:0 and Skin Health
While fish oil is good for skin health, C15:0—the first fatty acid to be discovered in the last 90 years—is less prone to oxidation than omega-3s and offers three times more cellular benefits. C15:0 (pentadecanoic acid) is a crucial nutrient that strengthens cell membranes and is suggested to prevent cellular fragility syndrome (CFS) and premature cell death. When your C15:0 levels are optimal, your cells remain resilient against external stressors like UV rays, pollution, and oxidative damage. And when your skin is this strong, it shows.
Along with fortifying cell membranes, C15:0 also boosts mitochondrial function by up to 45%, which is crucial for energy production within skin cells. Ultimately, improved mitochondrial function means faster cell regeneration and repair, meaning your skin can recover from sun exposure and environmental insults more readily. Along with having a cell stimulating effect, C15:0 also has a calming effect on the skin by reducing inflammation and supporting the skin barrier. This means more moisture retention and less dryness, redness, and irritation caused by the hot, sunny weather.
Finally, C15:0 can also activate PPARs (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors), which play a crucial role in skin health by regulating epidermal lipid synthesis and metabolism and can modulate inflammatory responses in the skin, among other cellular processes. By positively impacting PPARs, improvements in skin elasticity, hydration, and overall appearance can occur. Overall, enhanced stability and improved signaling in your cells means happier skin with an improved texture and appearance, despite the hot weather.
Support Your Glow from the Inside Out
Along with protecting your skin from harmful UV radiation by wearing sunscreen and a hat, taking reprieve in the shade, and opting to sun yourself when the sun is less strong (before 11 a.m. and after 3 p.m), C15:0 is a long-term solution to strengthen and protect your skin cells against common skin stressors at large during the summer months. Developed by a team of doctors and scientists, fatty15 is the only pure, optimized, and science-backed C15:0 supplement on the market that supports your skin health and overall cell longevity.
To support your skin’s glow and age in health from the inside out, use the code “AGEIST” for 15% off your purchase of fatty15 today.
Interested in more of the science behind C15:0? Read more here.