From the commercials you see on TV, it's easy to think skincare is nothing more than fragrance and shimmer. But that couldn't be further from the truth - and it could be harming your skin.
Our skin is our largest organ and it is delicately balanced. It is the protective shield between our inner bodies and the external environment. Maintaining this shield is critical to our bodily health, and that maintenance has to be informed, first and foremost, by what our skin needs.
We need to help our skin by protecting it from the harshest elements and supplying it with replenishing materials in the evenings. This is an evidenced-based, clinically proven approach to improve both the health and appearance of your skin. Proper application of a sceintifically-founded skincare routine will slow the aging process, minimise wrinkles and reduce the risk of skin disease and cancers.
Dr Edit Olasz Harken MD, PhD is the founder and the brains behind our formulas at Harken Derm. As an internationally renowned lecturer and published dermatologist, she puts the science of skin at the heart of everything she does. Follow her tips, advice and guidance with Harken Derm.
TWO step solution
Fight the signs of aging and your risk of skin cancer with the ultimate photoprotection package.
Is the sun really that bad for me?
Without protection, yes. Every hour, somebody dies from melanoma; your risk of melanoma doubles if you have been sunburnt five times. You wouldn’t drive without a seatbelt, you wouldn’t sail without a lifejacket - you shouldn’t be in the sun without a reliable, long-lasting sunscreen which is proven to protect your skin.
How does the sun damage skin
There are two types of sun ultraviolet radiation that reach the Earth and are harmful to your skin: UVA and UVB. Both can cause skin cancer. Recently, near infrared radiation has been shown to cause some skin damage as well.
- UVA rays (“aging rays”) can prematurely age your skin, causing wrinkles and age spots. They can pass through window glass.
- UVB rays (“burning rays”) are only 5% of UV radiation but they are the primary cause of sunburn. They are blocked by window glass.
- The sun emits harmful UV rays year-round. Even on cloudy days, UV rays can penetrate the skin.
- Cloud is not cover. On a cloudy day, up to 80% of the sun’s UV rays can pass through the clouds.
- The water reflects less than 10%, sand 15% of the UV rays and snow can reflect up to 90% of UV rays.
HOW CAN WE PROTECT OURSELVES
Exposure to these harmful UV rays is, thankfully, the most easily preventable risk factor .
- Regular use of broad spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen SPF 30 or higher reduces your risk of developing skin cancer
- Practice sun smart behavior: seek shade, wear sunscreen and protective clothing, including a hat and sunglasses.
- Regularly check your skin for new or changing moles, or spots that grow, itch or bleed.
- Seek a certified dermatologist if you have any concerns about your skin or are worried about the risk of skin cancer.
INGREDIENTS MATTER
Mineral UV filters (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) are safe and do not harm the skin or seas. Many chemical filters are absorbed to the blood and also harm the marine environment on which sailors rely.
- Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are the only active sunscreen ingredients (UV filters) that are considered to be GRASE (Generally Recognized As Safe and Effective) by the FDA
- Oxybezone and Octinoxate have been proven to bleach and harm coral (these chemicals have been banned in Hawaii starting 2021)
- Oxybenzone is so toxic that just one drop can kill coral which would cover 6.5 Olympic-sized swimming pools
Every Harken Derm product is informed by science to combat the challenges posed by the sun, and our all-mineral formulas protect not only your skin but the seas around us.
Saving our Sailors
Saving our Skin
Saving our seas
Save our skin
Daily skincare routines have to include sun protection in order to fight ageing and reduce the risk of skin cancer. Our formulas are clinically proven to protect and repair the skin.
Save our sailors
Sailors, by the nature of our love for the water, are exposed to high levels of radiation, and are at high risk of skin cancer and early ageing. Find out how our formulas protect people at sea.
Save our Seas
Chemical filters in sunscreens are proven to kill coral and harm the marine habitat. Our sunscreen only uses all-mineral filters, so that we can protect the seas that we share.
