Journal
Sun is good for the Soul
Friday 29th May 2020
THE SUN FRIEND OR FOE?
The sun is energy and life itself. It makes us feel good. It leaves skin looking healthy and, a vitally important factor particularly for women and children, it stimulates the production of Vitamin D, essential for the absorption of calcium, essential for healthy bones. All it takes to enjoy these benefits is just 15 minutes in the sun a day!
Short-break holidays and our desire to tan in a hurry, often mean we end up sunbathing without the right protection, or we stay out in the sun too long, exposing the skin to the risk of skin diseases and guaranteed early skin aging.
UV rays represent just 10% of the sun's energy, and they are chiefly responsible for the damaging effects caused to the skin.
UVA rays penetrate deeper down to the dermis, speeding up the skin's aging process and triggering allergies.
UVB rays penetrate the epidermis, stimulating the tanning process, but they are also the primary cause of sunburn.
UVA and UVB radiation can damage the DNA, causing alterations which, if repeated, can lead to skin cancer.
WHEN AND HOW TO PROTECT YOUR SKIN
Sun exposure, for both fair and dark skin types, brings our body many benefits. "To maximize these benefits, while minimizing the downsides cause by UVA/UVB rays, it is mandatory to use protective factors adequate to our phototype, which is the reactivity of our skin to light hence the ability of tanning.
The numbers stated on the labels of many sunscreen products represent the quantity of radiations that our skin, protected by sunscreen, is able to absorb before getting sunburned, compared to a portion of skin that is not protected by SPF. Let's always make sure that the sunscreen we select are able to protect our skin both from UVA rays, main culprits for the development of melanomas, and UVB ones, which cause erythema and more superficial sunburns.
The timing of sunscreen application is also crucial and does make the difference: apply your chosen product at least half hour before sun exposure, taking care of evenly distributing it and ensuring you cover often neglected areas such as nose, ears and hairline. In case of moles, cover these areas with sun block to avoid any sunburns which are the possible cause of cutaneous melanoma. Repeat the application of sunscreen every two hours, of after bathing.
CONSCIOUS TANNING 10 TIPS TO REMEMBER AT ALL TIMES
1. EXPOSE YOURSELF TO SUNLIGHT GRADUALLY increasing the exposure time one day at a time.
2. AVOID THE HOTTEST HOURS of the day from 12 to 4pm.
3. APPLY THE PROTECTION best suited to your skin 30 minutes before you go out into the sun and reapply every two hours, and every time you have been in the water.
4. PROTECT all the parts of the body exposed to the sun with a suitable amount of the product (35 grams for the whole body, around six teaspoons).
5. DO NOT USE SUNSCREENS BOUGHT LAST YEAR the filters can alter, reducing the amount of protection they offer.
6. DO NOT USE PERFUMES IN THE SUN, you run the risk of marks and reactions.
7. DO NOT STAY STILL IN THE SUN by moving, the sun's rays are distributed evenly over the body.
8. PAY ATTENTION IF YOU ARE TAKING MEDICATION especially anti-inflammatories, anti-diabetics and oral contraceptives as well as certain medicines for high blood pressure.
9. IF YOU ARE PREGNANT avoid the sun. Exposure can result in dark spots becoming more evident and even permanent.
10. PROTECT CHILDREN it is best to keep them in the shade up to the age of six months. When they are older, choose a fragrance-free sunscreen and use a hat or bandana and
preferably sunglasses with a protective filter.
TANNING: TRUE OR FALSE?
FACT OR FICTION
+
YOU DON'T GET A TAN IF YOU USE A HIGH SPF.
FALSE
In actual fact, tans last longer with high SPFs: it merely takes longer, which is vital to ensure that the skin responds to the sun properly.
PIGMENTATION takes place in two different ways and moments:
IMMEDIATE AND TEMPORARY: starts immediately after and lasts 24-36 hours. This skin color is created by the oxidation of the melanin already contained in the cells, and does not provide any protection.
EFFECTIVE AND LONG-LASTING: occurs 48 hours after initial exposure, the time needed to produce new melanin.
It is caused by UVA and UVB rays, is long-lasting and provides protection.
+
THE SUN PROTECTION FACTOR (SPF) INDICATES HOW MANY TIMES YOU CAN MULTIPLY THE AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT IN THE SUN BEFORE SKIN BURNS
TRUE
A protective sunscreen therefore makes it possible to prolong the amount of time, but this does not mean we can expose the skin as much as we want. Remember: there is no such thing as total protection!
+
THE LONGER YOU STAY IN THE SUN, THE MORE TANNED YOU BECOME
FALSE
The production of melanin is limited to the quantity and type each person is physiologically able to produce (phototype). Beyond this limit, the skin's defences are exhausted: further exposure leads to risks and damage in the short and long term.
+
IF I'VE APPLIED A SELF-TANNING PRODUCT BEFORE GOING OUT INTO THE SUN, I AM NOT PROTECTED.
TRUE
The color the skin acquires with a self-tanning product is not down to the production of melanin, and does not therefore protect against the harmful effects of the sun. The skin is simply "colored"
by a chemical reaction: for this reason, sunscreens must be used
anyway, even if we look tanned.
+
I DON'T NEED PROTECTION WHEN I'M UNDER A BEACH UMBRELLA OR IF IT IS OVERCAST.
FALSE
Over 90% of UV rays also penetrate thick clouds. In addition, sand reverberates up to 45% of UV rays, and the "lens" reflecting effect is around 30% on grass and 10% on water. So you must
never be without protection!
+
NEVER USE SCRUB IF YOU DON'T WANT TO LOSE YOUR TAN.
FALSE
Exposure to the sun causes the skin's horny layer to thicken as a natural defense of the skin against UV radiation. This is why skin tends to look harder and more wrinkly, and undesirable blemishes often appear. A face and body scrub used once a week, including during periods of exposure to the sun, is essential for ensuring skin remains soft and supple.
BEAUTY ROUTINE BEFORE THE SUN
Regardless of our phototype we can all achieve a golden and lasting
tan if we prepare properly for sunbathing:
HAVE A DEEP-CLEANSING SPA FACIAL TREATMENT to prevent spots and blackheads appearing during exposure to the sun.
USE A FACE AND BODY SCRUB to remove keratinized cells that accumulate during winter.
MOISTURIZE FACE AND BODY, MORNING AND NIGHt if well moisturized, skin is better protected against any irritations triggered by the sun, and tanning is more even and long-lasting.
TAKE A SUPPLEMENT with carotene and vitamin A starting three months before sun
exposure.
APPLY A TAN ACTIVATOR at least two days prior to exposure to the sun's rays: not only will
your tan be more even, but you will also stimulate your natural
BEAUTY ROUTINE DURING AND AFTER THE SUN
DRINK, DRINK...AND DRINK!
Exposure to the sun leads to an increase in body temperature and the body becomes very dehydrated.
It is very important to drink during and after exposure, to prevent dehydration which, as well as damaging the skin, can cause general problems such as heatstroke.
NOURISH AND MOISTURIZE SKIN
After exposure to the sun, choose a refreshing, soothing and highly nourishing formula for the body. For the face, in addition to after-sun, it is important to apply at least one face mask a week
to restore and protect the skin's water levels.
ref: information obtained from Comfort Zone, Dr. Maria Bucci, Nutridermatologist.