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How to choose sunscreen. Does sunscreen do more good or harm? Sun filter: chemical and physical
LOVE VERESCHINSKAYA
sun protector
Why protect yourself from the sun
In summer, winter, in clear and cloudy weather, ultraviolet radiation falls on open areas of the body. In small amounts, it is known to stimulate the production of vitamin D and improve mood. If you show the sun your face and hands for 15 minutes a day, three times a week, it will not hurt.
But the sun also has an opposite - harmful - side. Sunburn, tanning beds and beach life lead to serious problems - burns, photosensitivity, pigmentation, early aging and several types of skin cancer.
With sun, shade and clothing, everything is more or less obvious. We will tell about the harm of solariums. And in this article, we will shed light on sunscreens, or sunscreens.
How to know if you need sunscreen
Temperature and cloud cover are misleading guides. Even if there are clouds in the sky, and early spring outside, this does not mean that you are safe and the cream is not needed. Ultraviolet easily penetrates through clouds and glass. Therefore, American dermatologists and oncologists, for example, recommend applying sunscreen, regardless of whether you see the sun or not.
A good example of the deceitfulness of cloudy weather is mountains. There seems to be no sun in the French Alps, and the UV index is higher than in cloudless Moscow
The general rules of behavior depending on the index are as follows:
for a short walk you can do without sunscreen
need shirt, hat and sunscreen
even in a hat and sunscreen it is better to go into the shade or into the room
How to choose a sun cream
There are two ways: easy and hard.
The easy way is to buy any product with SPF 15 and above, apply a thick layer and not worry. In most cases, sunburns are not caused by the quality of the product, but by too economical application to the skin. If you don't want to understand, dive in.
The difficult path is for responsible consumers who want to understand how everything works, and, possibly, save money. If you are one of them, here's what you need to know.
About the type of radiation
The packaging of sunscreens indicates the type of rays from which they protect - UVA and UVB. Both types of radiation cause skin cancer, the difference between them is in the wavelength and the specifics of the impact:
UVA penetrate deep into the skin and cause wrinkles,
UVBs act superficially and cause burns.
A good sunscreen protects from all rays. Usually these tools are called broad spectrum", or "broad spectrum".
About SPF
All sunscreens revolve around this contraction. SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, is an index of protection against UVB rays. The higher it is, the less UVB rays will reach the skin covered with the product.
SPF % Reflected UVB
The percentage difference is small, but it is significant if you have fair skin and are exposed to intense sun for a long time. Then better fit cream with a high SPF.
There is more sun in the mountains and by the sea than on the plain, so for such an area it is also better to choose a more powerful sunscreen.
Physical filters sting for nanoparticles of titanium and zinc oxides that penetrate the skin and remain in it. But there is no scientific evidence for this. But it is known that they definitely do not cause allergies, and therefore are recommended for children and owners of sensitive skin, for example, with rosacea.
About water resistance
In the US, manufacturers of sunscreens have been banned from using the "waterproof" label because there are no such products. Instead, you can use the expression "water resistant" with a note of how long the product will retain its properties. The most powerful sunscreen with SPF 50+ will protect from the sun in the water for a maximum of 80 minutes.
This cream honestly writes that it will last 80 minutes in water. I use it for jogging under the hot sun
There is no such rule in Russia, so anything can be written on the packages. You should not believe this.
Super waterproof spray is an oxymoron. Sprays are liquid, and therefore are easily washed off with water. Usually water-resistant sunscreen has the consistency of an ointment. Well, UVB was circled for some reason
Any sunscreen is washed off with water and sweat, so it's best to reapply it every time you swim or sweat.
About the price
There is no fundamental difference between cheap and expensive products. Like any cosmetics, sunscreens undergo safety tests and receive certificates. In the US, cosmetics are certified by the FDA, in Russia it is done by Rospotrebnadzor, in Europe there is voluntary and state certification, which may differ depending on the country.
The difference between an expensive and a cheap product is usually obtained from the price of the brand and the price of the auxiliary components. In an expensive cream with SPF, manufacturers can add vitamins, some natural ingredient, make beautiful packaging and advertising. In this case, both products will equally well protect the skin from the sun.
If there is time and desire, then it is better to choose sunscreens not by price, but based on the needs of the skin. For example, if the skin is sensitive and prone to breakouts, you can choose sunscreen with soothing substances - aloe vera or centella asiatica.
How to apply sunscreen on skin
How
Any sunscreen is recommended to be applied in a dense layer over all exposed parts of the body. According to statistics, only 15% of men and 30% of women do this.
Vitamin D is often referred to as the “sunshine vitamin,” which sets it apart from other vitamins in that it affects your entire body. Vitamin D, in fact, is not a vitamin at all, but a steroid hormone obtained from sun exposure on our skin, and converted from food and dietary supplements. Vitamin D receptors have been found in almost every cell type in humans, from the brain to the bones.
Unfortunately, modern dermatologists and the press are doing us a disservice by advising us to avoid the sun to reduce our risk of developing skin cancer. This is because these "experts" don't understand that vitamin D deficiency not only increases your risk of skin cancer, but also your risk of developing many other common diseases. oncological diseases, which claim many more lives than the deadliest skin cancer -.
Mammary cancer and are just two examples where low vitamin D makes you more vulnerable to more aggressive forms of these diseases. Low vitamin D levels also increase your risk for various heart diseases, diabetes, osteoporosis, and other chronic diseases.
Today, science has accumulated over 34,000 studies detailing the many benefits of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, both for vitamin D production and other benefits that are not related to this vitamin.
The single most important thing you can do to prevent skin cancer is to spend enough time in the sun as much as possible, ideally around noon, to keep your vitamin D levels healthy.
Basic risk factor for skin cancer is skin burns rather than skin irradiation and a good tan. Therefore, avoiding sunburn can be considered safe exposure to the sun, and your stay in the sun should be as long as possible before the burn occurs.
COLOR LOSS IN CORALS EXPOSED TO OXYBENZONE Sunscreen is deadly to marine life
It is worth paying attention to the information that the use of chemical (not natural) sunscreens is associated with an increased risk of skin cancer. This information was provided by Elizabeth Plowrd, an American scientist, PhD, in her research. In addition, sunscreens are involved in the destruction of corals and other marine life.
A recent symposium on new environmental pollutants highlighted the environmental risks associated with the widespread use of sunscreen by humans. According to University of Delaware fellow biologist Daniel Dixson, the chemical oxybenzone in sunscreen is fatal to many crabs. In Delaware beach season coincides with the spawning season of horseshoe crabs, and since they lay their eggs in the sand in shallow water, they become especially vulnerable to the effects chemical substances from sunscreen beachgoers.
Scientists have calculated that the sunscreen that all beachgoers in the world wear on their skin leads to an annual accumulation of approximately 6,000 tons of this cream in the oceans. As scientists noted: “Modern sunscreen greatly affects the development, growth and survival of crabs and their young generation. A substance used in various sunscreensDixon (oxybenzone) is able to alter the DNA of corals, increasing the susceptibility to coral bleaching and endocrine disruption in marine animals.
Studies have shown that a concentration of 62 parts per trillion parts of water is sufficient for the dangerous chemical effects of oxybenzone on marine life, which is equivalent to one drop of this chemical in 6 pools for world swimming competitions.
Sunscreens Contain Many Potentially Harmful Substances
While some sunscreen manufacturers have switched from using oxybenzone to avobenzone, some scientists have noted that no studies have been conducted to confirm whether avobenzone is indeed the safer choice. Most likely, it is not.
For example, a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 96% of the US population had oxybenzone in their bodies. This chemical is known to be an endocrine disruptor that can decrease sperm count in men and cause endometriosis among women. In addition, at least nine ingredients in sunscreens are known to the Agency. food products and US medicines as agents that affect the endocrine system.
In addition to oxybenzone, which is found in 70% of sunscreens, other chemicals are widely used that can enter the bloodstream and cause toxic effects. side effects including hormonal imbalances.
List of some potentially hazardous chemicals in sunscreen:
- Dioctyl methoxycinnamate
- Para-aminobenzoic acid
- Dioctyl salicyclate
- Phenylbenzimidazole
- Octocrylene
- Octisalate
- Dioxybenzone
- Octinoxate
- Cinoxate
- Parabens
Many sunscreens also contain vitamin A and/or its derivatives retinol and retinyl palmitate that are associated with an increased risk skin cancer by increasing the rate of development and spread of cancer cells.
Beware of nanoparticles
Spraying instead of sunscreen poses an additional hazard by releasing toxic particles into the air. The FDA has previously expressed concern that people may be at risk from inhaling these products, especially children. That's why FDA issues warning to parents to avoid spraying sunscreen around children.
Two chemical agents, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, are the two most commonly used substances in sunscreen sprays. These two minerals are the safest when applied to the skin, but inhaling them internally is a different story.
Most studies to date have shown that zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are safe and unlikely to penetrate the skin when applied topically until they can be reduced to nano-size. But when these minerals are inhaled, they have been shown to irritate lung tissues and can lead to serious health problems. Moreover, the smaller the particles, the worse their effects.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified titanium dioxide as a "possible carcinogen" when inhaled in high doses. Here's what was noted: “Titanium dioxide causes varying degrees of inflammation and associated pulmonary effects, including injury to lung epithelial cells, cholesterol granulomas, and tissue fibrosis. Rodents experienced strong pulmonary effects after exposure to ultrafine titanium dioxide particles compared to commonly used fine particles."
Use Safe Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide Products
Many nano-sized particles (less than 100 nanometers in size) have been found in American sunscreens containing either titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. Animal studies have shown that inhaled nanoparticles can enter all areas of your respiratory tract, and because small particles are difficult to clear from your lungs, these particles can pass into your bloodstream.
Other studies have shown that some nanoparticles are even able to cross the blood-brain barrier and enter the brain. If such particles enter your lungs or penetrate your skin, they have the potential to cause severe toxic effects on the immune system, nervous system, heart and brain. Some scientists argue that particle sizes affect their toxic effect, because with a size similar to the size of viruses, it is possible to develop an immune response of the body, as to a viral infection.
Inhalation of large amounts of zinc oxide can lead to "metal fever," characterized by chest pain, cough, shortness of breath, decreased lung capacity, nausea, chills, malaise, and leukocytosis. In one animal study, zinc oxide nanoparticles were found to have a cytotoxic effect on cells by interfering with zinc homeostasis and increasing zinc concentration. Such changes led to enhanced apoptosis (cell death).
An Indian study showed that zinc oxide particles can cause toxicity in lung cells, possibly through “stress-induced apoptosis.” Today, human studies evaluating the health effects of zinc oxide particles, especially smaller particles such as from short-term exposure via sunscreen spray, are sorely lacking.
It can be considered that the use of sprays containing zinc oxide means exposure to a completely unnecessary risk. For more safe use sunscreens, you should choose creams where zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are not contained in the form of nano-sized particles.
THE VITAMIN D PATH AND ITS IMPACT ON THE GENOME Lack of sun in your life contributes to early death
One of the most compelling reasons for getting regular exposure to the sun on your bare skin can be considered the ability to prevent the development of many chronic diseases. As dermatologist Richard Weller noted in his scientific review, the link between sun exposure and development cardiovascular disease is a problem much more serious than the development of skin cancer.
In fact, multiple studies show that the risk of dying from heart disease or stroke is 800% greater than the average risk of dying from skin cancer. Another study published in the journal Public healthy eating in 2012 also concluded:
“The overall health benefits of improving vitamin D levels may be more important than the possible increase in cases of malignant melanoma associated with excess ultraviolet exposure.”
Most modern doctors do not understand the reasons for this positive impact sun to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. There are several such reasons, but the two major ones are:
- Exposure of our skin to sunlight increases production, which helps relax blood vessels, keep blood pressure lower and reduce platelet activation, resulting in thinner blood, which reduces the risk of thrombosis and therefore. Nitric oxide also improves the functioning of the immune system.
- Studies of exposure to red and infrared rays are rare, but recent studies have shown that red (660 nm) and near infrared (830 nm) light have increased health benefits. improvement of mitochondrial functions. This is because cytochrome c oxidase, which is one of the parts in the mitochondrial electron transport chain, is chromophores for these wavelengths. And when it absorbs this energy, then the efficiency of mitochondrial and cellular energy increases.
Lack of sun is as dangerous as smoking
A very long-term study was carried out in Sweden, where more than 25,500 Swedish women aged 24-64 were followed up for 20 years. They collected information about habits and aggravating factors. In general, women who received regular sun exposure have a higher risk of melanoma compared to those who avoided sun exposure, but they also had lower all-cause mortality rates probably due to the activation of vitamin D.
Women who habitually receive sun exposure showed a significantly lower risk of developing and lower mortality from cancer compared to those who avoided the sun. According to the authors:
“Women without the habit of smoking who avoided sun exposure had a life expectancy similar to that of smokers who received the highest dose of sunlight. Thus it can be said that avoiding sun exposure is a risk factor for death of the same magnitude as smoking. Compared to people who received the maximum amount of sun exposure possible, women with little sun exposure showed a decrease in life expectancy of 0.6 to 2.1 years.
In short, if you're worried about mortality, not just melanoma, you should make the decision to get more sun exposure.
Benefits of being in the sun:
- Pain-relieving (pain-relieving) properties
- Enhancement of subcutaneous fat metabolism
- Regulation of human lifespan (manifestation of solar cycles is a direct impact on the human genome, thereby affecting its lifespan)
- Daytime sunlight improves evening alertness
- Converting solar energy into the metabolism of our cells (i.e. we “swallow” energy directly from the sun)
Measure your vitamin D levels in winter and summer
As a general rule, it's best to have your vitamin D levels measured twice a year, in the middle of summer and winter, to determine your yearly high and low. Ideally, you want to bring your serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(one)D) levels between 40 and 65 ng/ml all year round. All values below 20 ng/mL are considered severe deficiency of this vitamin, which increases the risk of both acute and chronic diseases.
When it comes to improving your body's vitamin D content through sensible sun exposure, your skin type is worth considering. Black people are more prone to vitamin D deficiency because their skin produces less vitamin D3 than light-skinned people do in response to normal levels of sun exposure. As a general rule, the darker your skin, the more sun you need, and vice versa.
remember, that The best way to achieve healthy levels of vitamin D is sensible sun exposure. There are people who have not taken vitamin D supplements for more than 10 years and their level of this vitamin rarely drops below 70 ng / ml, but this only happens because they live in sunnier regions of their country and are in the sun for 90 minutes almost every day.
Of course, not everyone will be able to move to the south, then if you take special vitamin D supplements, then this is probably right choice. Although such supplements are significantly inferior in effectiveness to solar radiation, you may not get enough nitric oxide, red and near infrared radiation mentioned above.
How to reduce the risk of sunburn through internal protection
As already mentioned, one of the main risk factors for developing skin cancer is sunburn, which is an inflammatory process. But if you consistently pay attention to your skin before you get burned, you can reduce your risk of harmful sunburn.
In addition, you can also reduce the risks of sun exposure through nutrition. Inclusion in the diet of a lot of fruits and vegetables, and the additional inclusion of a supplement astaxanthin(antioxidant) can help you create special UV protection by working as an "internal" sunscreen.
Scientific research substantiated such protective effects of astaxanthin on the skin. In one study, subjects who took 4 mg of astaxanthin daily for two weeks showed a significant increase in the amount of time it took for skin to turn red from exposure to UV radiation. Animal studies give us further evidence for the effects of astaxanthin as an internal sunscreen:
- In one study, mice were fed various combinations of astaxanthin, beta-carotene, and retinol for four months. Astaxanthin has shown significant efficacy in preventing skin photoaging following UV exposure as a measurable marker of skin damage.
- In a study on rats, astaxanthin was found to be 100 times more potent than beta-carotene and 1,000 times more potent in preventing UV-induced skin damage.
- The Journal of Dermatological Science published a study in 2002 that identified astaxanthin as a substance capable of protecting against changes in human DNA when exposed to UV radiation.
How to choose a safe sunscreen
There are thousands of sunscreens on the market and it can be overwhelming to find one that is safer. Most sunscreens contain endocrine disruptors, which are especially harmful to pregnant women, babies, and young children. They can interfere with growth and development, and can cause early puberty and low sperm count in boys. They also have carcinogenic potential. The worst creams contain oxybenzone, synthetic fragrances and retinyl palmitate.
When choosing sunscreen, your safest bet may be a zinc oxide lotion or cream. These are stable substances sunlight and provide the best protection against UVA rays. Your next the best option is titanium dioxide. Just make sure that the product does not contain nano-particles, protects against UVA and UVB rays at the same time.
Keep in mind that SPF sunscreen only protects against UVB rays, which are rays in the ultraviolet spectrum, and allow your skin to produce vitamin D. The most dangerous rays, in terms of skin damage and cancer, are UVA rays.
Avoid sunscreens with SPFs above 50. Higher SPFs tend to provide a false sense of security by encouraging you to stay in the sun longer than you need to. Also, a higher SPF generally does not provide more protection. In fact, studies show that people using high SPF sunscreens received the same or similar UV exposure using a lower SPF.
Sunscreen, how to choose the right one ... And the sun is not only our friend, but also our enemy. And its excessive amount has a destructive effect on our skin - from premature aging to melanoma. To enjoy the beach while protecting your skin, sunscreens were invented. Many, different. And they are all dotted with different markings that mean something.
Sunscreen: how to choose the right one
Let's start with the labels that indicate which spectrum the sunscreen protects against. Solar radiation that reaches the earth's surface is divided into:
- UVA (ultraviolet A),
- UVB (ultraviolet B),
- IRA (infrared radiation).
English abbreviations are indicated on the vials: UVA, UVB, IRA.And sometimes UVB and UVA are found in circles.
UVA in a circle means that the cream contains the optimal ratio of UVB / UVA protection, in the ratio of 1/3, in accordance with the recommendations of European regulators. And this marking is put only if there are relevant documents from the testing laboratories.
UVB in a circle does not mean anything other than information that the cream protects against this radiation.
The world's most famous UVB protection index is the SPF index. It is with them that we are accustomed to measuring the degree of protection of the cream.
How to choose sunscreen
SPF - Sun Protection Factor - sun protection factor
It shows how long you can spend in the sun before the appearance of redness or eryerma (in medical terminology). This is an index of Europeans who were interested in an even tan, but not sunburn.
The number next to the SPF abbreviation indicates how many times longer you can stay in the sun with the product applied than without it. Until the first signs of skin redness appear. Moreover, redness may not appear immediately, but, for example, after 24 hours, and this must be taken into account.
Read also:
EXAMPLE. If your skin turns red in the sun for 10 minutes (this is your minimum erythermal dose of ultraviolet B - HONEY), then using a cream with an SPF value of 10, you can stay in the sun for 100 minutes.
But there is a nuance. HONEY and the rate of skin burning will depend on the angle at which the sun's rays fall on this particular piece. the globe where you are currently standing. The more vertical, the more UV (both A and B) you will get. The sharper the angle of incidence, the less. This will be responsible for:
- latitude - in St. Petersburg or in South Africa you will burn at different speeds,
- time of year - in winter there is less sun than in summer,
- time of day - at noon and in the evening we will burn at different speeds.
To the factors that affect the dose of radiation received, it is necessary to add:
- height above sea level - the higher, the smaller the air shell above you and the stronger the radiation.
- albedo - the ability of different surfaces to reflect the sun's rays and enhance the effect of the sun. Mirrored shop windows reflect up to 99% of UV rays, snow - up to 80%, the surface of the water of the seas, lakes and rivers - up to 30%, sand on the beach - up to 25%. Even foliage and grass reflects 5% of the UV rays falling on them.
- your skin sensitivity to ultraviolet light, which may vary depending on your health condition, diet, and pills you use. For example, hormonal contraceptives and antibiotics increase skin sensitivity. And carrots and tomatoes - reduce due to the carotene and lycopene contained in them.
Which sunscreen is best to use and what is the best SPF value
- A product with SPF 10 reduces the dose of UVB radiation by 10 times, i.e. out of 100 solar UVB rays, only 10 rays penetrate the skin, i.e., the product blocks 90% of UVB rays.
- A product with SPF 20 passes every 20th UVB beam, i.e. out of 100 rays, 5 rays penetrate, i.e., the product blocks 95% of UVB rays.
- A product with SPF 30 passes every 30th beam, i.e. out of 100 rays, 3.3 beams penetrate, i.e. the product blocks 96.7% of UVB rays.
- A product with SPF 50 misses every 50th beam or 2 beams out of 100, i.e. blocks 98% of UVB rays.
Based on these calculations, some countries (for example, Australia, the EU) officially declared SPF30 as the optimal protection factor and banned the labeling of sunscreens with large indexes.
Asian buyers of sunscreen cosmetics, and therefore manufacturers, were interested in complete absence sunburn and they developed their own labeling system for UVA protection, which is responsible for darkening the skin. Therefore, on cosmetics, both Asian and other global manufacturers, you can find such indices.
PPD – Persistent Pigment Darkening
How to choose sunscreen for tanning? The PPD label on a sunscreen shows how long you can spend in the sun before tanning!
- 2-4 - low UVA protection - up to an hour in the sun (for Asian skin at their latitude).
- 4-8 - optimal UVA protection (two to three hours).
- 8-16 - high UVA protection (more than three hours).
- Greater than 16 -42 (maximum value) enhanced UVA protection for daytime sun exposure.
PA + - Protection Grade of UVA - degree of protection against UVA
The same PPD, but with a friendlier interface.
- PA+ = PPD 2 to 4.
- marking PA++ = PPD from 4 to 8.
- PA+++ = PPD 8 to 16.
- PA++++ = PPD 16 to 42.
IPD - Immediate Pigment Darkening - instant darkening of the pigment
Shows what % of UVA rays are blocked by this product. The maximum value is 90.
- 90 - blocks 90% of the rays.
- 70 - blocks 70% of the rays.
- 50 - blocks 50% of the rays.
Waterproof
Well, the last. At times, there are pictograms or waterproof inscriptions that indicate water resistance of sunscreen. There is no single international image standard. But there are requirements on which cosmetics such an inscription or marking can be placed: the sunscreen must last on your skin for 20 minutes when in water. But only. Nobody dares for more.
I hope you now understand how sunscreen works, how to choose the right label for your needs. All healthy and healthy tan.
Julia Nekhaychik
Chief cosmetics consultant SATIVA
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Many of us take the sun lightly, and with the onset of the season, the beaches are crowded with people who are in a hurry to get a tan, relying on the protection of cosmetics with a UVA / UVB filter. Sunscreen can really help you, but only if you apply it correctly.
website in one article collected the most common myths about sunscreens. And they need to be debunked as soon as possible, because the price of such delusions is skin health.
1. The higher the SPF, the better the protection
This statement is true only for products with an SPF value of up to 50. Despite the fact that manufacturers offer creams with a degree of protection from 2 to 100 SPF, in fact, additional protection is negligible. Compare: SPF 50 creates a barrier for 98% of rays, SPF 100 - 99%. Most often, an SPF level above 50 is nothing more than a marketing ploy.
2. Protection is needed only in the scorching sun
We often neglect sunscreen when we are in the shade and on cloudy days. And therein lies the main mistake.
- According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 80% of ultraviolet rays are able to penetrate clouds and affect our skin.
- The situation is similar in the shadows. It does not guarantee complete protection from the sun. Even under an umbrella, a person receives more than 30% of ultraviolet radiation. It's just that when you're in the shade, you can use a cream with a lower SPF level.
3. Protection is effective until the cream has expired
Typically, manufacturers limit the shelf life of sunscreen products to 2-3 years. However, they remain suitable only under optimal storage conditions: in a dry and cool place. How do most of us deal with creams? That's right, we take them with us to the beach and leave them under the scorching rays of the sun, thereby bringing the expiration date closer. Therefore, it is still worth storing the cream in a suitable place or buying a new product for the season that will definitely not let you down.
4. For dark and tanned skin, you can use SPF 10 or less.
Many are sure that last days holidays, you can use products with SPF 10 or less, since the skin has already developed a sufficient amount of melanin, and in naturally dark-skinned people, the skin does not need such a high degree of protection at all. Experts are in a hurry to refute this misconception: dark skin is less prone to burns, but is not protected from aging and the risk of melanoma. Therefore, in any case, it is worth using products with an SPF of at least 30.
5. Decorative cosmetics can protect the skin from the sun.
This is true, for example, many tonal foundations with SPF 15-30 protect the skin of the face from the scorching sun. But powder cannot protect against ultraviolet radiation, even if it is indicated high level SPF. The fact is that the powder, due to its properties, does not form a dense film on the skin and is not able to protect from sunlight.
6. SPF 30 protects 2 times better than SPF 15
Unfortunately, in the case of SPF, the rules of arithmetic do not apply. That is, if you apply SPF 10 first, and then SPF 30, you will not end up with SPF 40. Also, SPF 30 does not provide exactly 2 times more protection than SPF 15. Here we are talking about a wider range of short waves, from which the cream is able to protect.
7. Sunscreen should be applied immediately before sunbathing.
Most of us make this mistake: first we straighten the towel, change into swimsuits, and only then begin to smear with cream. And this is fundamentally wrong. Sunscreen should be applied before leaving the house. After all, protection is needed not only on the beach, but from the first minutes of exposure to the sun.
8. The cream should be applied to areas of the skin that are not covered by clothing
This error follows from the previous paragraph. Dermatologists recommend undressing completely before applying sunscreen. It is better to rub the cream in front of a full-length mirror - this way you will definitely not miss those areas that you usually do not see: the elbows, the middle of the back and the calf muscles.
9. Waterproof cream can not be reapplied after swimming
Such a property as water resistance is the subject of controversy among specialists. Most tend to believe that a cream that says "waterproof" can only last a little longer on the skin. Therefore, it is imperative
This beauty product will protect you from two types of harmful sun rays: UVB and UVA. The former cause sunburn, the latter do not, but both types make the skin less elastic, activate the aging process and increase the risk of skin cancer.And all creams protect equally?
No, the degree of protection depends on the value of the sun protection factor SPF, which ranges from 2 to 50. The higher the SPF value, the more sun rays it filters, and you can stay in the sun longer without the risk of sunburn. For example, SPF 2 filters about 50% of UV rays, while SPF 50 filters up to 98%.Which one to choose?
If you go out under the sun from time to time, no longer than a few minutes, dermatologists advise How to choose the right sunscreen for your skin type. cream with SPF 15. If you are outside continuously for a long time, choose a cream with SPF 30 or higher.Also affects the degree of protection.
Wouldn't it be easier to buy SPF 50 for any skin since it protects so well?
No, because sunscreens cannot be considered 100% safe. Some of the substances that make up their composition can cause skin irritation, rashes and acne. Others suspect toxicity and the ability to disrupt the hormonal system, although this has not been proven.The lower the SPF level and the amount of potentially harmful substances in the cream, the better.
Do not abuse protection if you do not need it.
Means, creams differ only on SPF?
No, sunscreens also differ in active ingredients in composition and are divided into chemical and physical. Chemicals are absorbed into the skin and absorb the sun's rays, turning them into thermal energy. Physical ones create a protective screen on the surface of the skin and reflect ultraviolet radiation.And which is better to choose?
Chemical products do not leave streaks and are more resistant to water and sweat. However, unlike physical ones, they are more dangerous for the skin: they can cause allergies and irritation, and their protection begins only 20 minutes after application.If you have sensitive skin and don't want to pre-apply sunscreen before sun exposure, opt for physical creams. If you are going to swim, actively train, do not like oily texture and stains on the skin - choose chemical ones.
In addition, pay attention to what types of rays the selected cream protects against.
