Optimum protection against UV radiation

Ultraviolet radiation (UV) is one of the most aggressive factors affecting the skin. Prolonged exposure to the sun without proper protection can lead to photoaging, sunburns and even skin cancer. It's important to know how to properly protect your skin from UV rays and choose the best sunscreens to keep your skin healthy. In this article, we'll look at the types of UV radiation, ways to protect yourself, and tips for choosing sunscreens with the right SPF level.

1. Types of ultraviolet radiation and their effects on the skin

Ultraviolet radiation is divided into two main types: UVA and UVB rays. Both of these types affect the skin differently and require different methods of protection.

UVA rays: how they affect skin aging

UVA rays penetrate deep into the skin, destroying collagen and elastin, leading to photoaging, wrinkles and loss of skin elasticity. How do UVA rays affect skin aging? They promote cell damage and free radicals, which damage skin structure and accelerate the aging process. Sunscreens with UVA protection contain special filters that block these rays from penetrating deep into the skin.

UVB rays: what is SPF and how does it protect?

UVB rays cause burns and directly damage the DNA of skin cells, which can lead to the development of skin cancer. It is these rays that SPF filters protect against. SPF is a factor that indicates how long you can stay in the sun without risking a burn. For example, SPF 30 protects your skin from UVB rays 30 times longer than without protection. What SPF should I choose for daily protection? For everyday use, SPF 30 is sufficient, but for prolonged sun exposure, SPF 50 or higher is recommended.

2. How to choose a sunscreen

The choice of sunscreen depends on your skin type, sun exposure conditions and activity level. It is important to consider not only SPF, but also the type of filters - physical or chemical.

Selecting SPF for different skin types

For sensitive skin and people with a high risk of sunburn, it is better to choose sunscreens with high SPF - from 30 to 50. For those who do not plan a long stay in the sun, SPF 15-30 is suitable, which provides basic protection.

Physical and chemical filters

Physical filters (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) work as a barrier to reflect the sun's rays and are suitable for sensitive skin. Chemical filters (avobenzone, octocrylene) absorb UV rays and prevent them from penetrating the skin. Sunscreens with physical and chemical filters can provide combined protection from UVA and UVB rays, making them more effective for prolonged sun exposure.

How to properly apply sunscreen

Just choosing a good sunscreen is not enough. It is important to know how to apply sunscreen correctly for maximum protection. Apply 20-30 minutes before going out in the sun, renew every 2 hours and after every bath, even if the cream is waterproof.

3. Ways to protect yourself from UV rays on a daily basis

Besides using sunscreen, there are other ways you can protect your skin from UV rays and minimize your exposure to harmful rays.

Clothing and accessories for UV protection

Clothing and accessories are an important element of sun protection. Wear lightweight but dense fabrics such as cotton or linen that block UV rays. Special sun protective clothing and hats with UV protection provide an additional barrier for the skin. Best accessories to protect your face and body from the sunа - are wide-brimmed hats that cover not only the face but also the neck.

How to protect your skin from the sun without sunscreen

If you don't want to use sunscreen, you can protect your skin in other ways. How do I protect my skin from the sun without sunscreen? Avoid being out in the sun during its peak hours - 10am to 4pm. When outdoors, try to stay in the shade, wear protective clothing and sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays.

How to maintain sun protection throughout the day

It is important to remember that even the strongest sunscreen does not provide permanent protection. To keep your skin protected, you need to reapply sunscreen every two hours and after swimming. If you use makeup, you can opt for powders or sprays with SPF to help maintain protection throughout the day.

Optimal UV protection is a holistic approach that includes choosing the right sunscreen, wearing UV-protective clothing and following sun exposure guidelines. Use sunscreens with SPF depending on your skin type and sun exposure conditions, remember to renew your protection every two hours and supplement it with physical methods of protection - clothing and accessories. This approach will help you maintain healthy skin, prevent photoaging and reduce the risk of skin cancer.

 

How simple it used to be - white skin with blue veins was in fashion. Back then, fashionistas knew no worries, no spa procedures, no tanning beds, no hours lying on the beach under the exhausting sun... You drank vinegar in the morning to make your skin pale, drew veins on your arms with a blue pencil, and you were an ultra-fashionable beauty!

And Coco Chanel, in the twenties, accidentally got a tan on a cruise on the Cote d'Azur - tanning became a fashion trend that still holds up today. Plus, until recently, tanned skin was considered a sign of health. According to the World Health Organization, ultraviolet radiation (UV) is carcinogenic to humans! Doctors have managed to prove its involvement in skin neoplasms. UV provokes all major types of skin cancer:

• Melanomas;
• Squamous cell
• Basal cell.

Types of ultraviolet radiation

The UV spectrum lies in the range of 100-400 nm. This limit is usually divided into three sections:

1. UV-C, with wavelengths between 100 and 280 nm. It is the strongest in terms of exposure, but it is perfectly repelled by the protective ozone layer. Therefore, it is worth protecting against it additionally.
2. UV-B with a length of 280 to 315 nm. Approximately 90% is dispersed by ozone, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and water vapor. The remaining 10% is active on the skin, causing redness and even burns.
3. UV-A with a length of 315 to 400 nm. Perhaps the most dangerous, the atmosphere has almost no effect on it, and this radiation is the main enemy of unprotected skin, causing photoaging, melanoma, and cancer.

Skin cancer prevention programs around the world

The world community is alerted, but no effective steps are taken. For example, serious educational programs on skin cancer prevention are conducted at the state level only in three countries: the USA, Australia and Brazil.

Leading the way are the Australians. Back in 1985, having calculated the damage caused by their citizens' love of the sun, they ran a prevention campaign. Starting with cartoons for the very young, ending with special courses for pensioners. Also, in the country's universities, the subject is compulsory for all students.

Brazilians come in second. Doctors, beauticians, masseurs and even tattoo artists take courses in the prevention and diagnosis of melanoma and skin cancer. Without successfully passing this exam, you can't get a license.

USA. Here everything is based on money - there is a national educational program to teach schoolchildren sun protection skills (Sun Wide School Program). It is sponsored by the American Academy of Dermatology. Thanks to it, for the first time the thickness of the detected melanoma was 1.5 mm, which guarantees almost 100% cure.

What is the importance of knowing the dangers of ultraviolet radiation

According to the WHO, in the vast majority of cases, skin cancer is preventable, because much of the effects of UV can simply be avoided.

Effective means of protection against ultraviolet radiation

Remember where the advice of cosmetologists begins: a good cream is expensive! Cream yes, but, here are effective remedies are cheap and are always at hand.

Shadow

So simple is the best remedy for UV exposure. Just don't go out unnecessarily in the sun at its peak. You can do this by using various mobile apps that show real-time UV index. If you do need to be in the sun, use products with at least SPF 15.

 Clothes

The best filters lose out to the protective properties of a shirt worn over the body. Modern clothing often contains information about the Ultraveolet Protection Factor. It shows how many units will reach the body through the fabric. For example, UPF25 means that one unit out of twenty-five will reach the skin.

The belief that lighter colored clothing protects better against UV rays is wrong. Red and blue fabrics protect better than yellow and white fabrics.

Also, these properties depend on the density of the fabric and the dye.

Len

The UPF value for natural white linen is 10. When dyed with natural dyes in dark color, this value rises to 50 and higher. But treatment with synthetic dyes does not give any result.

Cotton

Bleached cotton has UPF4. This is pretty much the primary color of factory garments. When dyed with a natural dye in beige, green or brown, UPF45-65. As a UV protection, cotton loses to linen.

A useful tip is to wash cotton with liquid laundry detergent with optical brightener. Repeated washing will strengthen the protective effect, due to the settling of the bleach on the fabric. Chlorine is not an optical brightener and only weakens the protection.

Silk

As UV protection, it is completely useless.

Headgear

If it's a hat with a brim larger than 7cm - great for protecting your neck, face and ears.

Sunglasses

Sunglasses protect your eyes from UVA and UVB rays by almost 100%.

Their labeling:

• UV 400,
• General,
• High UV-protection,
•  Blocks at least 80%UVB,
• 55% UVA (must be at least 50%)
  these glasses would be perfect.
  On the contrary, tinted glasses from the market, from an unknown manufacturer, can play a cruel joke on your eyes. If they do not have protective filters, damaging rays will penetrate into the pupils, which will be dilated due to the darkening. The price of normal glasses with good protective properties - from 20 dollars.
  Sunscreen

As recommended by the manufacturers, the cream should be applied to all uncovered areas of the body, about 2mg per square centimeter every 2 hours. This should be applied, not rubbed in as most people do. If you apply a thin layer of cream with a high SPF, the level of UVA protection will drop more than UVB. Optimal UVA protection will not be achieved.

Amount of sunscreen

It is easiest to use a simple rule of thumb: apply one teaspoon of product to each area:

• For the torso in the back.
• For the torso in the front.
• Each limb.
• On the face, neck and ears.

You get 7 spoonfuls - which is about 35ml, every 2 hours.

Myths and reality of sunscreen application

Higher SPF - better protective properties

SPF actually indicates the effectiveness of protection against B-rays. The marking for protection against A-rays is made separately and is often hidden under the Broad spectrum.

Some creams are labeled Super-High SPF (>50). In fact, full protection is only obtained from UVB, and UVA exposure is simply masked, there is a slow accumulation of negative effects, which will manifest itself at best in liver or age spots, at worst - melanoma or skin cancer.

In addition, very often manufacturers overestimate the SPF value on the packaging. Thus, the most powerful company Procter & Gamble stated that it is impossible to accurately comply with all the conditions when testing sunscreens.

Water resistance

In reality, regular sunscreen washes off with salt water in about 40 minutes unless the manufacturer specifies a different time.

The presence of substances with anti-inflammatory properties is a good thing

Very often the lineup includes:

• Allantoin
• Chamomile
• Licorice extract
• Aloe, etc.

In fact, they do take away the irritation from the sun and the person, instead of feeling discomfort to remove to the shade, continues to tan, receiving additional sun exposure.

The presence of physical filters, titanium and zinc oxides are bad

According to studies by European regulators and the FDA, it was concluded - nanoparticles do not penetrate the skin.

But their being in the lineup offers certain advantages:

• Excellent protection against both types of radiation.
• Prevent the formation of free radicals.

Minuses

When combined with Avobenzone (widely considered the best UFA filter), it reduces its effectiveness.
Titanium dioxide itself was recognized as a carcinogen in 2006. A large dose of this substance can be obtained by inhaling the vapors of sunscreen sprays based on it. In addition, they are difficult to apply an even thick layer, so it is better to refrain from using it.

Using chemical filters is the best way out

Most of them take a serious toll on the endocrine system.

Ranking of harmful chemical filters in sunscreens

Oxybenzone - found in 70% sunscreens. Used to reduce redness of the skin when exposed to the sun.

Harmful Properties:

• Causes allergic reactions in many.
• Changes thyroid hormones.
• It has an estrogen-like action and has been found to be associated with endometriosis.

Octinoxate

• Causes allergies.
• Animal experiments, have shown its hormone-like effects in the thyroid and reproductive system.

Homosalate

• Toxic are its breakdown products
• Damages androgens, estrogens, progesterone.

All of the above filters were in the mother's milk of women who used sunscreens based on them. As a result, the children were weak and sickly. It is impossible to distinguish which drug had a depressing effect on them. Therefore, it is so important to adhere to a healthy lifestyle in a complex.

Additional substances in sun protection products

Methylisothiazolinone, or MI,

It's a preservative, has been called a strong allergen.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A (palmitate, retinol) - can accelerate skin diseases and even promote the growth of skin tumors in the presence of direct sunlight. Therefore, cosmetics containing this product should be applied in the evening.

Vitamins A, C, E

These vitamins are unstable, they are destroyed by prolonged storage or heating. Therefore, any creams should be used immediately, no need to store them until the next beach season.

The best cosmetic sunscreens, according to American experts:

Some of the remedies best rated by American experts available in Russia:

• COOLA product line
• COOLA Suncare Baby Mineral Sunscreen Unscented Moisturizer, SPF 50
• COOLA Suncare Sport Mineral Sunscreen Stick, SPF 50
• COOLA Suncare Sport Tint Mineral Sunscreen Stick, SPF 50
• Clinique Mineral Sunscreen Fluid For Face, SPF 50
• Neutrogena product line
• Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Dry-Touch Sunscreen, SPF 50
• Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Face Dry-Touch Sunscreen, SPF 50
• Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby Sunscreen, SPF 50.
• Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Dry-Touch Sunscreen, SPF 30

In general, it is important to remember that tanning is the skin's protective reaction to the traumatic effects of ultraviolet radiation, therefore - there is no such thing as a healthy tan! Optimal protection from UV radiation - be in the shade!