Sun and skin

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The skin's defenses

The skin naturally has a defense system against the aggressions of the sun:

• Hairiness: the scalp shows an adaptation to standing (protection of the skull).

• The stratum corneum (upper layer of the skin) forms a barrier to solar radiation. The thicker it is (palms, etc.), the more photoprotective it is.

• melanin:this pigment which causes tanning behaves like a filter which stops part of the ultraviolet rays having crossed the stratum corneum. Its production increases under the influence of solar radiation and in particular UVB.

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In addition to the aesthetic side of tanning with the connotation of a healthy athlete, tanning will multiply by 10 the DEM (Minimum Erythemal Dose) of a subject. Thus, the subject who usually develops erythema in the sun after 10 minutes of exposure will develop sunburn, when he is tanned, after 10 x 10 minutes, i.e. 1h40 of exposure.

The sun being more and more dangerous for a few decades, this natural photoprotection is however rarely sufficient to avoid the appearance of solar erythema which will vary according to:

• Intensity of the exhibition,

• Its duration,

• The susceptibility of the subject.

 

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Solar erythema

In the event of exposure without sufficient or appropriate protection (to the type of skin,

location and atmospheric conditions), the sun can cause burns:

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• 1st degree: slight redness, without major problem, sunburn disappears after 1 or 2 days.

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• 2nd degree: the epidermis is red, the solar erythema disappears after 3 days and a tan will appear if however we have been able to help the skin to regenerate, see ourA+B pre and post-sun repair cream.

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• 3rd degree: the skin is bright red with a painful edema which appears after 2 to 6 hours, the skin will peel off and, most of the time, it is an allergy which is added to the burn! It is advisable to consult a doctor for proper treatment.

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• 4th degree: blisters appear accompanied by fever and headache. The skin peels off in patches, leaving a pink, defenceless, vulnerable epidermis.It is imperative to consult a doctor!

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In order to avoid the above problems that poorly or uncontrolled sun exposure can cause, it is essential to protect yourself with abalanced sunscreen ! Example: a product that filters one part of the spectrum too much and another not enough (not enough in B and too much in A or vice versa).

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Our recommendations

 

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Never forget that:

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• Overexposure to the sun is a serious health threat.

 

• The best sunscreen product never fully protects you.

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• Reapply to maintain protection.

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• Babies and young children should not be exposed to the sun.

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• For older children, it is recommended not to use protection factors below SPF 30 depending on the sunshine.

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• Always apply sunscreen before going out in the sun.

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• Attention should be paid to photosensitizing drugs, perfumes and scented towels.

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• Beta carotene does not protect against ultraviolet rays.

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• Finally, it is preferable to wear filtering technical glasses adapted to the sun of the mountains, the high seas, the desert: solar radiation can cause cataracts and AMD (Macular Degeneration).

    Be careful, common tinted sunglasses are not necessarily filtering!

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