What you need to know about sun protection
When the sunny days arrive, the question of sun protection invariably arises. How to choose the right product to protect your skin from UV rays while enjoying the benefits of the sun? This concern is legitimate, as inappropriate exposure can lead to long-term skin damage. To understand the basics of effective sun protection, it is essential to become familiar with the different types of solar radiation and sun protection factors (SPF).
What is the difference between UVA, UVB, UVC?
There are several types of UV radiation (UVA, UVB and UVC). They are characterized by different wavelength ranges and the lower the wavelength, the more aggressive the radiation is for the skin.
The energy of each radiation depends on its light source (the sun for example) and the medium in which it propagates (the earth's atmosphere if the source is the sun):
- UVC from 200 to 280 nm: The most harmful, but is entirely stopped by the ozone layer and does not reach us
- UVB from 280 to 320 nm: They cross the skin barrier and are absorbed mainly by the epidermis, they are what cause redness, burns, sunburn
- UVA from 320 to 400 nm: They penetrate deeper into the skin to the dermis. They trigger the mechanisms which allow the appearance of tanning, and which are the cause of premature skin aging also called helioderma and also involved in the development of melanomas.
- from 400 to 800 nm: visible radiation
- from 800 to 1400 nm: infrared radiation (IR)
The Beneficial Effects of the Sun
The sun plays an essential role in the development of life on our planet and also provides benefits for our health.
It acts on our mood by releasing endorphins thanks to solar ultraviolet rays, these morphines produced naturally by our body have an analgesic and euphoric effect, therefore less pain and more happiness. Sun exposure also contributes to the synthesis of vitamin D by 80 to 90%. Finally UVB triggers tanning which contributes to the thickening of the epidermis.
Risks and Precautions
However, prolonged exposure to the sun can be harmful and cause superficial burns, redness, and sunburn. In addition, it lowers the skin's immune defenses and over time pigmented lesions may appear.
Responsible for accelerating skin aging , ultraviolet rays promote the appearance of cancers and are more common in fair-skinned populations and if people were exposed during childhood.
The IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) classifies UV rays from 100 to 400 nm in the first group of proven carcinogens for humans. In the usual system, we often use the nanometer (nm) as a unit of length. A nanometer is worth a billionth of a meter.
Everything you need to know about sun protection indices
Protection indices defined by SPF regulations (Sun Protection Factor in French).
Four levels of sun protection are defined by the regulations:
- Low protection: SPF 6 to 10
- Medium protection: SPF 15 to 25
- High protection: SPF 30 to 50
- Very high protection: SPF 50+ (Potentially filters more than 98% of UV rays from the radiation received.)
Here are also the important criteria that must be taken into account when choosing the product providing good protection:
- The phototype: the lighter the skin, the more it is necessary to protect yourself from the sun. Thus, “subjects extremely sensitive to the sun” must opt for the strongest SPF protection.
- Exposure conditions vary depending on the duration of exposure and the power of the sun. The more intense the sunshine, the more it is recommended to protect yourself from the sun.
- The place of exposure: White or black sand, snow, latitude, altitude. Reverberation has an influence on the intensity of the radiation.
What does SPF 10 really mean, for example? This means that the theoretical exposure time before the first signs of redness is 10 times longer than if you had not used sun protection.
Determine your skin phototype
1
Phototype 1
- Very white, milky (redhead) skin
- Hair often red or blond
- Lots of freckles
- Still burning
- Never tan
- Very sensitive to the sun or even intolerant
2
Phototype 2
- Very fair skin
- Blonde to brown hair
- Quite frequent freckles
- Still burning
- Tan very lightly and slowly
3
Photo type 3
- Intermediate skin
- Brown to brown hair
- Some possible freckles
- Burns sometimes
- Tan gradually (medium tan)
4
Phototype 4
- Tanned skin
- Brown or black hair
- No freckles
- Bronze rarely
- Tan well (dark tan)
5
Photo type 5
- Brown skin
- Dark hair
- No freckles
- Never burn
- Always tan (very dark tan)
6
Phototype 6
- Black skin
- Dark hair
- Never burn
Snail slime and sun protection
Discover the benefits of snail slime in Agathe Sun products. With its soothing, regenerating and healing properties, our COSMOS certified organic sunscreen offers effective protection against sun damage, without controversial ingredients for your skin or the environment.
The Agathe Sun® range does not use any chemical filters suspected of being endocrine disruptors for humans and ecotoxic for the aquatic environment (Exp: coral bleaching). Thanks to a cutting-edge formulation in biological research, our creams Sunscreens are water-resistant, non-greasy and non-sticky.
Enriched with snail slime extract, rich in Allantoin as well as naturally occurring vitamins E & C, our creams soothe the skin from oxidative stress caused by sun exposure and the resulting inflammation.
Snail slime against sun damage
The essential measures that offer the best protection against the harmful effects of the sun on the skin undoubtedly include the use of high SPF sunscreens, the wearing of protective clothing and the avoidance of hours of high exposure to the sun, generally between noon and 16 hours.
However, despite taking these precautions, it is still possible to experience sunburn or dry skin. In this case, snail slime has many scientifically proven benefits to relieve skin that has been overly exposed. Its remarkable cosmetic properties have been shown to soothe skin damaged by the sun, neutralize free radicals, repair skin damage caused by UV rays, promote cell regeneration and protect against oxidation.
Effective sun protection requires an informed and proactive approach. By understanding the different types of solar radiation, choosing the right product and adopting safe sun exposure practices, it is possible to enjoy the benefits of the sun while protecting your skin from long-term damage.
