Being religious is a good thing, especially when it comes to worshiping your sunscreen. Pay your respects to it, and it will bless you with healthy skin.
There was a time worshipping sun was the done thing. You believed in soaking up the rays to get your daily dose of vitamin D. But recent reports, and damaged skin cases show it to be a sin. And even if we are aware now of the harmful effect of the rays very few of us really bother about it.
In a recent study by Vichy Laboratories conducted on 43,500 women that despite their awareness of sun damages, most women did not change their behaviors when it came to sun exposure. The results reveal that 7 out of 10 women improperly protect their skin under the sun, and 59 percent have dangerous behavior under the sun.
So what has this lead to? Brown spots, wrinkles, premature aging, photo damage, hyper pigmentation, and in severe cases skin cancer. Vichy report reveals that more than 50 percent of women develop sunspots due to bad sun protection.
Ring the alarm bell Dermatologists are sending out distress signal; the number of cases of irreversible damage to the skin linked to the sun is constantly rising. The damage is principally due to the combined action of UVA and UVB rays. The excess of UVB, primarily responsible for tanning accounts for 90 percent of harmful UV rays, penetrate deeply and can cause sun related allergies and irreversible changes in DNA.
Says Dr Raj Parikh, a practicing dermatologist, and Consultant Medical Relations, Vichy, Laboratories India. “The incidence of the Sun related damage to the skin in India has been increasing over the past few years. Sun related allergies called as PLE (Polymorphous light eruptions), which is usually caused by UVA radiation, are now more commonly seen. Too much Sun, too often on too little protected skin It’s a public health issue.”
While there are many brands now offering sunscreens, the pick up ate of the products are still not appreciable. Currently there are many variants with different SPF strengths are available in the market.
Understanding UV rays. Today we all know that UV rays are harmful to all skin types. But did you know that the rays themselves have types that hurt the skin in various degrees? Well it is so. “There three types of UV rays UVA, UVB, and UVC. UVA rays reach the earth most, and are cause of most skin allergies. Their levels remain constant throughout the year. UVB rays case sunburns, and tans, . Their levels generally increase during summer. Most dangerous type is the UVC , but they get blocked by our earth’s ozone layer,” says Dr Parikh.
In fact UVA rays comprise of 95 percent of the radiation that reaches the earth. They are on earth all year long, in winter and in summer, Their levels do not vary a lot contrary to UVB, which are more present in summer. UVA rays can actually penetrate glass windows. These are the rays that batter our skin the most. UVB make for only 5 percent of the rays, and are prominent during the hotter months. The harmful effects
As little as 20 minutes of incidental sun exposure everyday adds up to more than 120 hours of UV radiation per year. That equals nearly 6 hours of serious sun bathing. Whether exposed for five minutes or five hours of serious sun bathing. Whether exposed for five minutes or five hours, incidental amount s of sun exposure can contribute to lines and wrinkles, alterations in the skin’s natural defense system, skin discolorations and uneven skin tone.
According to Dr. David Orentriech, Clinique ‘s Guiding Dermatologist, “The sun accounts for approximately 90% of our aged appearance, and only 10% is due to the actual number of years we’ve live. So if we can minimize the daily dose of incidental sun exposure, we’ll reduce the single most important factor to the appearance of aging”
Tan, sunburn, aging, acne and skin cancer are all the results f getting exposed to the rays. In fact most of us are only concerned about tan protection and sunburn, which are caused by UVB. But the more dangerous is the UVA. “Contrary to UVBs that are principally responsible for tanning sunburn, UVAs, do not trigger a visible warning signal. They penetrate more deeply within the skin and thus damage cells in the dermis. They are responsible for premature skin ageing and increase the long term risks of sun allergies and skin cancers,” says Dr Parikh.
According to Dr. Sidharth Sahni, of the Cancer Research Foundation of India, “Most of us think that because we have darker skin,. We are not at risk of skin cancer, or sunburns. But research now shows that Indian women, even the ones with darkest of skin can fall prey to sun’s harmful rays. In fact Indian skin is very prone to tanning, which forms the basis of skin cancer. We may not register high number of melanoma, but we are prone to the cancer of the top layer of the skin.” So sun protection s a must.
Get double protection Dr Abhijit Desai, a leading dermatologist, and CEO Evolve Med Spa says, “People need to understand that Sunscreen is a need and not a cosmetic luxury. So it should be a part of their daily skin care regimen along with a cleanser and a moisturizer. A regular use of sunscreen is like an insurance policy where you reap the benefits in the long run. This will keep a lot of ill effects of sun at bay especially skin conditions like photo dermatitis and PLE (Polymorphous Light Eruption). Also it will prevent excessive tanning dreaded most by Indians.”
In is hence important for a sunscreen to ensure double protection from both UVB and UVA rays. SPE is the measure of protection form UVB rays. Look for a sign on the pack, which also shows UVA protection. This is denoted by the letters PA+. The number of pluses According to European Commission recommendation on the efficacy and the labeling of sun care products, the UVA protection level should be at least 1/ 3 of the UVB protection level (SPF).
According to Dr. Parikh, ray barring compound Mexoryl and Mexoryl XL help the skin. “Look for the Mexoryl XL filtering system when buying a sunscreen. If offers a broad spectrum protection. CAPITAL SOLEIL sun care products from Vichy Laboratories cover a wide spectrum of UVA and UVB rays to guarantee optimal protection. When out for long in the sun wear sunscreen with SPF between 30 and 50,” he says. In fact he says you need to layer you sun protection, as just makeup with SPF is not enough.
Adding to that Dr. Desai says that men and women should keep a sunscreen handy with them, as they need to reapply the sunscreen every 3 hours if they remain in sun for long hours whether outdoors or even in swimming pool. Dr Sahni suggests that you should avoid sun exposure between 11 am and 4 pm, and seek shade all day long, especially in summer. “Wear garments that cover skin, sunglasses and hat,” he adds.
Safe Sun Behavior For Children
How you treat your skin at a young age will show on it in later stages of your life. Today doctors recognize the importance of protecting young skin from sun’s rays to retain its glowing health for longer period of time. “Young skins are fragile, and prone to faster damage from the sun’s rays. In fact it is a good idea to keep babies and small children under three years out of direct sunlight,” says Dr Parikh.
Adding to that Paediatrician Dr Poonam Kohli says, “We recommend that you use a good sunscreen with high SPF for little children when you take them out. In fact it is a good idea to apply sunscreen of about SPF 15 during very hot summer months even when you are indoors, since the rays can hit the skin through glass windows as well.”
The shadow game Teach your child about the most dangerous sunshine hours. Whilst standing in the sun with the child, evaluate the size of your shadows, If the shadows are shorter than you, it means the sun is very high in the sky and UV intensity is strong. It is therefore important to cover up and stay in the shade. When the shadow is longer than the person, it is safer to spend time outside after applying a sunscreen.
The little soldier game Show your child the items that will help protect him/her form the sun. Before going outdoors, check with your child that his/her essential soldier’s kit is complete: hat, sunglasses and sun cream.
Myths and truths Vichy Laboratories busts few myths about sun safety for little children:
Myth: With a T-shirt, sunglasses and a hat, my child is completely protected from the sun.
Truth: The application of a sun care product is still necessary because not all UV rays are totally filtered out by clothes, and certain areas remain unprotected (ears, neck, backs of the knees). Using a sun care treatment guarantees a more complete protection.
Myth: There is no difference between children’s and adults’ sun protection products.
Truth: Protection creams for children are tested on sensitive skin and under pediatric supervision. In addition, their texture, visible on application, ensures no areas of the skin are missed.
Myth: The stronger the protection factor, the less frequently I need to reapply sun cream, to my child.
Truth: With swimming, said, perspiration and towel drying it is vital to reapply sun cream frequently to guarantee optimal protection.
