The importance of using sunscreen. While it's true that summer is when radiation is most intense, the face is also exposed to sunlight during spring, autumn, and winter, so it's important to protect it at all times. Not doing so can have consequences for your skin's health, as we'll explain in this article.
What is skin?
The skin is much more than just the layer that covers our entire body: it is an organ, the largest in the human body. It is primarily responsible for protecting us from all external agents that can be harmful, such as chemicals, radiation, infections, and so on.
In addition to this important protective function, the skin regulates body temperature and water loss, allows the synthesis of vitamin D, and gives us our sense of touch.
As you can see, the skin plays an important role in our body, so it's essential to take care of it to prevent the development of skin disorders such as sensitive skin, among others. This includes using facial sunscreen every day and body sunscreen whenever you're exposed to the sun. Sunscreen is applied to the outermost layer of the skin, the structure of which we'll discuss in the next section.
The three layers of the skin
- Epidermis: the outermost layer of the skin, composed primarily of keratinocytes. It is in a perpetual process of desquamation and regeneration. The epidermis is responsible for acting as a protective barrier against harmful external agents and for preventing fluid loss from our body.
- Dermis: middle layer, largely composed of collagen and elastin, two components that play a fundamental role in the characteristic elasticity of the skin.
- Hypodermis: the innermost layer of the skin. It stores fat that protects the body from external bruising and helps regulate body temperature.
What type of skin do you have based on sun sensitivity?
Do you know what type of skin makes you more or less susceptible to the effects of the sun or skin cancer?
Skin types, depending on their tone, are divided into six groups or phototypes: the palest (I and II) have a higher risk of skin cancer and are more photosensitive, while the darkest (V and VI) have a lower risk, which does not mean that they should not be protected.
Skin type I
If you never tan and often burn in the sun, you likely have this skin type. Use a good sunscreen with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 50 or higher, as your skin is more vulnerable to melanoma and other types of skin cancer. Furthermore, the best way to protect yourself from the sun is to avoid it by always seeking shade, especially during peak UV radiation hours (between noon and 4 pm). You should also make sure to have dermatological checkups at least once a year and pay attention to any suspicious moles or spots.
Skin type II
Skin type I is slightly more pigmented, but it's also prone to sunburn and rarely tans. Therefore, if you have this skin type, the advice is the same as before: use facial and body sunscreens with a high SPF and avoid the sun during peak hours. This will help prevent the development of skin cancer.
Skin type III
If you have this skin type, you tan gradually, but you also sometimes get sunburned. Although your phototype is somewhat more resistant to radiation, you are still susceptible to damage, so you should protect yourself in the same way to prevent the development of skin cancer.
Skin type IV
If your skin type is this one, you'll tan easily and won't burn regularly. However, it's not without risks: use sunscreen for your face and body with medium SPF and avoid the sun during peak hours. As with the previous skin types, pay attention to any suspicious spots and have a dermatological check-up once a year.
Skin type V
This skin type tans easily and almost never burns. If this is your case, be sure to use sunscreen, as it can prevent photoaging caused by UVA rays. Annual checkups are also important because this skin type can develop acral lentiginous melanoma, which usually appears on areas of the body not exposed to the sun, and is often detected late.
Skin type VI
Skin phototype VI corresponds to people with very dark skin. Does this mean they are not at risk of developing skin cancer? Unfortunately, no. As we just mentioned, some skin cancers are more common in darker skin types, so it's always important to follow basic recommendations like those shown in this infographic. The Skin Cancer Foundation.
The importance of facial sunscreen
The skin on our face is an indicator of our overall health, and its appearance can also influence our self-esteem, as the face is the most visible and exposed part of our body. This means it's also the most susceptible to damage from external factors, so we must make a special effort to care for it. It's very important to use facial sunscreen every day, as facial skin is almost constantly exposed to the sun and direct UV rays. Furthermore, the skin in this area is thinner, making it more fragile and vulnerable to solar radiation.
What is solar radiation?
Solar radiation is all radiation emitted by the sun, including ultraviolet (UV) and infrared rays:
- UV radiation: our skin faces two types of radiation:
- UVA rays: These have a wavelength between 320 and 400 nm and penetrate the deepest layers of the skin. They trigger allergic reactions and sun exposure, and in the long term, photoaging.
- UVB: their wavelength is between 290 and 320 nm and are responsible for the development of skin redness and burns, also known as solar erythema.
- Infrared radiation: can improve the negative effects of UVB and UVA radiation on our skin. Its wavelength is greater than 760 nm.
What are the consequences of too much sun on the skin?
When we expose ourselves to the sun in a controlled manner, for short periods when the radiation is not very high, the sun has beneficial effects such as:
- Stimulates vitamin D synthesis: It is necessary to fix calcium in the bones, thus preventing atrophy and osteoporosis.
- Stimulates melanin production: This is the pigment that gives our skin a tanned appearance and helps protect it from UV radiation.
- It produces vasodilation: It reduces blood pressure.
- Promotes peripheral blood circulation
- It improves the symptoms of some skin diseases, such as psoriasis, acne, or vitiligo, among others.
- Mood: Sunlight improves mood.
Moderation
Although these effects are positive, when sun exposure is excessive, the consequences become negative. As we have seen, UV rays can be A or B (UVA and UVB), and it is necessary to protect ourselves from both types, because while the former are involved in skin aging, the latter are responsible for sunburn.
According to a study by the AECC (Spanish Association Against Cancer), cases of melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer, are increasing by 10% each year. Therefore, they recommend promoting sun protection habits and emphasize the importance of being aware of the consequences that excessive sun exposure can have on our health. And the fact is that many people continue to expose themselves to the sun in an unhealthy way. For example, according to the study, 42% of people sunbathe on the beach between 12 and 4 pm, the time when radiation is most dangerous.
They also emphasize the importance of protecting children from the sun and educating them about the risks involved, since most cases of skin cancer result from poor sun exposure habits in childhood and adolescence.
What are sunscreens?
Today we can find different types of products that protect us from the sun, which are classified according to the type of protection they offer. These range from creams to clothing with sun protection.
Dermatological sunscreens are products, usually in cream or spray form, that are applied to the skin to prevent UV radiation from damaging it.
Among dermatological sunscreens, there are inorganic filters that reflect light, preventing the rays from penetrating (they require frequent reapplication and give a mask-like appearance) or organic filters that work by absorbing ultraviolet radiation, so that they capture the energy and transform it so that it is harmless to the skin (they are the most used).
As we've mentioned, radiation is responsible for sunburn (UVB), photoaging (UVA), and increases the risk of skin cancer. Facial and body sunscreens are classified according to the type of UV radiation they protect against, as well as their SPF (sun protection factor).
What is SPF?
SPF refers to the degree to which sunscreen blocks UVB radiation. The SPF number multiplies the amount of time skin can remain in the sun without being damaged by UVB radiation. For example, skin without any protection that can remain in the sun for 15 minutes without reddening can remain 10 times longer (150 minutes) with an SPF 10, 15 times longer (225 minutes) with an SPF 15, or 20 times longer (300 minutes) with an SPF 20.
The recommendations are to use a facial or body sunscreen with at least an SPF between 15 and 30, since it is estimated that an SPF of 15 protects against approximately 93% of UVB radiation and an SPF of 30 protects against 96%.
Misconceptions about sunscreens
There are many widespread misconceptions among a large part of the population about the use of sunscreens, so we want to refute the most common ones:
- “Sunscreen can cause vitamin D deficiency.”.
Although there is some controversy surrounding this issue, recent studies indicate that sunscreens do not inhibit vitamin D synthesis.
- “"It is not necessary to use sunscreen when it is cloudy.".
It's logical that if you don't see the sun, you might think you don't need to protect your skin. However, this idea is wrong, because even on cloudy days, up to 40% of UV radiation reaches the earth. So now you know: use sunscreen for your face and body, whether it's sunny, rainy, or snowy!
- “Protecting yourself as an adult is not effective if you didn't do it as a child.”.
Absolutely, regardless of the sun exposure you may have had in childhood and youth, it is very important to protect yourself from the sun in adulthood.
Recommendations for choosing your facial sunscreen
When choosing your sunscreen, you should consider several things:
- SPF refers to the blocking of UVB radiation (sunburn), so it is important to choose a broad spectrum sunscreen that also protects against UVA radiation (photoaging).
- He time that How long a person can stay in the sun without getting sunburned varies depending on skin phototype and radiation index.
- You should take into account age of the person to whom it will be applied, and choose the most suitable one for them, since there are special sunscreens for children or for mature skin.
- The type of use you're going to give itIs it for everyday use, for the beach or pool, for the snow or for the mountains? In any case, you'll find facial and body sunscreens designed specifically for each activity.
- To be effective, regardless of SPF, facial and body sunscreens They should be applied 30 minutes before exposure. and reapply every two hours while in the sun.
Prevention
Finally, we remind you that, in addition to using sunscreen, it is very important to avoid risky behaviors, such as prolonged sun exposure or sun exposure during peak hours, and that, in case of any mole or spot that makes you suspicious, you should see your doctor.
We are often unaware of the risks involved in sun exposure, so the AECC offers us this test that allows us to assess whether we are protecting ourselves well from the sun in our daily lives.
With this article, we hope to have helped you become aware that using facial sunscreen year-round is essential, as well as the importance of having certain habits focused on preventing skin cancer and other diseases.
Did you know that the risk of developing melanoma also has a genetic component?
With the test Skincare, You can find out if you have a higher predisposition to developing melanoma. In addition to this essential information for taking preventative measures and improving your skin care, it provides other data on important aspects of your health. A unique opportunity to take better care of yourself and your loved ones—are you going to miss it?
Source: https://www.veritasint.com/blog/en/the-importance-of-using-facial-sunscreen/
