Sun and skin

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.

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.

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:

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

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.

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.

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!

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).

Our recommendations

Never forget that:

Overexposure to the sun is a serious health threat.

The best sunscreen product never fully protects you.

Reapply to maintain protection.

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

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

Always apply sunscreen before going out in the sun.

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

Beta carotene does not protect against ultraviolet rays.

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!