Sun protection: how to protect your skin from the sun?

The sun is the primary cause of skin aging, and it is often responsible for the appearance of pigment spots. Discover how to properly protect your skin from UV rays.

Why should you protect your skin from the sun?  

Ultraviolet (UV) rays emitted by the sun are classified into three categories: UVA, UVB, and UVC. These radiations are well-known for their harmful effects on health. However, it is important to emphasize that blue light, present in the visible light spectrum, is even more harmful than UV rays.

There are two types of blue light, mainly originating from sun rays. On the one hand, "turquoise blue" light, which is vital for the body as it contributes to our wakefulness, sleep, and overall well-being.

On the other hand, blue-violet light is more harmful because it accelerates the aging of our cells. Furthermore, this light, which is partially filtered by the lens, penetrates deep into the eye and strikes the central part of the retina, which, in the long term, increases the risk of macular degeneration.

Ultraviolet rays, meanwhile, are classified into 3 categories:

• UVA (ultraviolet A), which represents 95% of the sun's rays. These rays penetrate deep into the skin, making them difficult to block, and not only do they cause aging, but they can also cause certain skin cancers;
• UVB (ultraviolet B). More powerful than UVA, these rays are responsible for your sunburns, meaning they burn your epidermis. However, since they are blocked by glass and clouds, only 10% of them reach the deeper layers of the skin;
• UVC (ultraviolet C), which are entirely filtered by the ozone layer.

The intensity of UV rays varies depending on the season, position, and inclination of the Earth relative to the sun. Generally, the higher the UV index, the greater the sun protection should be.

Skin aging and allergies

When you don't protect your skin from the sun, UV rays accelerate your skin's aging. Indeed, by penetrating the deeper layers of the skin, the sun's rays destroy collagen and elastic fibers, leading to sagging skin and the appearance of furrows and wrinkles. In addition, small brown spots accompanied by depigmented areas appear.

Reactions can also be triggered following prolonged exposure to UV rays, especially when this exposure is combined with certain medications or cosmetic products.

Sunburns

Caused by UVB rays, sunburn is the most common sun reaction. These skin burns correspond to the destruction of thousands of epidermal cells and can cause more or less painful redness, with itching and sometimes accompanied by blisters. In the most severe cases, healing can take some time and leave scars.

Skin cancers

The sun causes two types of skin cancer:

• Cutaneous melanoma. This type of cancer is uncommon, and its appearance is favored by the sun's ultraviolet rays. Frequent sunburns (especially during childhood), prolonged sun exposure, a long stay in a very sunny country, and working outdoors increase the risk of developing melanoma;
• Carcinoma, which is the most common type of skin cancer. This type of cancer develops locally and is favored by excessive and repeated sun exposure.

How to choose your sun protection?

The first criteria to take into consideration when choosing your sun protection are your skin type and the exposure conditions, i.e., the duration and intensity of solar radiation.

A sun protection product contains two photo-protective filters:

• Chemical filters, also called organic filters, which absorb UVA and UVB;
• Mineral screens that reflect UV rays.

Beyond protection against UVB and UVA, a sun protection product must meet a certain number of standards:

• A Sun Protection Factor (SPF) at least equal to 6. There are 8 indices grouped into 4 protection levels: 6 to 10 equivalent to low protection, 15 to 25 to medium protection, 30 to 50 to high protection, and 50+ to very high protection;
• UVA protection equivalent to 1/3 of the SPF, at a minimum.

Which sunscreen to choose for the face?

Today, there are sunscreens adapted to all skin types:

• If you have oily, acne-prone skin: a light, fluid, mattifying cream with an SPF 50 index is recommended;
• If your skin is prone to hyperpigmentation: choose an anti-spot sunscreen to effectively protect existing brown spots and prevent new ones from appearing;
• If you have dry skin: a moisturizing formula, adapted to the thin and sensitive skin of the face, is ideal.

How to take care of your skin in the sun?

A few weeks before sun exposure, you can prepare your skin by taking nutritional supplements containing antioxidant active ingredients. This way, you can strengthen your skin's internal protection against the sun, which is particularly recommended if your skin is especially sensitive to the sun. However, these supplements do not protect the skin and cannot replace external sun protection in case of exposure.

Self-tanners artificially color the skin but offer no protection, as they do not stimulate melanin production. Thus, when using self-tanner, it is essential to apply a photoprotective product as soon as you expose yourself to the sun.

Apply a sun product adapted to the sunlight and your skin type, preferably 20 minutes before exposure so that the skin can properly absorb the product.

Moreover, remember that sunscreen should be reapplied at least every 2 hours and systematically after each swim. Indeed, a so-called "water-resistant" cream does not lose more than 50% of its protective power after a swim, but it is still less effective against the sun's rays.

Also, remember to check the expiration date of your sun products and replace them each year as indicated on the instructions, as their protective power is no longer guaranteed.

Taking care of your skin before and after sun exposure

If you are sensitive to the sun or suffer from sun allergy, oral solar dietary supplements can help prepare you for sun exposure. You can start taking them 2 to 3 weeks in advance to minimize the allergenic effects of the sun. These products can also be consumed after returning from vacation to prevent premature skin aging linked to the sun.

After exposure, it is essential to nourish your epidermis, which has been aggressed and dried out by the sun. You can use a milk, an after-sun lotion, or a product containing carrot vegetable oil. The latter not only promotes the maintenance of your tan but also moisturizes the upper layers of the skin.

Our tips for proper sun protection

Generally, try to avoid exposure as much as possible when the sun's radiation is most intense. This period corresponds to when the sun is high in the sky (between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. in summer, in particular).

If you plan to stay on the beach all day, bring sunglasses with a high anti-UV index, a wide-brimmed hat, and loose clothing.

Moreover, don't rely on your impressions, as it is entirely possible to get a sunburn without feeling like you've been carelessly exposed. Indeed, it is infrared rays that cause the sensation of heat, not UV rays. Thus, a cloudy sky in summer can be deceiving!

If you are planning a mountain vacation, know that the danger exists even when temperatures are very low, because the atmospheric shield decreases due to altitude and the reflection on the snow considerably increases the ultraviolet radiation reaching the skin. Thus, the sun is more aggressive in the mountains than at the beach, even in winter.

Always prefer shade over sun, but know that it does not constitute an impenetrable protection, as it protects neither from solar radiation reflected by the ground nor from solar radiation diffused by particles suspended in the atmosphere.

Which products to discover to protect your skin from the sun at Garancia?

At Laboratoire Garancia, we offer sun care products that protect the whole family, while being more respectful of the oceans. To face the sun's rays this summer, we particularly recommend the use of the following products.

The invisible very high protection fluid

The Invisible Sun Protect Incredible Softness Fluid SPF50+ has a dual anti-aging and anti-spot action: thanks to its unique broad-spectrum combination of 4 organic UV filters, anti-blue light plant protectors (2 red algae extracts + pongamia), and hyaluronic acid, it helps fight against skin aging and the appearance of spots. Ideal as a makeup base, with this product your skin is protected, smoothed, plumped, and incredibly soft.

The metamorphosing sun waters

To adapt to all phototypes, Laboratoire Garancia's metamorphosing waters come in 2 different protection indices:

• The Metamorphosing Red Sun Water Sun Protect SPF30 protects you while accelerating tanning; suitable for dark or already tanned skin
• The Metamorphosing Protective Sun Water Sun Protect SPF50+ offers very high protection and antioxidant action.

Photo credit: @cassandra_polito