The sun is good for us, but only if we protect ourselves!
It is normal in summer, whether at sea, in the mountains or in the city, to expose themselves more to the sun, reckless sun exposure and without the right precautions can however cause several damages, direct damage such asdehydration, redness, sunburn, burns and erythema and also indirect damage, damaging from within the natural skin system.
In addition to thermal damage, therefore, there is the risk of an energy damage that involves aging reactions: premature aging, the appearance of wrinkles, alteration of coloring, mechanisms of degeneration, therefore protecting the skin from sunlight remains a healthy and fundamental habit. How to protect skin from the sun? Needless to say, sunbathing means drawing on the direct source of Vitamin D, a very important vitamin for our body, but exposure without protection can have dangerous implications for our health.
Sunlight consists of three different types of waves:
• Visible light, the one that illuminates our land, and in small part our tan depends on her too.
• Infrared rays, responsible for "heating", is low energy and is not dangerous to our health.
• Ultraviolet (UV) rays divided into:
- UVA, make up most of the UV radiation that reaches the earth’s surface, and among the 3 types of UV rays are the main causes of tanning.
- UVB, are medium energy rays and are the main culprits for sunburn.
- UVC, they are the highest energy level we come into contact with, but fortunately they are absorbed mostly by the atmosphere and only a small amount can reach our skin.
So how to choose a valid sunscreen?
The first is the sun protection factor (SPF) which should preferably be between 30 and 50+, indicating a high and very high protection.
The SPF should be chosen
- PHOTOTYPE 1 a very high factor (50+ or total screen) should be used in the case of very light skin and red or blond hair.
- PHOTOTYPE 2 requires high/very high protection (between 50+ and 30) with light skin and brown or blond hats.
- PHOTOTYPE 3 can also be used for medium protection with SPF between 25 and 15 for dark blond hair and/or sensitive skin.
-PHOTOTYPE 4 with brown hair and moderately sensitive skin.
-PHOTOTYPE 5 up to an even low SPF, between 10 and 6, indicated with dark hair and olive complexion.
-PHOTOTYPE 6 very dark hair and dark skin.
The second characteristic to be checked at the time of purchase is the effectiveness of the sun both against UVB and UVA rays, which must be clearly indicated on the package.
It is also important to remember two fundamental aspects:
1. The open creams of the previous year should never be used, even if they have not expired, because they are ineffective, over time, contact with the external environment can alter the sunscreens contained in the product, even if photostable. Incorrect bottle closure, sand infiltration, etc. may change the effectiveness and characteristics of sunscreen, which is why it is important to take into account the expiry date or PAO index on the primary container or on the label, and replace the solar product at the end of that period to avoid any risk to the skin.
The PAO index indicates the period after opening within which the open solar product can be used safely.
3. Let us dispel the myth that applying the cream is equivalent to not getting a tan: it is not true! On the contrary, sunscreens increase the quality and duration of the tan!
HOW AND WHEN TO APPLY SUNSCREEN? Even the application of sunscreen has its good rules. Most adults should indicatively use, for covering the whole body, about 35 ml of sunscreen for each application, Applying too thin a layer of product could reduce the ability of the sunscreen to absorb or reflect UV light.
Shake the container well and distribute the sunscreen generously over all exposed skin paying particular attention to sensitive areas such as the nose, ears and feet. Sunscreen should also be distributed on dry skin 30 minutes before exposure and reapply the same amount every 2 hours.
TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM THE SUN... THE CREAM IS NOT ENOUGH
During a day outdoors, whether in the countryside, by the sea or in the mountains, there are some good habits to keep in mind when children are exposed to the sun. These are the indications to remember:
-leave them in the shade during the hottest hours, that is between 11 and 17 (in case of very high temperatures, avoid letting them out);
- to give priority to very light garments and fabrics such as cotton (to avoid synthetic fibres that heat up more easily);
- refresh them occasionally with a damp cloth;
- make it drink a lot of water (not cold, preferring it to other drinks, especially if carbonated) in small sips and often;
- avoid leaving them in closed places such as a tent on a campsite or in a car;
- protect them from UV rays with sun caps and sunscreens.
Always remember, that children under six months should never be exposed to direct sun.
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Created with respect for nature, they help you cope with the action of agents such as sea water and the sun, which often, in summer, can cause stress to the body. We use non-invasive biological-based compositions for the skin and for the nature with which, in summer, we come into contact more often. From sprays to sun milk, face creams, after sun milk, self-tanning and sun milk for children, in the product range you will find everything you need!
