Sun protection yes or no?

Almost (on) vacation. Delicious! Many of us are heading towards the sun. In this blog you will find the latest insights about being safe in the sun. We desperately need the sun for our much needed vitamin D3. So picking up some sunbeams every day is recommended. As long as we don't burn, that's harmful to our skin. If you burn severely at a young age, the risk of skin cancer later in life increases significantly. Too much sun causes faster skin aging and often pigmentation later in life. But what is safe sun protection? There are still many questions about what is and isn't good to 'grease'. Below are a few insights.

• UV-A: causes skin aging, damage to the DNA (photo-aging: including pigment spots, wrinkles). UV-B: causes tanning or burning
• SPF: says something about protection against UV-B, not about protection against UV-A
• Solarium is mainly UV-A radiation. The risk of melanoma (the most dangerous form of skin cancer) increases by 75% in people who regularly use a tanning bed under the age of 30.
• Children's skin is extra vulnerable to the harmful effects of UV radiation. The skin renews itself, but also needs to grow. As a result, it sometimes has too little time to repair skin cells damaged by sunlight. This can lead to skin cancer later in life.
• Factor : research indicates that the more protection above factor 30 is small. Factor 30 protects against 97% of the sun's rays. Factor 50 against 98% of the radiation.
• In the past there were no sunscreen products. Our skin protected itself. Partly because of the protective food we ate. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case for most people today

 

Vitamin D3 [i]
To prevent chronic diseases, everyone in their 'own' environment/country should get 15 – 30 minutes of full sun every day – without burning – with their hands and head bare, to build up the much-needed vitamin D3. We only make this with sunlight and it is linked to more than 2000 bodily processes! And helps to combat depression, cancer, autoimmune diseases, diabetes and high blood pressure, among other things. As far as the southernmost tip of Spain, people are deficient in vitamin D3 in winter. If you have dark skin, if you live in Europe you will have a D3 deficiency! Winter or summer.

Nitrogen dioxide
UV-B rays cause the production of nitrogen dioxide. This substance improves, among other things, your immune system, prevents arteriosclerosis and improves blood circulation in the heart and skin.

New insights
Long-term scientific research by the Department of Epidemiology and Cancer at a Swedish university has led to new insights into sunbathing. [ii] [iii] By enjoying the sun unprotected as much as possible, without burning :

• Reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease dramatically
• Significantly reduces the risk of melanoma - the most deadly form of skin cancer

UVB radiation causes thickening of the skin, making it better protected against sunburn. And protects deeper skin layers. Thickening of the skin offers more protection than a tan. Let your skin slowly get used to the sun in the spring, so that it can thicken. Depending on your skin type, it takes a few days to a few weeks for your skin to thicken. NB: the skin of people with skin type I never thickens enough. It should always be protected from the sun.

The production of vitamin D and nitrogen dioxide is reduced by the use of sunscreen.

Wrinkle formation in the face
According to a 2003 World Health Organization report [iv] , 80-90 percent of facial wrinkles are caused by UV rays. Chronic exposure to the sun, especially UV-A radiation, can reduce the elasticity of the skin.

Protect from within
Through the right foods and/or supplementation you can build up protection from the inside against the harmful influence of UV radiation. For example, through vitamin D supplements, beta carotenes and astaxanthin. The combination SkinProtect and SkinBalance from LaVieSage nutricosmetics is packed with antioxidant rich nutrients that build sun protection from the inside out and make your skin thicker. As a result, your skin is better protected against harmful influences of the sun.

Chemical and natural filters
Chemical filters: pass through the skin. Can cause allergic reactions. Some have been shown to be carcinogenic in studies. Milder forms - less commonly reported allergic reactions - are: OMC (Octyl Methoxycinnamate) - only provides protection against UV-B. Chemical filters that often cause allergic reactions are: Oxybenzone, Avobenzone (Parsol 1789) – both against UV-A radiation. The first is also a cause of pigment spots (as strange as this may sound for a sunscreen). See also table 1.

Table 1 synthetic sun filters & protection against UVA and/or UVB

Natural filters (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) lay a layer on the skin that reflects the sun's rays so that harmful radiation does not penetrate the skin. Zinc oxide offers both UV-A and UV-B protection - concentration at least 5% - . Titanium dioxide does not protect against the (most harmful) UV-A radiation. And, according to a number of studies, can cause a reaction to your skin. Please note: it has not been sufficiently proven that nanoparticles of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are not harmful to your health. A reason that these may not be in a product with an organic label. Not even in a coated form (clinked to another ingredient, so that the total particle is no longer nano). This coated form releases in the water, so that the nano particles still end up in the environment. The question is whether fish and other marine animals are happy with this. For safety, choose a product without nanoparticles.

The disadvantage of most sun products with natural filters is that they give a 'white cast' when you get out of the water. So far, we've found three brands of sunscreen that either don't or do very little of this (depending in part on the shade of your skin): Raw Elements , OHM Sun Safe , and Herbal Choice Mari . Raw Elements has received a number 1 rating from the Environmental Working Group (which has a whole database of safe and less safe cosmetic ingredients) since its launch! Raw Elements and Herbal Choice Marie also have colored sunscreen. These do not give a white cast at all, but we can transfer them to your clothing. INIKA has a mineral powder foundation with factor 25 (UVA and UVB protection). This is available in 7 different shades. Hynt Beauty has a SunPrep serum (moisturizing day cream) with an SFP 25, without a white cast.

Natural protection
It is not for nothing that there are many (red, blue) berries in the summer; these naturally provide protection from the sun. Just like carotene-rich products (orange, yellow-colored vegetables & fruit often contain a lot of carotenes). Green tea & natural vitamin E also protect.

Face creams with a high concentration of natural vitamin E offer a protection factor of 3-4. However, this may not be stated on the packaging due to regulations. Many mineral foundations contain both zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. So protection against solar radiation. With a mineral foundation, make sure that it does not contain bismuth oxychloride, which can clog your pores. Brands that claim to be 100% pure also often use the ingredient.

Pure creams with a high content of raw (not heated above 40 degrees) oils from tropical areas also offer a lot of protection. The plants, fruits or nuts from which the oil comes from must also protect themselves from the sun in their home area. Because the ingredients are used raw, part of that protection in the oil in a product remains intact. Consider, for example, coconut oil or jojoba oil

Pigmentation
Usually caused by DNA damage that you have suffered in the past. Pigmentation tips to reduce this - limit sugar consumption (including refined carbohydrates, chips, fruit juices from packaging, etc.). Perfumes, dyes and certain plant extracts/oils can also cause pigmentation! LaVieSage SkinProtect is packed with nutrient extracts that provide protection from the sun from within. If you start taking it on time (around April/May), SkinProtect also offers protection against pigmentation. If you suffer from pigmentation, there is a chance that it will become visible again this year, but to a lesser extent. In combination with SkinBalance you build up extra protection. The squalene in SkinBalance provides an extra sun filter.

Lubricate sufficiently
Mix sunscreen with a natural filter into your day cream for daytime protection. However, make sure that there is sufficient protection on all parts of your face. Use a sunscreen product properly. No product offers all-day protection against sunburn. And insufficiently applied (in terms of quantity) also protects insufficiently.