What are the effects of the sun on the face and how to protect yourself?
It seems that in France the fashion of tanned skin coincides with the arrival of paid vacations! Not very surprising given that from that moment on, the French were able to take advantage of their summers to bask in the sea or the mountains. Of course, with all this time spent outdoors, the skin becomes more matte and luminous! These were the first observations of the positive effects of the sun on the skin! Then, the more the years passed, the more we could observe the negative effects of the sun on the skin: from simple sunburns to cancers and the acceleration of skin aging... Today, we untangle the true from the false for you and we explain you how to protect yourself from the sun!
What are the effects of the sun on the skin?
Fortunately, the sun does not have only negative effects on the skin! Among the positive effects of sun exposure, we can note :
- a better general mood: the sun is a booster of well-being and vitamins, a few minutes a day are enough to lift your mood!
- a nice tanned complexion that looks good
- a better synthesis of vitamin D, which is essential for calcium to be fixed on the bones!
- an improvement of acne, if the skin is well protected by a good UV index and if the sun exposure is not excessive
- an improvement of certain skin diseases such as psoriasis, if the UV rays are gentle and the skin is protected.
On the other hand, people who expose themselves to the sun on a daily basis without sun protection and during the hottest hours (between 12:00 and 17:00) risk suffering the harmful effects of the sun... From simple sunburns to skin cancers, the risks are not to be taken lightly. Excessive exposure to the sun without sun protection can cause several damages:
- sunburn, which can range from a simple unpleasant redness to a real burn of the skin that causes discomfort, blisters and can leave scar-like marks...
- solar herpes on the mouth, which causes a kind of fever blister
- summer lucite (a kind of skin rash that causes small pinkish pimples), which can appear from the first days of exposure to the sun if the skin is not prepared
- skin thickening, the skin thickens to protect itself from ultraviolet rays
- premature skin aging, caused by free radicals
- finally, in the most serious cases, skin cancer.
Regular exposure to the sun without sun protection can indeed accelerate skin aging. However, the first signs of skin aging will take between 10 and 20 years to appear... We therefore often think, wrongly, that forgetting to protect ourselves from the sun does not weigh much in the balance, but once we are over 40, we pay the price! When everything is going well, the sun, and more specifically UVB rays, stimulates the production of melanin during sun exposure. It is this production of melanin that leads to a beautiful tan and a nice tanned complexion! Only in case of sunburn, UV rays penetrate deeper into the skin. They alter the synthesis of collagen and elastin fibers, which are essential for the elasticity, suppleness and maintenance of the skin...
By dint of playing with fire (it's the case to say it!), the skin becomes more sensitive to the sun, drier and less elastic. In general, it is weakened and ends up aging faster.
How to protect your face from the sun?
All skin types should protect themselves from the sun with a sunscreen that has a good SPF. For the first few exposures, it's best to bet on an SPF 50+, then after a few weeks, you can switch to an SPF 30. Sunscreen should be applied first thing in the morning and repeated as often as necessary! If your sunscreen is not waterproof, remember to reapply it as soon as you get out of the water.
Please note that monoi, milking grease or vegetable oils are not considered as sun protection! Good protection of the face against the sun also means avoiding exposure to the sun when it is strongest. In general, this is between 12pm and 5pm! If you're a beach-goer, consider investing in an umbrella to protect yourself as much as possible. You can also buy a large hat that will cover your face, and wear sunglasses to protect your eyes!
Then, to continue in the care of the skin facing the sun, it is very important to think about the after exposure. Once you get home, clean your face well and apply a good layer of moisturizer to avoid dry skin or tightness!
If you want to know more about the after, we slip you our tips to take care of his skin all summer!
Our organic skin care products to protect your face from the sun's rays!
Wondering how to properly moisturize your skin during the summer? Well, to help you spend a serene summer, we give you the secrets of our natural products for the skin during the summer! First of all, summer or not, moisturizing your skin is essential. Whatever your skin type, you must apply morning and evening a cream, or a moisturizing oil, which corresponds to you and which you like! All our face creams can be used, with a little extra for the Soothing Radiance Gelée which reinforces the skin barrier and soothes redness. If you suffer from minor skin reactions due to the sun, our Smooth Purifying Mask can save the day! Applied as a poultice, it calms itching and clears pimples in a few days.
Of course, to deep cleanse the skin and avoid rebound acne, you can do a facial scrub once or twice a week. For this, the Organic Exfoliating Peel or the Smooth Purifying Mask are perfect. Also, if as soon as your skin gets sunburned you see brown spots appear, the peeling will also help you fade them! Finally, for intense hydration, the Pink Glow Night Mask is ideal for all dry skin types.
You now have all the information you need to have a great summer while protecting your skin as best as possible to avoid the harmful aspects of the sun!
