2024-04-26 23:50:29
According to Laura Vanagaitė, a pharmacist at “Gintarinė vaistinės”, even on cloudy days, about 80 percent of UV rays from the sun can penetrate through the skin. Such exposure can be harmful not only by causing skin burns or visible signs of aging such as wrinkles and hyperpigmentation, but it can also lead to the development of skin cancer.
“Even half an hour in the sun without sunscreen can cause skin burns, especially if the skin is more sensitive and lighter. This spring, the pharmacy already had to receive patients who severely burned their faces in the first spring sun because they had not applied special creams.
You should never leave children’s skin without sun protection. Also, a large number of residents have couperose skin, which is thin, sensitive, often dehydrated and very responsive to environmental factors – wind, sun, so it is necessary to protect it even more,” says L. Vanagaitė.
Are they applied or sprayed?
The pharmacist explains that UV rays from the sun, which are harmful to the skin, consist of UVB and UVA rays. UVB rays cause the skin to tan in the sun and play the biggest role in causing skin cancer if the skin is not protected.
UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin and are involved in premature skin aging changes, such as the formation of wrinkles and skin pigmentation. Most conventional products with a sun protection factor (SPF) block both types of rays, but UVB rays are slightly better than UVA.
“You can find creams, milks and other products with various SPFs in stores – from 5 to 50 or even higher, but we recommend everyone, regardless of age, gender or skin color, to use SPF 30 or higher. Although it seems that the higher the number, the greater the protection, but in reality the difference is very small.
For example, SPF 30 blocks 97 percent. sunlight, and SPF 50 – 98 percent. But the higher the SPF, the longer you can stay in the sun without burning. If your skin usually tans after 10 minutes, then, for example, using SPF 15 sunscreens, you could stay in the sun 15 times longer – about 150 minutes,” explains L. Vanagaitė.
She says she often gets questions from patients at the pharmacy regarding SPF protection. One of the most common is what form of means are most effective: spray, mist, lotion or cream. In principle, there is no difference, you should choose the form that is most convenient for you to use, because they can all have different SPF.
It is not uncommon to be asked what is the difference between child safety equipment and adult safety equipment and whether, for example, the equipment bought for a child can be used by the whole family. According to L. Vanagaitė, there is practically no difference between sun protection products for adults and children, just that the ingredients of children’s creams irritate the skin less, they usually do not contain chemical blockers that absorb sunlight, glitter and fragrances.
“You can confidently choose a product that is suitable for use by the whole family. Most importantly, always read the labels and follow the directions for use.
Sometimes it happens that one of the family members does not like or does not like the texture or smell of the used product, or maybe someone has very specific needs – then you can choose separate products,” she says.
The composition is not in the last place
All sunscreens can be divided into two groups – with chemical and mineral filters. The chemicals in the creams of the first group penetrate the skin and neutralize the harmful effects of sunlight there.
These products are easily absorbed and do not leave whitish spots on the skin, but they provide weak protection against UVA rays and are not very suitable for children, as their skin may react more sensitively to the chemicals contained in them.
Meanwhile, mineral sunscreens contain either zinc or titanium oxide, which simply reflects both types of harmful sunlight.
“The formulation of sunscreen is just as important as the SPF. You should choose products that do not contain oxybenzone, a compound linked to hormone disruption and cell damage that can cause skin cancer.
Before buying any skin care product, you need to know your skin type. If you have acne-prone, oily skin, choose a non-comedogenic product that doesn’t clog pores. If you have dry skin, look for moisturizing sunscreens. For sensitive skin, creams of mineral origin with the already mentioned zinc or titanium dioxide are ideal,” says L. Vanagaitė.
According to the pharmacist, it is important to use the sunscreen correctly: apply to all exposed parts of the body, including ears, lips and neck, do not use after the expiration date, try not to mix it with other face care or cosmetic products.
“Mixing SPF protection with other products can reduce its effectiveness due to possible chemical reactions. For the most effective sun protection, apply SPF to clean, dry skin before any other skin care or makeup products. The exception applies to vitamin C serums or other products that need to be applied to the skin before sun cream and wait until it is well absorbed,” advises the interviewer.
2024-04-26 23:50:29