K eye Chanel. An influential woman in every way. Her every word, gesture was caught by journalists and fans. According to legend, it was with her light hand that tanning became fashionable. Returning to Paris from a cruise on the Cote d'Azur, she appeared before journalists and fans ... with a tan. That was immediately picked up as a new trend. Well, fashionistas of the 1920s can be understood, because it was easy to get a tan, and they stopped drinking vinegar in order to make their skin pale, and drawing veins on their hands with a blue pencil.

Together with visible light and the thermal energy of the sun, all inhabitants of the globe are affected by ultraviolet radiation (UV).

The World Health Organization has called UV carcinogenic to humans because its role in the development of major types of skin cancer has been proven: basal cell carcinoma (basalioma), squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.

What is UV radiation

The spectrum of UV radiation covers wavelengths from 100 to 400 nm. Three parts of the spectrum are fundamentally different from each other:

1. UV-C rays(length 100-280 nm) - the shortest and strongest in impact - stops the natural barrier - the ozone layer (we will not dwell on them).
2. UV-B rays(length 280-315 nm) - up to 90% is absorbed by ozone, water vapor, oxygen and carbon dioxide. The remaining 10%, acting on the top layer of the skin, contribute to the appearance of redness, burns.
3. UV-A rays(length 315-400 nm) - are not subject to the atmosphere and, reaching unprotected skin, can cause skin damage, leading to photoaging, cancer, melanoma.

World programs for the prevention of skin cancer

What do we have today? By and large, only 3 countries in the world - Australia, Brazil and the United States - have launched large-scale skin cancer prevention education campaigns - in schools, in the media, in the workplace, on the beaches ...

• In Brazil, even tattoo artists were given a course on diagnosing skin cancer and melanoma.
• Pragmatic Australians considered the damage done to the treasury by excessive love for the sun. And we developed a prevention campaign at the state level, starting with cartoons for the little ones. Since 1985
• The American Academy of Dermatology annually sponsors a national educational program to train students in sun protection skills - Sun Wise School Program. For 30 years, a special form of screening has been carried out - an examination by a dermatologist of only those individuals who independently found some changes in their skin, i.e. screening through the prism of self-awareness of the individual. As a result of public awareness and timely referral to dermatologists, 92% of newly diagnosed melanomas were less than 1.5 mm thick. And this is almost a guarantee of healing. Melanoma cures - "Queens" of oncology!

Why is it so important on a global scale?

WHO says: 4 out of 5 skin cancers are preventable because we can prevent a significant part of the action of UV rays.

“A good cream is expensive,” is the first thing I often hear during a consultation. “You already have the most effective means!” - I say and see eyes widening in surprise.

Effective UV Remedies

1. Shadow

Shade - just try to be in the shade during the hours of maximum solar activity! Plan your day, for example, using a mobile weather application that shows the UV index in real time: if it is > 3, use a sunscreen of at least SPF 15. For example, in the standard Weather application on the iPhone, this index is on the last line of weather characteristics..

2. Clothing

Your clothes! Look at the photo: the shirt protects better than the most modern filters.

For clothes there is UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor - UV protection factor), which indicates how many "units" of ultraviolet will pass through the fabric. For example, UPF 50 means that one unit out of 50 will reach the skin.

As it was found out, blue and red colors clothes provide better protection than white and yellow.

Even more effective protection of dense fabrics. In addition, the dye is also important:

Natural white linen has UPF 10; dyed with natural dyes in a dark color - UPF> 50, but synthetic dyes for flax do not add protective properties.

• Cotton:

Bleached cotton UPF 4 (almost all factory-made whites); unbleached, natural dye-dyed cotton (green, brown, beige) - 46-65 UPF.

Cotton loses its properties when wet - this is due to the weaving of threads - "holes" are formed through which drops of water can focus the sun's rays and cause a burn. In general, experts say, the protective properties of linen are better than cotton.

Life hack: wash cotton with liquid detergent - there is an optical brightener, which, with repeated washing, will only increase the level of protection due to settling on the fabric. I draw your attention to the fact that chlorine is not an optical brightener and only worsens the protection.

But what about silk? Apart from aesthetic and tactile pleasure, there is not much to count on: UPF of silk = 0. But it gains a little strength when wet - it becomes denser, but not enough to be relied upon.

3. Headwear

Complement the image - ideal, according to scientists - a headdress - a hat with a brim of 3 inches (7.62 cm) - this will protect your face, ears, and neck.

4. Sunglasses

Sunglasses can provide up to 100% UVA and UVB protection. Pay attention to the markings:

• UV 400,
• general,
• high UV protection,
• Blocks at least 80%UVB,
• 55% UVA (should be at least 50%) -

You can buy these glasses with confidence.

Alas, the glasses can play a cruel joke if they turn out not to be sunglasses, but simply with tinted lenses - you should check your glasses in optics using special equipment. If there are no protective filters, the pupil will be dilated and even more damaging rays will enter the eye than if you were without glasses.

By the way, prices for Sunglasses quite democratic: a decent option can be purchased within 2000 rubles.

5. Sunscreen

Now it's time for sunscreen.

2 mg/cm2- this amount of funds is recommended by manufacturers to be applied to parts of the body that are not covered by clothing every 2 hours being in the sun.

Apply, don't rub. This is fundamentally important for the formation of a continuous thick protective layer. How are we doing? Methodically, diligently rub sunscreen from head to toe.

Important! If you apply a thin layer of cream with a high SPF, the level of protection against UVA drops more than against UVB.

Consider an example:

• Given: Height 170 cm, weight 60 kg. Calculate the required amount of cream (body surface area under the swimsuit can be neglected).
• Solution: body surface area \u003d √170x60 / 3600 \u003d 1.68 m2 \u003d 168,000 cm2 x 2 mg \u003d 336,000 mg \u003d 33.6 g
• Answer: 33.6 g. This is how much you need to apply every 2 hours, while under the open sun.

How much sunscreen should be applied?

Use the Non-Profit Australian Campaign's Sunshine Calculator to calculate how much cream you need for your individual needs, based on clothing, shoes, height and weight. Simple and clear! http://www.sunsmart.com.au/suncreen-calculator/tool.asp

Or remember a simple algorithm: one teaspoon for each zone:

• for face, neck and ears
• for each limb
• for the front half of the body
• for the back half of the body
• Total - 7 teaspoons(about 35 ml) on the entire surface of the body every 2 hours.

Sunscreen: myths and reality

Sunscreen is the most attractive product, how many myths are associated with it ...

Myth 1.

The higher the SPF, the better the protection!

Reality: SPF - sun protection factor - is nothing more than an indicator of the effectiveness of protection against B-rays. UVA protection - rays are labeled separately or covered under Broad spectrum - a wide range protection.

Super-High SPF (>50) give a false sense of security: there is no burn (UVB rays are blocked well), and the cumulative effect of UFA will be very dramatic in the long term - "senile or liver spots", allergies to the sun are flowers compared to skin cancer and melanoma.

Thus, since 2007, the US FDA has been fighting against overstatement on the SPF label, because:

• cream with SPF 15 already absorbs 93% of UVB rays
• with SPF 30 - 97%
• with SPF 50 - 98%

Moreover, a giant such as Procter & Gamble signed up to the fact that it is practically IMPOSSIBLE in reality to comply with all the test conditions in order to receive the figure indicated on the label‼ Thank you for your honesty. In the test from SPF 100, “horns and legs” remained - only 37 - this is how much the manufacturer should indicate on the package, to be honest!

Myth 2.

Water resistance

Reality: Salt water for 40 minutes washes off the cream! Unless otherwise stated on the label. Look for a time indication, for example: Water resistant 80 minutes.

Myth 3.

Substances with an anti-inflammatory effect in the composition are good:

• licorice extract
• chamomile
• allantoin, etc.

Reality: their effect (reduce pain, redness) can last more than 6 hours after application! It makes you want to soak up a little longer under the sun - and this is already a threat of abuse of the sun.

Myth 4.

Physical filters - zinc and titanium oxides - are harmful to the skin

Reality: The FDA and European regulators have checked this - the nanoparticles do not penetrate the skin.

Their advantages:

• have a good balance between protection from two types of UV
• due to the inert coating, they do not react when exposed to UV with the formation of free radicals
• but when combined with Avobenzone (the best UFA filter), they reduce the effectiveness of its protection

Their cons:

In 2006, titanium dioxide was recognized as a carcinogen - a substance that can cause a malignant process. Large doses of it can be obtained by inhalation of sunscreen sprays with systematic use. In addition, sprays do not meet the application requirements: it is difficult to apply them in a uniform and thick layer, so I do not recommend this form for use.

Myth 5.

Chemical filters - the best and most modern

Reality: many of them negatively affect the endocrine system

Anti-rating of chemical filters in sunscreens

1.Oxybenzone- Found in 70% of sunscreens. It was originally patented as being able to reduce the redness of the skin after sunburn. But:

• estrogen-like action, linked to endometriosis
• alters thyroid hormones
• high risk of allergies

• in animal experiments shows hormone-like activity in reproductive system and thyroid gland
• allergy risk

3. Homosalate

• damages estrogens, androgens, progesterone
• its decay products are toxic

The above chemical filters found in breast milk breastfeeding women who used sunscreen.

In 2010, Margaret Schlumpf from the University of Zurich detected at least 1 cream "chemical" in 85% of milk samples from Swiss mothers. How does this affect the child's body? medical science unknown. And will the answer to this question be found if the same titanium dioxide, recognized as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, is considered “suspicious” by Rospotrebnadzor, which does not prevent it from being one of the most popular dyes in the confectionery industry - E171 (M&Ms, Skittles, etc. ). Based on the totality of factors affecting health, it is almost impossible to single out a specific “culprit” in the occurrence of a disease in a child. That is why it is so important to adhere to the principles healthy lifestyle life in a complex way.

Remember the Best Chemical Filters in Sunscreens

1. Avobenzone– the best UFA filter to date! Unstable in sunlight unless Octisalate is included in the cream

2. Mexoryl SX- well protects against UFA, stable. Safe.

Excipients in sunscreens

Auxiliary substances can contribute to the reaction to sunscreen, so we read the composition of the cream:

• Methylisothiazolinone, or MI, preservative - "Allergen of the Year 2013" according to the American Contact Dermatitis Society.
• Vitamin A(retinol palmitate) - accelerates the development of skin tumors and other diseases when applied to the skin in the presence of sunlight. That's why cosmetic procedures with vitamin A, it is recommended to move to the evening to avoid a reaction with direct exposure to the sun. The Norwegian health authorities warn against the use of vitamin A products in pregnant and breastfeeding women.
• Vitamins A, C and E, which are often added to the cream, are unstable when heated and stored for a long time. So, we protect any cream from direct sun rays and do not store until next summer.

Some of the top-rated American experts available in Russia are:

1. Clinique Mineral Sunscreen Fluid For Face, SPF 50
2. COOLA product line

• COOLA Suncare Baby Mineral Sunscreen Unscented Moisturizer, SPF 50
• COOLA Suncare Sport Mineral Sunscreen Stick, SPF 50
• COOLA Suncare Sport Tint Mineral Sunscreen Stick, SPF 50

1. Neutrogena line of products

• Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Dry-Touch Sunscreen, SPF 50
• Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Face Dry-Touch Sunscreen, SPF 50
• Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby Sunscreen, SPF 50
• Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Dry-Touch Sunscreen, SPF 30

"Healthy tan"

Research on sunscreens is still ongoing.

Remember that "healthy tan", as well as "healthy" does not exist.

Sunburn is a protective reaction of the skin to the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation, and the best and safest protection is shade and clothing.

Useful: You can check your sunscreen at http://www.ewg.org/sunscreen

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We know that the sun is bad for the skin. However, we often neglect this fact and make many mistakes that lead us to burns and other unpleasant consequences. According to The Skin Cancer Foundation, about 86% of melanoma cases are caused by solar radiation. To avoid dangerous exposure to the sun, you need to follow some simple rules.

We are in website decided to figure out why we get sunburned every summer, although we use sunscreen. We tell you how to protect yourself from the sun correctly.

Mistake No. 1: We think that a lot of sunbathing is good for you

Many people take sunbathing not only to get a golden skin tone, but also to produce vitamin D. Scientists from the University of Georgia believe that this vitamin protects against depression.

Vitamin D is synthesized in the skin under the influence of ultraviolet rays. But this does not mean that you need to lie under the scorching sun for hours and go to the solarium all year round.. To maintain the production of vitamin D in the required amount, it is enough to walk on sunny days. The amount of vitamin D a person needs depends on their age, where they live, and the intensity of the sun. So, for example, if you have fair skin, it is recommended to spend no more than 10 minutes a day under the sun.

Mistake #2: Not researching the ingredients of your sunscreen

Mistake number 3: We buy one cream for the whole family

Everyone knows how important it is to cover your skin with clothes on a sunny day. However, not all clothing can provide adequate protection.. For example, a white cotton t-shirt only protects against UV rays at SPF 4, although you need 30 for protection. You should choose darker colors, as they reflect UV better.

Mistake #5: Indulge in late snacks

In principle, this is not useful, and if you are under the sun the next day, it is doubly harmful. A study conducted in the Southwest medical center University of Texas showed that late snacking disrupts the biological clock of the skin. People who eat late are more vulnerable to sunburn.

Mistake #6: Wearing perfume

After sunbathing, the skin needs to breathe. Any interaction of the skin with the sun is a priori its damage. The only question is how strong. Tight clothing can aggravate even slight redness..

As the body reacts to skin damage, it tries to heal it by increasing blood flow. Tight clothing can increase the reaction, leading to more intense redness, swelling, and blisters. Therefore, going to the beach, put on something light and loose.

You cannot see, hear, or feel ultraviolet radiation, but you can actually feel its effects on your body, including your eyes.

You probably know that excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation increases the risk of cancer. skin diseases, and try to use protective creams. What do you know about protecting your eyes from UV radiation?
Many publications in professional journals are devoted to the study of the effects of ultraviolet radiation on the eye, and from them, in particular, it follows that prolonged exposure to it can cause a number of diseases. In the context of a decrease in the ozone layer of the atmosphere, the need for the correct selection of means of protecting the organs of vision from excessive solar radiation, including its ultraviolet component, is extremely relevant.

What is ultraviolet?

Ultraviolet radiation is electromagnetic radiation invisible to the eye, occupying the spectral region between visible and X-ray radiation within the wavelength range of 100-380 nanometers. The entire region of ultraviolet radiation (or UV) is conditionally divided into near (l = 200-380 nm) and far, or vacuum (l = 100-200 nm); moreover, the latter name is due to the fact that the radiation of this area is strongly absorbed by air and its study is carried out using vacuum spectral instruments.

Rice. 1. Full electromagnetic spectrum of solar radiation

The main source of ultraviolet radiation is the Sun, although some sources of artificial lighting also have an ultraviolet component in their spectrum, in addition, it also occurs during gas welding. The near range of UV rays, in turn, is divided into three components - UVA, UVB and UVC, which differ in their effect on the human body.

When exposed to living organisms, ultraviolet radiation is absorbed by the upper layers of plant tissues or the skin of humans and animals. Its biological action is based on chemical changes in biopolymer molecules caused both by their direct absorption of radiation quanta and, to a lesser extent, by interaction with water and other low molecular weight compounds formed during irradiation.

UVC is the shortest wavelength and highest energy ultraviolet radiation with a wavelength range of 200 to 280 nm. The regular impact of this radiation on living tissues can be quite destructive, but, fortunately, it is absorbed by the ozone layer of the atmosphere. It should be taken into account that it is this radiation that is generated by bactericidal ultraviolet radiation sources and occurs during welding.

UVB covers the wavelength range from 280 to 315 nm and is a medium energy radiation that poses a danger to the human eye. It is UVB rays that contribute to the occurrence of sunburn, photokeratitis, and in extreme cases - cause a number of skin diseases. UVB radiation is almost completely absorbed by the cornea, but part of it, in the range of 300-315 nm, can penetrate into the internal structures of the eye.

UVA is the longest wavelength and least energetic component of UV radiation with l = 315-380 nm. The cornea absorbs some UVA radiation, but most of it is absorbed by the lens. This component should be considered first of all by ophthalmologists and optometrists, because it is it that penetrates deeper than others into the eye and has a potential danger.

The eyes are exposed to the entire sufficiently wide UV range of radiation. Its short-wavelength part is absorbed by the cornea, which can be damaged by prolonged exposure to wave radiation with l = 290-310 nm. With increasing wavelengths of ultraviolet, the depth of its penetration into the eye increases, and the lens absorbs most of this radiation.

The lens of the human eye is a magnificent filter created by nature to protect the internal structures of the eye. It absorbs UV radiation in the range of 300 to 400 nm, protecting the retina from exposure to potentially harmful wavelengths. However, with long-term regular exposure to ultraviolet radiation, damage to the lens itself develops, over the years it becomes yellow-brown, cloudy and generally unsuitable for its intended function (that is, a cataract is formed). In this case, cataract surgery is indicated.

Light transmission of spectacle lens materials in the UV range.

Eye protection is traditionally performed using sunglasses, clip-on earrings, guards, headdresses with peaks. The ability of spectacle lenses to filter out the potentially dangerous component of the solar spectrum is associated with the phenomena of absorption, polarization or reflection of the radiation flux. Special organic or inorganic materials are introduced into the composition of the material of spectacle lenses or applied to their surface in the form of coatings. The degree of protection of spectacle lenses in the UV region cannot be visually determined based on the shade or color of the spectacle lens.

Rice. 2. Ultraviolet spectrum

Although the spectral properties of spectacle lens materials are regularly discussed in professional publications, including Veko magazine, there are still persistent misconceptions about their transparency in the UV range. These misjudgments and ideas find their expression in the opinions of some ophthalmologists and even splash out on the pages of mass publications. So, in the article “Sunglasses can provoke aggressiveness” by ophthalmologist-consultant Galina Orlova, published in the newspaper “St. Therefore, any glasses with glass spectacle lenses will protect the eyes from ultraviolet radiation. It should be noted that this is absolutely wrong, since quartz is one of the most transparent materials in the UV range, and quartz cuvettes are widely used to study the spectral properties of substances in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum. Ibid: "Not all plastic spectacle lenses will protect against ultraviolet radiation." Here we can agree with this statement.

In order to finally clarify this issue, let us consider the light transmission of the main optical materials in the ultraviolet region. It is known that the optical properties of substances in the UV region of the spectrum differ significantly from those in the visible region. A characteristic feature is the decrease in transparency with decreasing wavelength, that is, the increase in the absorption coefficient of most materials that are transparent in the visible region. For example, ordinary (non-spectacle) mineral glass is transparent at wavelengths above 320 nm, while materials such as uviol glass, sapphire, magnesium fluoride, quartz, fluorite, lithium fluoride are transparent in the shorter wavelength region [TSB].

Rice. 3. Light transmission of spectacle lenses made of various materials
1 - crown glass; 2, 4 - polycarbonate; 3 - CR-39 with light stabilizer; 5 - CR-39 with UV absorber in bulk polymer

In order to understand the effectiveness of UV protection of various optical materials, let us turn to the spectral light transmission curves of some of them. On fig. light transmission in the wavelength range from 200 to 400 nm of five spectacle lenses made of various materials: mineral (crown) glass, CR-39 and polycarbonate is presented. As can be seen from the graph (curve 1), most mineral spectacle lenses made of crown glass, depending on the thickness in the center, begin to transmit ultraviolet from wavelengths of 280-295 nm, reaching 80-90% light transmission at a wavelength of 340 nm. At the border of the UV range (380 nm), the light absorption of mineral spectacle lenses is only 9% (see table).

Material	Index refraction	Absorption UV radiation, %
CR-39 - traditional plastics
CR-39 - with UV absorber
crown glass
Trivex
Spectralite
Polyurethane
Polycarbonate
Hyper 1.60
Hyper 1.66

This means that mineral spectacle lenses made from ordinary crown glass are unsuitable for reliable protection from UV radiation, if special additives are not introduced into the mixture for glass production. Crown glass spectacle lenses can only be used as sunscreens after quality vacuum coatings have been applied.

The light transmission of CR-39 (curve 3) corresponds to the characteristics of traditional plastics, long years used in the manufacture of spectacle lenses. Such spectacle lenses contain a small amount of a light stabilizer that prevents photodegradation of the polymer under the influence of ultraviolet radiation and atmospheric oxygen. Traditional spectacle lenses made of CR-39 are transparent to UV radiation from 350 nm (curve 3), and their light absorption at the border of the UV range is 55% (see table).

We draw the attention of our readers to how much better traditional plastics are compared to mineral glass in terms of UV protection.

If a special UV absorber is added to the reaction mixture, then the spectacle lens transmits radiation with a wavelength of 400 nm and is an excellent means of UV protection (curve 5). Spectacle lenses made of polycarbonate have high physical and mechanical properties, but in the absence of UV absorbers they begin to transmit ultraviolet at 290 nm (that is, similar to crown glass), reaching 86% light transmission at the border of the UV region (curve 2), which makes them unsuitable for use as a UV protection agent. With the introduction of a UV absorber, spectacle lenses cut off ultraviolet radiation up to 380 nm (curve 4). In table. Table 1 also shows the light transmission values ​​of modern organic spectacle lenses made of various materials - highly refractive and with average refractive index values. All of these spectacle lenses transmit light radiation starting only from the border of the UV range - 380 nm, and reach 90% light transmission at 400 nm.

It should be taken into account that a number of characteristics of spectacle lenses and design features of frames affect the effectiveness of their use as means of UV protection. The degree of protection increases with an increase in the area of ​​spectacle lenses - for example, a 13 cm2 spectacle lens provides 60-65% protection, and a 20 cm2 lens provides 96% or even more. This is due to the reduction of side illumination and the possibility of UV radiation entering the eye due to diffraction at the edges of spectacle lenses. The presence of side shields and wide temples, as well as the choice of a more curved shape of the frame, corresponding to the curvature of the face, also contribute to the increase in the protective properties of glasses. You should be aware that the degree of protection decreases with increasing vertex distance, since the possibility of rays penetrating under the frame and, accordingly, getting into the eyes increases.

Cut off limit

If the boundary of the ultraviolet region corresponds to a wavelength of 380 nm (that is, light transmission at this wavelength is no more than 1%), then why are cutoffs up to 400 nm indicated on many branded sunglasses and spectacle lenses? Some experts argue that this is a marketing technique, since buyers like to provide protection beyond the minimum requirements, besides, the “round” number 400 is remembered better than 380. At the same time, data have appeared in the literature about the potentially harmful effects of blue light in the visible region. spectrum on the eye, so some manufacturers have set a slightly larger limit of 400 nm. However, you can be sure that 380nm-blocking protection will provide you with sufficient UV protection by today's standards.

I would like to believe that we have finally convinced everyone that ordinary mineral spectacle lenses, and even more so quartz glass, are significantly inferior to organic lenses in terms of UV cutting efficiency.

Prepared by Olga Shcherbakova, Veko 7/2002

Despite the fact that the world has been using sunscreens for several decades, the numbers on the packaging of sunscreens are still interpreted by many in their own way. What SPF and PA values ​​will definitely protect you from the sun? And do you know how to use sunscreen correctly?

Products with UV filters have a different composition and a different principle of action. According to the principle of action, they can be divided into physical (reflecting) and chemical (absorbing).

Very small particles are applied to the skin, which reflect the sun's rays. In such products, two active ingredients are used - titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, while the rest of the active sunscreen substances can be attributed to the chemical type. Physical sunscreens reflect UVA, UVB rays, and can also reflect infrared radiation. They almost do not cause irritation and are suitable even for delicate infant and children's skin.

The downside is that the higher the content of active ingredients (and the higher the SPF factor, respectively), the greater the discomfort from their use: white marks on the skin, clogged pores, a sticky feeling. With a low content of active ingredients (SPF below 30), the sensations of use are more comfortable, but protection from UVA rays (PA +, PA ++) is insufficient.

Of the two filters mentioned above: titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, zinc oxide protects against UVA and UVB radiation. Titanium dioxide is more effective in protecting against shortwave UVA and UVB rays. So, when shopping for physical sunscreens, it's best to choose a product that contains both or only zinc oxide, not one that contains only titanium dioxide.

The chemical principle of the UV filter (absorbing)

Filters of this principle of action absorb UV radiation and annihilate it, converting it into energy that is safe for the skin. Chemical UV filters include cinnamate, octocrylene, butylmethoxydibenzoylmethane (avobenzone), benzophenone-2 (oxybenzone) and others.

They have many advantages: they leave a feeling of lightness and freshness on the skin after use, they have a variety of release forms (for example, gel), but they effectively protect only from UVA rays, and even products with a low SPF factor do a good job with this function (below twenty).

The disadvantage of these active substances is that each of them blocks only part of the radiation, and when used separately, they are not very light stable. Therefore, it is necessary to use products containing several types of chemical filters. Also, products with chemical filters can cause burning, itching of the skin, eye irritation.

The best sun protection. What to choose?

There is a lot of writing on the Internet that chemical products are harmful to the skin, as they contain carcinogenic components, and therefore it is worth choosing sunscreens with physical filters. Such statements have no scientific confirmation and are based on rumors. Both physical and chemical filters have strengths and weaknesses.

There are three types of sunscreens on the market: only with physical filters, only with chemical and mixed. The latter are the most common, as they have all the advantages of their components and at the same time compensate for their disadvantages. Such products are the most right choice for those who are not used to using sunscreen.

Creams with UV filters not only save from sunburn, they also protect the skin from aging and cancer. When buying a sunscreen, it is very important to make sure that it provides good protection against both UVA and UVB rays. The surest way to know the effectiveness of a sun cream is to read its ingredients. For the convenience of consumers, two indicators are used (SPF and PA), which indicate the degree of protection of a particular product. But until now, many do not know what these indicators mean.

What is SPF (Sun Protection Factor)?

This is an indicator of the degree of protection against UVB rays. These rays are especially strong in summer and can cause burns and reddening of the skin. Previously, it was possible to find products with SPF 60 and even 100 on sale, but in recent times in Korea, if the SPF exceeds 50, they simply put a mark of 50+ (the situation is similar in Russia).

For reasons that are not clear, many believe that these figures indicate how long sunscreen lasts after application. This, of course, is not true; correctly perceive SPF as quantitative indicator degree of protection from UVB rays.

SPF is a measure of UV blocking
SPF 15 = 14/15 = 93% UV blocking. Penetration of rays into the skin 1/15 (7%).
SPF 30 = 29/30 = 97% UV blocking. Penetration of rays into the skin 1/30 (3%).
SPF 50 = 49/50 = 98% UV blocking. Penetration of rays into the skin 1/50 (2%).
SPF 90 = 89/90 = 98.8% UV blocking. Penetration of rays into the skin 1/90 (1.2%).

We can see that the blocking ability of SPF 15 is as much as 5% lower than that of SPF 50, while the difference between SPF 50 and SPF 90 is not so great at only 0.8%. After SPF 50, there is little to no increase in sun blocking ability, and buyers often think that SPF 100 is twice as powerful as SPF 50. To avoid such mistakes, in Asian countries, as well as in the United States, anything above 50 units became mark as SPF 50+. This ended the mindless digital race between products with an SPF above 50.

What is PA (Protection Grade of UVA)?

The PA index is used in Asian countries, primarily in Korea and Japan, as an indicator of the degree of UVA protection. This indicator is higher, the more "+" signs after the letters "PA". UVA radiation is about 20 times stronger than UVB radiation and, penetrating deep into the skin, can lead to the appearance of wrinkles, age spots and freckles.

To understand what PA is, you need to understand PPD (Persistent Pigment Darkening). This index is used in Europe (primarily in France) to indicate the degree of protection against UVA. PPD has a numerical value, and the higher it is, the stronger the protection. It can be said that PA +, PA ++, PA +++ are redefined indicators of PPD (weak, medium, strong).

PA+ corresponds to PPD 2–4.
PA++ complies with PPD 4-8.
PA+++ corresponds to PPD 8-16 (in Korea PA+++ is the maximum degree of protection).
PA++++ complies with PPD 16-32 (used in Japan since 2013).

How effective is my sunscreen against UVA?

According to European standards, in order for the product to effectively protect against both types of UV rays, it is necessary that the PPD value be at least a third of the SPF value. That is, if the SPF is 30, then the PPD must be at least 10 (PA++++), and if the SPF is 50+, then the PPD must exceed 16 (PA++++).

You can also check the composition and amount of substances contained in the product. On American products, the manufacturer is required to indicate the amount of active ingredients, which include UV filters. One of the most effective UV filters is avobenzone with its content in the composition of at least 3%, and if, in addition to it, the photostable elements octocrylene and oxybenzone are also indicated in the composition, you can be sure that this product is effective remedy protection from UVA radiation.

What rules must be followed in order for your sunscreen to work perfectly?

To check the degree of SPF protection, it is necessary to apply the product to the skin at the rate of 2 mg per 1 cm2 and expose this area of ​​the skin to the sun's rays. By whether redness appeared on the skin after such a check, the necessary degree of protection is determined.

However, in general, buyers do not use even a third of the required volume. About 0.8 g of the product should be applied to the face, in terms of volume this corresponds to the amount that will fill the depression in the center with a folded cup of the palm.

If you apply funds more than the required amount, then this can increase its original SPF. But keep in mind that if you apply half the required amount of funds with an SPF index of 50 units, then its effectiveness will drop not to 25 units, as it might seem, but to 7.

Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going out

This is necessary so that it has time to absorb into the skin, and is necessary not only for chemical filters, but also for physical ones. After applying a product with physical filters, the skin first becomes oily or slippery, and it is better not to leave the house until it becomes matte.

Update tool every 2-3 hours

All currently available sunscreens, be they SPF 30 or 50, need to be reapplied every 2-3 hours in order for them to continue to work effectively according to their SPF index. The fact is that the components of these funds gradually decompose under the influence of secretions of the sebaceous and sweat glands, as well as ultraviolet radiation.

Renew your sunscreen after swimming

If you get any part of your body wet, pat it dry and reapply sunscreen. Even if your sunscreen is considered waterproof, it's still a good idea to reapply after bathing.

And if you sweat profusely, dry your body with a towel and reapply sunscreen. If you apply the product on wet skin, it will be diluted in water and will not work properly, so you should only use it on dry skin.

Avoid being in the sun

UV radiation is strongest in summer between 10 am and 3 pm. If you need to go outside at this time, reapply sunscreen before going out. Do not be frivolous, do not think that "nothing will happen if you jump out into the street for a short while, for 10 minutes." The harmful effects of sunlight on the skin has a cumulative effect and is the cause of photoaging. We spend huge sums on brightening and anti-aging serums, but the effect of their use can be easily spoiled by being in the sun for only 10 minutes.

Don't rely on sunscreen alone

Applying the right amount of sunscreen regularly, every 2-3 hours, is harder than it might seem. For your sunscreen to work properly, use aids such as a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, which can act as UV filters in their own right.

In the summer at sea, you can see people who do not apply sunscreen to their bodies, but instead wear thin T-shirts or sweaters, but thin fabrics have a UV protection degree of only 5-7 units. So, they almost do not save from UVA radiation, which leads to skin aging. In addition, clothes, when wet in water, lose most of their protective function, up to 2-3 units.