LET'S TALK SUN....

THE SUN 

With the fabulous sun making an appearance I see everyone running to the parks to get the healthy glow we all desire. What's behind this healthy glow? Is it really worth all the cell damage it causes! Or is vanity far more important?

Let's take a look at the SUN......

As we know without argument the sun gives us a feel good factor. With all the endorphin's running through our body with a glimpse of the sun no matter we all smile and run around full of beans! 

That being said let's concentrate why we need the sun? Let's face it we need the sun for life. The sun is responsible for growth and life of all living organisms. It emits a range of rays which we know as the spectrum. In terms of the skin all we will concentrate on is the UV rays.
There are three different types of UV rays. UVA, UVB and UVC. We need not worry about the dangerous UVC rays as these are absorbed by the ozone layer. Here we will concentrate on the UVB and UVA rays. 

UVA....
So the UVA Ray is the next powerful ray after UVC. This is a longer ray and can penetrate deep into the lower layers of the skin. It causes premature ageing, cell damage and can make melanin (tan) darker. Damage caused by a UVA Ray is usually long term. It can also come through clouds and glass and suppresses your immune system.
Remember a product with an SPF (sun protection factor) will not protect you from UVA rays. The SPF number only protects against the UVB. Therefore when buying products they must state 'broad spectrum protection' and 'UVA protection'.

UVB....

UVB Ray is a shorter ray and usually stronger on a sunny day. It causes burning, redness and some DNA damage. it stimulates the production of melanin which is why we get a tan. However, this melanin production is a form of protection by the body from the rays. So what we think is a healthy glow is in fact the body's defense system against damage! 

VITAMIN D....

I hear you say 'well I need vitamin D from the sun! I need some sun and my doctors saying I'm deficient!' Well yes you are right there is no argument in that; we all need vitamin D for a healthy immune system and to help our body use calcium which in return will keep our bones healthy! Our main source of vitamin D is from the sun - unless obviously if you're taking supplements. Here's how it works....

To get enough vitamin D parts of our skin needs to be exposed to the sun. Once the skin is exposed to the rays - in particular the UVB - it produces it own vitamin D. On a winters day you can probably get away with exposing the skin to the sun a little longer. This is because some of the UVB rays are blocked by the clouds and also as its cold you are less likely to have exposed skin areas. Generally speaking 'around 10 mins of sun exposure on bare skin will allow your body to produce enough vitamin D for 3-4 days'. 

As you can see, you don't need much exposure to the sun in order to get the right amount of vitamin D. However, over exposure will definitely cause damage to the skin which can result in conditions such as skin cancers. The way I see it is if I'm deficient in vitamin D luckily I am able to take a supplement, but if i damage the DNA in my skin and increase the risk of skin cancer - well I cant take a pill for that so I know where my priorities lie. 

PROTECTING YOUR SKIN

Okay so lets talk about how sun protection works. There are two main forms of protection, Physical and Chemical. 

Physical protection is when the ray which reaches your skin is reflected back. Its usually ingredients like Titanium oxide and Zinc oxide. These are usually white powders, traditionally plain zinc and titanium oxides where used in sun protection which is why the products where white and chalky looking. today you will find these in mineral makeups and sun lotions with a tint. Although most sun products do still contain these ingredients in a small quantity in order to avoid the powdery look.

Chemical protection is a chemical which sits on the skin and absorbs the suns rays. Once absorbed they are stabilized in order to stop them from penetrating the skin deeper and causing damage. Over time they are than released from the skin as radiation. These include Octycrylene, homosalate, mexoryl, tinosorbs and many others. 

The Sun Protection Factor

The sun protection factor is the time you can stay out in the sun without getting burnt or causing damage. The best way to work this out is multiply the SPF by how long you can usually stay out in the sun before turning red or burning. This will give you the time you can stay out in the sun with the application of the product. 

For example:

 If you can usually stay out in the sun for 10 minutes before getting burnt and you have brought an SPF 15, the maths will be: 10 X 15 = 150, so you can stay out in the sun for 150 minutes before you need to reapply. So without further explanation - the higher the SPF the better the protection! 

Also keep in mind you will need to reapply when you come in contact with water, if you are sweating a lot and depending on how well or how much you apply.  Don't forget your ears, backs of legs/neck and your back. 

Lastly remember the SPF does not protect from UVA rays only UVB rays. So you must make sure you buy a product which states UVA protection as its more harmful to the skin. 

I hope I have explained some basics about the sun. Please feel free to email me your questions and I will get back to you personally. Alternatively leave a comment....

Enjoy the beginning of the sun, stay safe, keep protected and if you want a tan..... fake it!!!