Do you want to adorn yourself with a nice golden tan all summer long? But what to do to avoid sunburn? Especially since prolonged sunbathing causes the premature appearance of wrinkles and freckles. Here are our tips for enjoying the sun without unfortunate consequences.
It is on our face that the years leave the most immediately visible traces. the skin aging is manifested by very clear signs: the epidermis is thinner, hydration is less effective, collagen and keratin decrease, wrinkles and brown spots appear, the skin slackens and becomes more flabby.
The sun accelerates aging
Let’s be clear : It is normal to age. It is not an illness. The natural processes of aging are accelerated by our modern life. Those responsible: stress, pollution, tobacco, poor diet, the sun… All these elements intensify the production of free radicalswhich generally accelerates aging.
Those free radicals are real little time bombs generated by cellular metabolism. During their short lifespan, they attack cells at the level of their outer membrane, their cytoplasm (inside the cell) and even their DNA.
Fortunately, our body is equipped with natural protective screens that neutralize free radicals. But when radical production panics, these defense agents are often overwhelmed by their task. They must therefore be supported and stimulated.
The sun occupies a place of choice among the accelerators of ageing, the more one exposes oneself, the more the skin tends to age. We need the sun’s rays to synchronize our inner clocks, maintain our good mood or synthesize the precious vitamin D (among other things).
But too much sun eventually produces potentially serious deleterious effects. Fortunately, very tanned skin, tanned by excessive exposure, is no longer in fashion. We are only looking to to look goodto sport a golden complexion that evokes “good health”.
Light skin or dark skin?
If our skin changes color in the sun, it is thanks to special cells: the melanocytes. They make a pigment, the melanin, which colors the skin when it receives the sun’s rays. We all have roughly the same number of melanocytes. If some people tan faster than others, it’s because their melanocytes are more active.
In addition, we have two types of melanin: red and black. The second is more effective than the first. However, if we produce both types of melanin, the dosage is different for each.
Those with fair skin and red hair mostly have red melanin, while those whose epidermis is dull are the champions of black melanin. And that’s good for them, because it protects up to a thousand times more than the previous one.
Can they therefore expose themselves to the sun without limit? Nope ! Because the melanin provides partial protection. If it prevents burns due to infrared radiation from sunlight, it does not protect against ultraviolet rays (especially UVA) which penetrate deeply, to the very heart of the cells where they damage the DNA.
Not only skin cells age faster (and this, especially since the sun accelerates the production of free radicals), but certain cell lesions sometimes turn into cancerous tumours.
However, the more you are tanned, the less you pay attention, which greatly increases the risks. Because we think we are safe from sunburnthen what to do?
The art of avoiding sunburn
Here are some tips to avoid sunburn and enjoy it without suffering the unfortunate consequences:
- Never expose yourself to the hottest hours of the day, especially in the height of summer. If you wish to sunbathe, do so before 11 a.m. and after 3 p.m.
- Never forget tospread on your body and your face a cream, a milk or a protective oil. Don’t skimp on the SPF, especially early in the season. Choose it according to your skin.
- Repeat application after each bath (at sea or in the pool).
- Be particularly vigilant with the children. In the event of exposure, coat them with special children’s total sunscreen cream, and don’t forget to make them wear a T-shirt, glasses and a hat.
- If you have fragile skin, apply sunscreen on your facein any season (as soon as the sun shines).
- always carry a water bottle with you when you walk in nature or expose yourself to the sun. Your skin needs constant hydration (see below).
- Use and abuse foods high in antioxidantsin all seasons to strengthen your defenses against free radicals.