Even if you think that you know everything there is to know about sun, sunbathing and cream use, the truth about these popular claims could astonish you, so keep reading.
Claim: Self-tanning cream protects my skin
Truth: These creams don’t do anything more than dirtying the top skin layer. Actually, according to results of one German study, self-tanning creams contribute to skin damages that are caused by sun. If you expose your skin to the sun one hour after you applied self-tanning cream your skin will produce up to 180% more of free radicals (unstable molecules that damage the cells and can lead to skin cancer) than when you apply nothing. This effect weakens with time, so if you must, apply self-tanning cream before sleeping. In the morning put enough sun cream that has a wide range of effect.
Claim: Sun cream can’t be applied near eyes
Truth: Despite small surface that it covers, 5-10% of all skin cancer forms appear exactly in that area. Even though these are less dangerous forms of disease, it is still a disease. “They can grow and become very destructive”, says dermatologist Jordana Gilman. If your eyes tear up with the thought of applying cream, try creams for very sensitive skin and try finding quality sunglasses with UV protection of 99-100%.
Claim: Sun cream makes me sweat even more
Truth: Actually, according to researches from Corvallis SPF temporarily cooled the skin of the examiners while they were exercising. “Chemicals from the sun cream intercepted the sun rays and, instead of getting into the skin, they go through a chemical reaction releasing the warmth back into the atmosphere instead of the organism”, dr. Ellen Marmur explains.
The effect is similar to situation when you suddenly stop running and you lightly feel the cold because of the sweat that is evaporating from your body. If the cream is smothering you, try one with different consistency. Waterproof variants are not as thick, but they can have a vapid feel on the fingers. Try sun cream in stick that won’t drip from you while you are running or a light regular sun cream (and don’t forget to apply it regularly during the exercise).
Claim: When you were younger you “boiled” in the sun and the damage is done
Truth: Even if you have a sunny past it is not too late. The claim is that 80% of your total exposure to UV rays happens before you turn 18 is a fallacy that we keep dragging with us since the 80s. According to researches in the age from 19 to 40, 47% of exposure to UV rays happens. By using sun cream, not only will you slow down, but also alleviate the sins from the past. According to a published study, in people who used sun cream daily it is noticed that new freckles caused by sun are reduced and also the growth of old ones is slowed down.
Claim: I need to “soak up” some vitamin D
Truth: According to a survey that has been conducted, one-third of Americans are worried if the use of sun cream will disable them from absorbing vitamin D. It is true that sun cream blocks UV rays that skin cells use in creating vitamin D, but for that you only need to expose yourself to the sun for a few moments. After exaggerated exposure to the sun, UV rays start to destroy the vitamin D created in skin. “Too much of UV rays is contra productive in the synthesis of vitamin D”, dermatologist Linda K. Franks explains.
This vitamin is responsible for strong bones and it helps fighting cancer, diabetes and other diseases to doctors recommend 1000 of IU a day. Instead of exposing to the sun, eat food that is rich with vitamin D, like salmon, eggs, milk with vitamin D and talk to your doctor about taking supplements for vitamin D3.
Claim: I am on vacation and a little sun can’t harm me
Truth: It is easy to forget the protection while you are doing your favorite activities and enjoy your hard-earned vacation, but too much tan can turn up to be a dangerous souvenir. According to a published study, women that spent their vacation in the warmer regions and didn’t use compatible protection had 74% more moles, risk factor at melanoma development, than the ones that have protected themselves.
You don’t need to get red as a lobster, and a little colour is a sign that UV rays have affected your skin and that which you consider tan might not be it. “If you press your skin and redness appears, it is a sun burn, even if it doesn’t hurt”, says dr. Jennifer Linder.
Claim: Spray cream protects hair and scalp
Truth: Sprays function in theory, but we know from practice that it is impossible to spray every hair on your head and to protect the scalp good enough. “Skin cancer that appears on head often doesn’t get noticed for a long time because it is invisible under the hair”, claims dermatologist Doris Day. Even though hair protects the head it doesn’t provide 100% of protection. “Thick hair protects better than rare hair, dark better than light”, says dr. Day. So, besides spray cream, protect your head with a big hat as well (the brim of the hat should be at least 7cm).
Claim: Cream with SPF factor 100 provides twice as much protection than the cream with SPF factor 50
Truth: Math rules can’t be applied on SPF factors. Here is why: if you apply cream with SPF factor 15 right, it blocks 93% of UV rays, SPF 30 around 97%, SPF 50 98%. Anything more than that has inessential difference and there is no considerable improvement in protection (actually, it has been suggested that the new label for the highest SPF factor is 50+).
Even though there is no harm if you use cream with SPF factor 100 don’t fool yourself thinking that you can apply less of it. Benefits of the protection factor exponentially decrease if you don’t use enough of it and you could end up with protection on your skin that is equal to SPF factor 4 even though on your bottle there is a triple digit. Always apply one-third of a glass of sun cream and a coin size to your face (50 cents coin). Don’t forget to apply cream every two hours and this summer responsibly enjoy the sun.