Sun Protection and Sunscreens

Sun rays have many proven benefits on human health. For example, the ability to synthesize vitamin D through our skin, its positive effects on human psychology, and its healing effect on some skin disorders have been proven by scientific sources. However, unconscious exposure to these rays can have serious and even long-term fatal consequences. Sunscreens are the first thing that comes to mind to protect yourself from the harmful effects of the sun. Incomplete or erroneous information on this subject also increases the risks.
 
Sunlight
 
Before moving on to information about sunscreens, it would be appropriate to give information about a few basic issues. First of all, it is necessary to know a little about the rays emanating from the sun, especially those that can reach our world. In addition to visible radiation, the sun emits infrared rays, X-rays, gamma and cosmic rays at a wavelength of 400–770 nm. Some of these rays are filtered out before they reach the earth. UVA (320-400 nm) and UVB (290-320 nm) ultraviolet rays are rays that can reach the world and have various destructive effects. UVB rays, which are the main cause of tanning and are absorbed by the upper parts of the skin layer, can cause skin cancer in the long term. UVA rays can also cause tanning on the skin in case of excessive exposure, penetrating the lower parts of the skin layer, causing skin aging and wrinkles. Although it is less carcinogenic than UVB rays, it is known that it can cause cancer when exposed to too much. UVC (200-290 nm) rays, which are the most harmful among the sun rays, are absorbed in the stratosphere before they reach the earth. Filtering of UV rays occurs in the ozone layer. However, the negative effects of global climate changes on the ozone layer make UV rays more dangerous as time passes.
What Is Tanning Actually?
 
When summer comes, especially young people can spend a long time under the sun, ignoring the damage of the sun due to aesthetic concerns. The melanin secretion of the pigment cells that give color to our skin is one of the protection mechanisms of the skin. When a threatening effect such as sun rays comes, the increased melanin causes discoloration on the skin. It is necessary to know that tanning is actually a war of the skin to protect itself from the harmful rays of the sun. Although tan is seen as a beauty element especially by young people, it should be well understood that it will damage our aesthetic appearance by causing spots, skin aging or wrinkles in the long run.
 
Some dietitians recommend consuming foods rich in carotene, vitamin A, vitamin E and vitamin C, such as carrots, apricots, zucchini, and peaches. These nutrients are known to be protective against cancer, as well as helping to shorten the time spent under the sun, as they accelerate tanning.
Conscious Sun Exposure and Sunscreens
 
Avoiding the sun, especially between the hours of 10:00 - 16:00 when the sun's rays are effective, limiting the time we are exposed to direct sun rays to about 15 minutes, wearing protective clothing if necessary, standing under an umbrella and most importantly, applying sunscreen when we will be exposed to the sun for conscious sun contact. it is extremely important. In addition, it is necessary to make the daily use of sunscreen a habit both in summer and winter. Even if people are going to spend their time indoors, they should not forget that some of the UVA rays can pass through the windows, and they should apply sunscreen daily. Contrary to popular belief, foundation, powder or moisturizer with sun protection factor used by women alone is not enough. In addition, a suitable sunscreen product must be used. If you are going to spend more than 15 minutes under the sun, a sunscreen should be applied to the whole body except the face. For example; A cotton regular-thickness blouse has an SPF protection power of about 5. This will not be enough when exposed to the sun for a long time.
What is Sun Protection Factor (SPF)? How Many Should It Be?
 
SPF consists of the initials of the English words "Sun Protection Factor" and is expressed as "Sun Protection Factor" in Turkish. The SPF rate indicates how long the sunscreen we apply protects us from the sun's rays before our skin starts to burn. Various formulas are given on the internet to calculate which SPF rate is for how many minutes of protection. Although certain calculations can be made in theory, the result may be misleading. It is important to repeat the preservative every two hours as many factors can affect this period during the day.
 
For full protection, a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 should be used daily in summer and winter. It is recommended to use products with a sun protection factor of at least 30 for very fair-skinned people. If we plan to spend a long time under the sun or if we are going to be busy with an activity under the sun for a longer time than normal, the product we will use should contain a sun protection factor of at least 45-60. It should be renewed after the skin comes into contact with water, and if it is out of contact, it should be reapplied regularly every two hours. It is also important to apply sunscreen at least half an hour before going out in the sun so that it can fully penetrate the skin. Finally, when choosing a sunscreen brand, broad-spectrum products should be preferred.
The Importance of Using a Broad Spectrum Protector
 
On February 19, 2019, the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) introduced a regulation on the properties required for sunscreens to have maximum safety and effectiveness. The FDA states that sunscreens must be "broad spectrum." While protecting our skin from the sun, broad spectrum sunscreens contain chemicals that absorb harmful UV rays and/or physical agents that reflect the sun's rays so that they do not reach the subcutaneous tissues. Sunscreens outside this group only protect the skin from UVB rays and their benefit is limited to preventing skin burns. On the other hand, broad-spectrum sunscreens protect against both UVA and UVB rays, providing protection against bad consequences such as skin burns and skin aging. Therefore, when purchasing sunscreen, it should be a priority to read the label and choose products with broad spectrum.
“Sunscreens Cause Irritation on My Skin!”
 
For all the creams we use for care or protection for our skin, we must have heard comments such as “it was very good for my friend but for some reason I did not see the effect / it reddened my skin / increased skin problems” or the like. In all protection or care creams used in general, sensitivities on the skin may be caused by user errors rather than the product itself. People should know their skin characteristics and problems well and choose products suitable for it. A product that works very well on one person may be the end product to be used for another person's skin. It should be known that even if there are certain skin type classifications, each person's skin is unique and different from the others. Some active ingredients in sunscreens can also cause sensitivity on some skins. In this context, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide ingredients, which are natural minerals and have UVA filtering feature, can be preferred instead of products with ingredients such as benzophenone, avobenzone, octinoxate, para-aminobenzoic acid, butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane and oxybenzone, especially for people with sensitive skin. These ingredients will also be a solution for people who have problems such as burning or stinging as a result of the product getting into the eyes due to sweating.
 
It cannot be denied that sunscreens are important in protecting us from the harmful effects of the sun. However, it is still useful to know that no sunscreen can cut the rays coming from the sun 100%, in this context, we must consciously adjust the time we spend under the sun and take additional precautions with protective clothing, in addition to sunscreens.