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A few years ago, while I was on vacation in Spain, I fell asleep flat on an inflatable pineapple. I dragged myself around the pool for hours, while the sun looked bad with me. I woke up with extreme pain to the skin all along my back and legs, but later I developed to reveal the perfect outline of the bikini buckle I was wearing, burned in my back. My whole back was so burned that I could not sit without inhaling abruptly for the rest of the holidays.
It is a story that many of us will know. Although we can look back and laugh at our stupidity, it also raises the question of what the lasting damage caused by these untimely naps under the midday sun, or the times we took the tanning oil, might be. , or booked a sunbed session.
We invited Dr. Catherine Borysiewicz, a dermatology consultant at Cadogan Clinic, to talk about all the damage done by the sun before your next summer getaway …
What are the different signs of damage caused by the sun?
According to Dr. Borysiewicz, the damage caused by the sun comes in different forms. "Some of the signs and symptoms of sun damage are age spots, uneven pigmentation, melasma [brown or grey patches of skin]Freckles, moles, wrinkles, fine lines, sagging skin, spider veins and tanning are all signs of damage, "she says.
The list may seem long, especially to include a tan in sign of sun damage, but in the end, a tan means that the skin has been exposed to too much UV rays, which stimulates an increase in melanin ( the dark pigment that gives the appearance of a tan) in an attempt to prevent further damage.
Can we still have the sun even if we do not burn?
"It's important to realize that the sun can still be damaged without creating a noticeable sunburn," says Dr. Borysiewicz.
Apparently, the ease with which a person will burn depends on his location on the Fitzpatrick skin type scale, which classifies people into six skin types. A person with skin type 1 is the lightest, has blue or gray eyes, blond or red hair, freckles and always burns in the sun.
A person with skin type 6 is the darkest, with brownish black eyes, black hair and never burning. "Depending on your Fitzpatrick skin type, the time you can spend in the sun without burning varies."
Choose from the best sunscreens for UV protection and SPF that's right for you
What are the warning signs for moles?
According to Dr. Borysiewicz, the ABCD rule is the simplest thing to remember when it comes to moles. "Asymmetry, border, color, diameter," she says.
The warning signs according to this rule would be an asymmetrical mole where the two halves of the zone differ in shape, an irregular or fuzzy border, an uneven color (different shades of black, brown and pink can be observed), more than 6 mm in diameter. or a change in size. "If in doubt, always consult an expert," adds Dr. Borysiewicz.
Can you be exposed to the sun safely?
Dr. Borysiewicz recommends daily application of a high SPF50 factor that provides good protection against UVA rays (look for an anti-UVA screen or a 5 * on the vial) on exposed skin, especially the face, bust and hands.
However, she warns that the use of sunscreen does not mean that it is safe to stay out of the day; "The application of sunscreen can extend the time to burn, but this time depends on the SPF – but be aware that most people will only apply 25% of the sunscreen needed to achieve the SPF indicated on the label – it means 25 The percentage of application of a factor 50 gives you about 7 times your burning time.So if you burn in 10 minutes, you have about 70 minutes before burning. "
To avoid burns, she recommends to renew the application every 2 hours – without forgetting the often forgotten areas, like the ears!
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