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No matter how diligent you may be about skin care, you've probably fallen prey to one of the many myths about sunburns and tan. Sunburns and tan are essentially a defense mechanism. Ultraviolet (UV) rays damage the DNA of your skin cells. A tan is the first line of defense of your body, intended to protect the DNA against other damage. When the damage is too great, the cells die and your body mounts an immune response, sending blood to the area. It's a sunburn. If the damaged cells are able to reproduce, they become cancerous cells. There are two types of UV rays – UVA and UVB – and both can cause skin and cancer damage. Understanding how to protect yourself from each type is essential. Here's what dermatologists have to say about the most prevalent solar myths:
Myth: Higher SPF is Better
You may have noticed comfy SPF sunscreens lining the shelves of pharmacies. According to Theresa Pacheco, MD, of the University of Colorado-Denver, "SPF 15 is good, SPF 30, it's better." Nothing higher, she says, makes a lot of difference. A SPF 15 sunscreen will block about 93% of UVB rays, compared to 97% for SPF 30 and 98% for SPF 50.
SPF, or sun protection factor, indicates how much UV light your skin can endure before being damaged when using the product exactly as indicated. Essentially, wearing SPF 30 should prolong the amount of sun exposure that your skin can handle by 30 times. The threshold of sun exposure varies depending on factors such as sun angle, atmospheric interference and skin tone. No matter what you use, reapply every two hours, more often if you sweat or swim. Dermatologists recommend opting for a broad-spectrum sunscreen that provides protection against all UV rays, since SPF only protects against UVB rays.
Myth: Just a little sunscreen will make it look like it's a good thing. case
comes to sunscreen. According to a 2014 review that assessed the daily use of sunscreen, most people do not wear enough. SPF evaluations are based on the application of a certain volume of sunscreen – two milligrams per square centimeter – but most people apply less than half of it. Pacheco offers an easy way to solve this problem. "Apply the equivalent of a glass of sunscreen to the exposed areas of the face and body – a spoonful of the size of a nickel on the face alone." If you use a spray, apply until a uniform luster appears on the skin. "If the bottle lasts all summer, you probably do not do it properly," says Nicholas J. Golda, MD, a dermatologist at the University of Missouri.
Myth: Your Basic Tanning Will Protect You
Your A hard-earned healthy glow is not healthy at all. According to the American Surgeon General, a basic tan offers the equivalent of SPF 3 protection, a number that is essentially meaningless. And according to the FDA, "there is no tan without danger". Tanning is the attempt of your skin to prevent further damage to the DNA caused by UV exposure. Sufficient sun exposure to get a tan is enough to increase the risk of skin cancer, and tanned skin can still burn. "A basic tan to protect yourself on vacation is as beneficial to your health as starting to smoke before going to Las Vegas casinos," says Golda
Myth : You Need Vitamin D [19659003] Vitamin D is an important nutrient, the sun is not the only way to get it. In fact, in 2009, the American Academy of Dermatology issued a statement specifically recommending not to consume vitamin D from the sun. A study conducted in 2014 with skiers and beachgoers showed that even though exposure to the sun increases vitamin D levels, the benefits do not outweigh the risks of damage to the skin. ; DNA.
without hurting your cells. "It's not necessary for the sun, which is carcinogenic, to be the source of your vitamin D when diet is a safe alternative," says Maral Skelsey, MD, director of dermatological surgery at the University of Ottawa. 39, Georgetown University.
Myth: Sunburn turning into a mild tan
Sorry, lobsters, sunburns do not magically become suntans. A burn is an acute reaction to sun exposure, while a tan is a reaction to chronic damage. When you tan, your skin is able to repair most of the damage of the DNA and initiates the tanning process in order to reduce exposure to harmful light. When your cells can not protect themselves properly, they die from UV exposure. It's a sunburn.
"When you burn and peel, it's because your skin had such a large dose of carcinogenic light that it could not stand the damage to the DNA," says Golda. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, and it is largely preventable. Protecting your skin from sun damage should be part of your daily routine.
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