The fierce summer sun is unpredictable and can burn the skin even with less careful application of sunscreen, let alone without it. And what’s worse, sunburns can have a fatal effect on our skin even after a few months. Tereza Nová, founder of the brand Florentine, compiled her first uncompromising formula for sunscreen 8 years ago, and in today’s article she explains the issue of tanning in a deeper sense.
Since the creation of her first sunscreen with the appropriate name SLUNCE, Tereza Nová has been perfecting her product, studying the issue of SPF testing, consulting with experts on mineral filters and sending her butter with an uncompromising BIO composition to foreign laboratories. Why is she so interested in the issue of tanning?
“I suffered from the sea since I was a child. The first day I swam in a swimsuit, the second in a t-shirt and the third in a t-shirt and longer shorts. Nothing helped my white skin. And I so wanted to be on the beach! Or maybe my mom didn’t have the right information back then. Now I want to do the right thing when sunning my three children. The oldest is 8 and so far none of them have burned. SLUNCE is tested for children from birth,” says the founder of the natural brand Florentine, Tereza Nová.
Today, a trend has even appeared on social networks not to lubricate at all. Sunscreens are said to block the production of vitamin D and are therefore dangerous. Vitamin D is involved in bone mineralization and increased calcium intake, supports immunity, improves sleep quality and is also great in preventing cancer and heart disease.
Foreign studies state that, theoretically, the intake of vitamin D can be blocked by using sunscreen, because for the production of vitamin D we need UVB radiation, which the cream protects against. But honestly, how many of us use our sunscreen all the time and in the right amount? According to the World Health Organization, you should apply 36g to the body of an average adult, which is approximately 6 teaspoons. And of course, we must not forget about repeated application. In addition, part of the UVB radiation always penetrates even through the layer of sunscreen, so we do not have to worry that the production of vitamin D would not be triggered. Studies show that it is enough to expose the skin for 5-30 minutes (depending on the conditions) at least 3 times a week in the summer around noon .
The fierce summer sun is unpredictable and can burn the skin even with less careful application of sunscreen, let alone without it. And what’s worse, sunburns can have a fatal effect on our skin even after a few months. UVB rays cause direct destruction of surface skin cells. This means that it will burn the skin, damage it and promote the development of serious skin diseases from inflammation to skin cancer.
How to navigate sunscreens?
We have a choice of two basic options – preparations with mineral filters or synthetic filters. A lot has already been written about synthetic filters, and you surely know that even sunscreens from the pharmacy are usually not natural sunscreens without synthetic filters.
“I can say for myself that when I don’t have the opportunity to apply sunscreen with mineral filters and I need to be in direct afternoon sun, I reach for any other sunscreen. It’s safer for me than leaving my skin unprotected in the direct summer sun. I’m not making a dogma out of it. But I definitely don’t support the trend of not oiling at all. However, I try to keep my SUN sunscreen with me all summer long. A smaller package for a handbag, a larger one for the sea or the pool with children.” says Tereza Nová.
However, sunscreens with synthetic filters may not suit everyone. When the filter comes into contact with the skin and the sun’s rays, another chemical reaction occurs, to which the skin can react with, for example, itching or a rash. Various synthetic filters can further damage DNA, affect the hormonal system, can be carcinogenic, can harm the environment, penetrate into the blood and into breast milk.
A natural choice is a mineral filter – most often zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. These filters act like a mirror, reflecting the sun’s rays. Their advantage is that they work immediately after lubrication and are, simply put, non-toxic. However, some sunscreens with these filters form a white thick paste that is unpleasant for the user. Nowadays, however, there are sunscreens that use more advanced technology, and the zinc oxide in them is specially laboratory-treated and gently modified so that it does not leave an indelible white mark. Today, Tereza also has experience with this technology. The products simply smudge, leaving just a thin visible layer that lets you know you’ve applied the cream enough. It is especially important for children, for example, to leave a thin layer on the most problematic places. There is no need to smear the sunblock on your shoulders, shoulder blades or shoulders. If you have a tattoo on your body, also protect it from the sun’s rays. A fresh and unhealed tattoo may not belong in the sun at all.
Why are we so attached to the SPF number?
The Sun Protection Factor (or SPF) indicates how long you are protected from the sun’s rays. For example, SPF 30 differs from SPF 50 by only less than a percentage. The number indicates how many times longer it takes for a person to burn after applying the cream compared to unprotected skin. However, the problem of testing and determining the value unfortunately lies in the fact that there is no internationally recognized regulatory method for sunscreens.
“It depends on different variables. In vivo tests (on volunteers) can come out differently even if the skin phototypes tested are different. Therefore, today it is very difficult to simplify the effectiveness of sunscreen with mineral filters to a single number. I had the SUN tested in several labs and the number was different each time. Sometimes ridiculously low, other times just below 30. And we are always talking about the same product with the same composition,” Tereza describes the problem of testing.
How can we prepare for sunny days in advance?
It is ideal to include accessories already in the spring that will help you gradually adapt your skin to the sun’s rays and create protection from the inside as well. A Japanese study from 2018 presents the effect of one of the strongest antioxidants on the market – astaxanthin. It is a deep orange colored pigment found in various organisms. Astaxanthin accumulates in every layer of the skin and protects it, among other things, from sunburn and sun damage. Thanks to astaxanthin, the skin does not lose moisture when sunbathing. In the Florentine portfolio you will find an effective gentle serum with active ingredients mainly from seaweed. Serum with astaxanthin, extract from the semi-precious stone malachite and arctic seaweed is an anti-stress product for all skin types, but also an excellent helper in preparing the skin for the summer months.
“I’M TIGER also goes well under a protective cream with SPF. We pat the I’M TIGER serum into clean and tonic-treated skin and then apply our favorite SPF cream. For example, with Florentine, it’s a product called ALONG COMES MARY, which in the test came out with an SPF result just below 30. You can’t go wrong with this procedure.” recommends Teresa.
In conclusion, let’s recall the basics of a safe stay in the sun and safe tanning:
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Protect yourself and children from the sun’s rays between 11:30 – 15:00 (depending on conditions)
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Adapt your skin to sunlight already in spring and summer, especially in the morning and from 5 p.m
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Drink plenty of fluids without sugar
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When your skin burns, remember to hide from the sun immediately
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Lubricate carefully and repeat the application with sunscreen during the day, after bathing or after wiping with a towel. Feel free to leave a layer on critical areas – shoulders, chest, entire back, thighs, insteps
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Always protect your skin with an SPF cream – in winter, in summer, all the time. If you want tanned skin, choose products that gently tone it. By tanning, your skin ages, collagen decreases and wrinkles deepen
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Follow your skin phototype. If you are not the tanning type, choose self-tanners and protect yourself from the sun throughout the day
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Teach children how to properly lubricate themselves and constantly replenish fluids
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If you have a tattoo on your skin, never forget to apply a good quality sunscreen. Do not expose the fresh tattoo to the sun at all and protect it with a special film. The tattoo needs to be hydrated and protected from the harsh rays of the sun.
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After sunbathing and in the event of a burn, treat the skin with an after-sun product that contains aloe vera, panthenol and other soothing substances
Sources of information: William B. Grant, PhD., Michael F. Holick, PhD.: Benefits and requirements of vitamin D for optimal health: a review // Australian Academy of Science: What does the SPF rating really mean? // Naoki Ito, Shinobu Seki a Fumitaka Ueda: The Protective Role of Astaxanthin for UV-Induced Skin Deterioration in Healthy People, 2018 // Chemservis company (mineral filter expert Ing. Ladislav Dubánek)
Source: www.moda.cz
