• Photoprotection.The best sun creams for the whole family, anti-stain and environmentally friendly

We shut ourselves up at home in winter and, after almost three months of confinement in which we have barely been exposed to the sun's rays, we released 'new normal' in summer.

Burns, photo-aging and the appearance of spots ... Our skin is more vulnerable this year and we must pay more attention to it than ever. "We should gradually expose ourselves to the sun. Above all, on the first days of the beach, nature or swimming pool, it is advisable to control the weather and go from less to more (always avoiding the central hours of the day)," advises Susana Mezquita, expert from the Cinfa scientist.

In case there was any doubt about it, Mosque clarifies that " we do not have to trust that the mask will protect us from the sun , since the function of this material is different and, in any case, it only covers the mouth area and the nose. Therefore, it is essential to always apply the sunscreen over the entire face. "

What do we have to take into account when applying the sunscreen? The experts clarify some of the most common doubts.

SHOULD I PUT SUN CREAM BEFORE LEAVING HOME?

"The important thing is to let it permeate our skin for five to 10 minutes before going directly to sunbathing. The cream will thus have been more easily absorbed in part by the horny layer of our skin (the most superficial part, consisting mainly of remains of dead cells) and, in this way, its presence in our skin stabilizes and protection can be better. It does not matter if we do this at home or under a good umbrella. In any case, if we put it right before sunbathing, it already offers us great protection, much greater than if we don't put it on, "says Ángel Pizarro, head of the Melanoma Prevention and Early Diagnosis Unit at the International Dermatological Clinic (Madrid).

Raquel González, director of education at Perricone MD, adds that " physical sunscreens (minerals in most cases) protect immediately, making them reflective of the sun. Instead, the chemicals take time to react on the skin a little, about 10-20 minutes, it is with these that a pre-exposure application is recommended. However, if we wear clothing that covers us, it may remove part of the protection, so we should reapply when you get to the beach or the pool. "

DOES ANYTHING ELSE APPLY IT?

"Yes. Ultimately, these are organic compounds (chemical filters) or inorganic (physical filters) that from the first moment absorb or reflect, depending on the case, the ultraviolet radiation. Another issue is that by giving them some time these compounds impregnate something the surface of our epidermis is more homogeneous and stable. But from the first moment they protect us. It is often read that it takes 30 minutes to do it, but some recent studies suggest that five to 10 minutes is enough, "explains Dr. Pizarro.

SHOULD WE INCIDENT IN ANY CONCRETE AREA?

Dr. Pizarro indicates that we must try to protect well "all the skin surface that will be exposed to the sun, but I would insist on two areas especially: the face and the back ."

Here are his reasons: "The face because, throughout our lives, it is one of the areas that ends up being exposed to the sun the longest. That ends up having undesirable consequences from the cosmetic point of view (sun spots and wrinkles) and oncological , since some forms of skin cancer are especially frequent on the face and their treatment can generate relevant cosmetic and functional sequelae. "

The back is perhaps the area that "most of us burn most of the time." Also, if one is alone, it is "difficult or impossible to apply the cream to the central area of ​​the back."

The consequence of repeated burns on the back is that it is the most frequent area of ​​melanoma in adulthood. "If we reduced sunburn on the back in the medium term, we would also reduce the incidence of melanoma."

" The face, ears and back of the neck " would be, in the opinion of Martha Dias from Caupe Brazil, three strategic points.

Nor should we forget to do it in the areas covered by clothing , since in most cases, "it does not reach 100% protection," says Estefanía Nieto, technical director of Omorovicza

HOW DO I KNOW WHICH INDEX TO USE?

"Here we must clarify a very important question: the protection indexes set by the packages are calculated for a dose of product of 2 mg per cm2. But practically no one uses that amount of sun cream regularly. Being generous, almost all world, in my opinion, uses between two and five times less. As a consequence, a theoretical 50 will be between a 10 and a 20 in our skin. And a 20, between a five and a 10. Therefore, dermatologists usually always recommend acquiring products with protection greater than 20 , and in very sensitive skin always protection of 50. Choosing high rates, we compensate for the effect of using less doses than necessary to achieve the protection index set by the package, "explains Dr. Pizarro.

With a protection of 10 to 15 real, "very few people would burn after 30 to 60 minutes of sun, but we will only achieve this by applying a product of index 30 to 50, and being somewhat generous in their application."

The whiter and more sensitive our skin is, the more important it is to choose "a high index and be generous in the amount applied". The next day, we will know perfectly if we have made the right choice: "Without redness or stinging of the skin, we are doing well."

AND FOR CHILDREN?

The approach would be the same as in adults, but with some nuances, as Ángel Pizarro, from the International Dermatological Clinic explains. "It is especially important for children to avoid sunburn. Their skin is thinner and more sensitive, they can burn more easily, and childhood sunburn is a well-established risk factor for melanoma in adulthood ."

On the other hand, in infants and young children, "sunscreens with inorganic or physical filters are preferred because they have the advantage that they are hardly absorbed, they do not usually irritate the skin and their action is more prolonged." The downside is that they are "denser and spread worse, although pharmaceutical laboratories have made improvements at this point."

WILL WE GET BROWN WITH HIGH PROTECTION?

"Tanning in itself is not a bad thing. It is a defensive response of our skin to the sun, and people who tan easily are actually less at risk for skin cancer. But obviously as we reduce the amount of light ultraviolet, which penetrates our skin, the tan will be somewhat slower and somewhat less, "says Pizarro.

All in all, "there are people who can achieve a good tan using sun creams and others who will hardly achieve it. What you should always avoid is burning before tanning, as it is annoying in the short term and increases the risk of melanoma in the long term "

The problem arises especially in fair-skinned people who find it difficult to tan and want to return to brunettes after a short 10-15 day vacation, for example. "They know that if they don't get burned, they won't have time to catch a suntan and they take the risk." Obvious mistake. "This means, for example, that the Nordic countries double the incidence of melanoma compared to what was observed in southern Europe. In my opinion, in those cases it is better not to take unnecessary risks and use self-tanners , with which a very flattering cosmetic effect if used well, "he recommends.

With a high sun protection factor, clarifies Martha Dias, "the skin will take longer to tan, but the tan will pose fewer risks and, therefore, will be safer, more uniform, without blemishes, and, in addition, will last longer.

WHAT HAPPENS WITHIN THE WATER?

In theory, water can dissolve and remove part of the cream that we are wearing. "Hence, the advantage of choosing '' waterproof '' products, the most resistant, or 'water resistant' , because they are designed to last longer on our skin while maintaining the protective effect," says Dr. Pizarro.

But we must not be trusted because, when using a usually low dose of the product, "we are always closer than we think that its effect will be reduced to a point that is problematic for our skin."

On the other hand, if we dry ourselves with a towel we will also drag part of the protector. "So after a long bath or several short but frequent baths it is advisable to repeat the application of the sunscreen. As a general rule, it is advisable to reapply it every two hours if we spend a long time in a sunny environment, although part of that time let's be in the shade ", indicates the specialist of the International Dermatological Clinic.

"A waterproof photoprotector indicates that it maintains its activity for a maximum of 40 minutes of immersion . A 'waterproof' maintains it for 80 minutes . Still, it must be replicated after swimming, filling with sand, sweating and even drying with a towel "adds Dias de Caupe Brazil.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD WE APPLY IT?

At least every two hours . "If our skin is very sensitive, if we burn easily, if we spend a lot of time in the water and if we use a small amount in each application (which is normal), it is better to repeat the application every hour, at least in the middle of summer and in hours of high sun, insisting that in the midday environment it is better to seek shade in any case, "says Pizarro.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT ONE?

The main thing is to choose "a reliable brand in terms of its effectiveness and a sunscreen that protects us against ultraviolet A and B, " advises Pizarro.

Based on this, we must also choose "a product that is comfortable for us to apply and is well suited to our skin type."

In this sense, this expert advises to attend, above all, to three questions: " Age (in children, it is always better to choose children's sunscreens); the skin area , particularly on the face, is always better to apply sun creams designed for it, with the added nuance of whether we have dry skin or oily and acneic skin, and lastly, whether we prefer chemical or physical filters . "

The latter, he explains, are "safer, hardly absorbed, rarely irritate the skin, and have a longer lasting effect." In return, they are "denser and spread worse."

Today the leading photoprotection laboratories offer very wide ranges to choose from. This facilitates a more personalized choice, but sometimes the user does not know what to choose among so many options. The dermatologist and the pharmacist can advise us.

Does the body serve for the face? "You can use it, the only thing on the face we usually prefer lighter textures. For a daily routine or day to day (in the city, for example), we can use a moisturizer with SPF. At the beach or the pool, instead, it is better to use only ad hoc sunscreens for these situations ", indicates Elisabeth San Gregorio, technical director of Medik8.

WHAT IF I SPORT?

There are some sunscreens specially designed for athletes, although "it depends on the type of sport, whether the problem is water, sweat, the presence of snow in the environment, etc," says Pizarro.

In summer, apart from the water already mentioned, "the drag effect of the face on the face is usually worrying and there are products designed to minimize it". Still, better not trust yourself. "If you sweat a lot and you dry that sweat with a towel, for example, you should reapply the product with some frequency."

Brands like Decathlon, in addition to specific solar for sports, which block up to 100% of UV rays, are committed to textiles, such as anti-UV solar shirts that filter 98% ultraviolet radiation, even wet.

SUPERMARKET OR PHARMACY?

Pizarro clarifies that "the quality of a product is independent of the point of sale. However, we can discuss whether sunscreens are a simple cosmetic or a true medicine , in which case it would be more logical to preferably sell them in pharmacies."

Without a doubt, for people with photosensitivity problems or at high risk of skin cancer they are in practice "like a medicine and it is very important to choose and use them well."

The pharmacy in this sense may have some advantages: "The dermatologist is usually more familiar with the products intended to be distributed in pharmacies and the pharmacist himself can offer better advice to the client in case of doubt in the choice."

Finally, Dr. Pizarro recalls that "sun creams do their job, but they do not give us absolute protection and they are not without some potential or real drawbacks." Therefore, he continues, they should always be used as " a complement to other sun protection measures, such as the search for shade and protection with clothing and caps or hats ."

The ideal is "not to abuse the solar exhibition in any case" and to resort to "some or other forms of solar protection depending on the circumstances, always using them with common sense".

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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