To hide unsightly pimples, it is tempting to resort to ultraviolet rays, especially in winter.
In fact, the sun worsens acne, with the appearance of blackheads on the face, as explained on Europe 1 Annick Barbaud, head of the dermatology department at Tenon hospital in Paris.
Is it true that the sun heals acne?
This subject raises questions for many adolescents and young adults confronted with this dermatological problem.
"If this is true, can we do UV in winter to remove the buttons?" Asks Vincent, auditor of Europe 1 who lives in Évreux.
To answer him, Thursday, Mélanie Gomez and the
Sans Rendez-vous team
called on Annick Barbaud, head of the dermatology department at Tenon hospital in Paris.
On the problem of acne, the specialist describes the sun as a trompe-l'oeil ally.
According to Annick Barbaud, the sun is "acne's false friend".
"When you go to the sun or when you are exposed to UV rays, you will have an immediate impression of improvement as there will be a decrease in inflammation. Then, if you are a little tanned, we see a little less traces of acne, so we frankly have the impression that we are improving ", she explains about this double positive effect in the very short term.
Formation of comedones
But the sun affects acne in a much more profound way.
"What is happening below is much less encouraging because the ultraviolet rays will increase the thickness of the skin and increase the formation of comedones, which are blackheads", assures Annick Barbaud.
"Making UV in winter is therefore a very bad idea," she says.
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"This phenomenon of aggravation of acne by increased production of comedones will recur with UV. You risk, in the long term, triggering acne much stronger than the one you had before you were exposed to UV," says the head of the dermatology department.
When you have acne, it is therefore important to choose a non-comedogenic and non-greasy sunscreen, preferably oil-free.