• José Ginestar, scientific director of Sisley: "We should not lather our whole body in the shower more than two or three times a week, it is the best for healthy skin"
  • How to care for skin and hair: the best kept secrets of dermatologist Ricardo Ruiz, one of the best in Spain

We have come a long way in sun protection since those times when, almost literally, we fried in the sun and, far from protecting ourselves, we promoted this 'frying' by applying carrot oil, Nivea with Mercromina and other concoctions that had not seen the SPF or in paint.

Today, according to the data of the "VII Heliocare report of habits in the sun" carried out annually by Cantabria Labs laboratories, hope exists: in the last five years the population that uses sunscreen all year round has increased by almost 50% and 30% does so with SPF 50 or more. However, there is still much to be done in this area, since in Spain 7,474 new cases of melanoma were diagnosed – according to "The Cancer Figures in Spain 2022", prepared by the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology.

Therefore, and although the data of protection against the sun improve every year -finally it seems that it is sinking in that the antiaging cosmetic (and not) most recommended by dermatologists and scientists is precisely a sunscreen, 365 days a year-, we must not lower our guard before some consequences, those of UV rays 'taken' without precaution, that go through not only premature skin aging, but also the possibility that "40% of Spaniards will suffer from skin cancer throughout our lives", according to dermatologist Ricardo Ruiz.

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What do we still suspend in front of the sun?

In the face of good figures and increased awareness year after year, much remains to be done. For years, sun prevention campaigns have been carried out, repeating the same messages: do not expose yourself to the sun between 11 am and 17 pm, apply sunscreen every 2 hours, protect yourself with clothes, glasses or caps ... but are these messages heard and respected?

This is what the Pierre Fabre and Avène cosmetic laboratories are asking, which since 2021 have been carrying out the SAFE study -Sunscreen Assessment Family Experience-, an international project whose objective is to know the photoprotection habits in the population and their level of knowledge about the dangers of the sun.

This year's SAFE focuses on child photoprotection, a pending and fundamental account, since between 50 and 80% of the accumulated exposure occurs during early childhood and "dermatologists know that the history of having suffered sunburn as children is one of the main risk factors for the development of skin cancer such as melanoma ", declares Dr. Alba Crespo, 'medical advisor' of Pierre Fabre.

In addition to this point, it seems that Spaniards still fail in some issues related to sun protection, errors in which we fall summer after summer (and year after year, that protection, we insist, is a matter of the whole year) since, as observed by the SAFE study, we live with a series of myths to demolish to approve with grade.

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Mistake nº1: when there is no sun, you do not have to protect yourself

This is one of the biggest errors detected by the SAFE report. It is widespread among the population the belief that clouds protect from the sun and that is false: UV rays and blue light pass through clouds by 90%. Therefore, no matter how cloudy it is, do not trust: sun protection before leaving home.

Mistake nº2: protection is only for the summer

We talk about sunscreens in summer, everyone: media, experts... as a basic in the spring and summer months. It is true that on the beach and pool the sun risk lurks more, always outdoors, which does not mean that in autumn and winter, walks on the street or excursions through, you have to lower your guard.

According to the latest report by Cantabria Labs, the number of those who protect themselves during all months of the year has increased by 50% in the last five years – since 2018, people who protect themselves for twelve months has risen from 12 to 60%.

Women take it more strictly than young people. Dermatologists, such as Ricardo Ruiz, insist that sunscreens are part of the basic anti-aging beauty routine: "Do not spend too much on creams, our anti-aging formula for both men and women is based on combining antioxidants such as vitamin C in the morning and then applying the sunscreen."

But not only antiaging live solar, and José Ginestar, scientific director of Sisley, emphasizes the preventive importance of cosmetics (all year round): "My daughters, from 14 or 15 years old, use moisturizer, to prevent subsequent problems, wrinkles ... And, of course, sunscreens."

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Mistake nº3: I already have colorcito, I no longer protect myself

Another great myth that experts banish and that they have highlighted as a common mistake in the SAFE report. "If I'm already tanned, I don't need to use sunscreen," many believe, when the tan is a defense mechanism of the skin that is activated to try to combat the damage caused by the sun.

Even in brown people, some of the radiations manage to cross that skin in depth, producing multiple damages and, very often, spots and photoaging.

In fact, as Dr. Alba Crespo details, "the famous melasma is even more frequent in people of high phototypes (brunettes) and is due to ultraviolet A radiation and blue light."

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Mistake nº4: Not choosing the right SPF...

Choosing the right photoprotection cream is something we also seem to get into. Dr. Leticia Alonso, dermatologist of the Pedro Jaén Group, emphasizes that it should always cover the radiations of the rays:

  • UVB: those that produce erythema or burn, immunosuppression and possible skin cancer.
  • UVA: involved in photoaging and pigmentation, but also in carcinogenesis, which is the progressive transformation of normal cells into malignant cells.
  • IR (infrared): they represent a large part of the radiation that reaches the skin and produce inflammation and alteration of the deep dermis (photoaging).

"Ideally, the sunscreen should also cover visible light, especially in people with pigmentations such as melasma or lentigines," adds the dermatologist.

Having learned the lesson, hopefully, it is time to choose the SPF ('Sun Protection Factor) or protection index, the appropriate one will be 50 or 50+, and in no case below 30, as Alonso emphasizes.

"As the amount of product used in the studies is greater than the day-to-day, in intense exposure it is better not to go below 50+. Above 50+ there may not be a clinically relevant change in protection," recommends the dermatologist.

For Dr. Ricardo Ruiz, as he defends in the book 'What your skin says about you' (The sphere of books), "creams with a factor of less than 15 should disappear from the market. It should be noted that the difference between the protection indices from 15 is minimal. 30% blocks 96.7% of radiation while 50% blocks 98%."

According to the Cantabria Labs report, we are on the right track: since 2018, 30% more people recognize using SPF 50+ photoprotection.

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Error nº5:... and being stingy with sunscreen

The amount we use when applying sunscreen is another song. If the makeup artist Roberto Siguero of Lancôme affirms that with the concealer of dark circles it is best to be stingy (the excess of product recharges the area, far from hiding it), with photoprotection it happens just the opposite, generosity is a point in favor. Not in vain dermatologists like Leticia Alonso opt to always choose an SPF 50 instead of 30 because of the issue of the amount used.

Although it is not advisable to overdo it, because excess is not good either, falling short would be a serious mistake and would lead to inadequate protection. In numerical terms, just the right amount would equate to 2mg per square centimeter, or, what is the same, "fill the palm of the hand in each application".

Dr. Ricardo Ruiz adds the importance of protecting certain areas with creams, such as ears, lips and nose, "where dermatologists operate more skin cancer."

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Mistake nº6: apply the protector just when you arrive at the beach, pool or terrace

Of course you have to 'load' with protectors in the carrycot or in the bag (the sun sticks are perfect for days with 'risk' of terrace). However, it is advisable to apply topical protection a while before exposure to UV rays, about 20 minutes before (before leaving home they would be ideal), at least if it is "biological filters, which absorb solar radiation if they need that time to act, "says Dr. José Vicente Lajo Plaza, of Lajo Plaza Medical Center.

"However, there are now theories that advise extending it at the beginning of exposure so that the body receives a small dose of sun that supplies the vitamin D deficiency, just 10 minutes," says the expert. And, always, reapply every two hours or when we bathe, sweat ... no matter how 'water resistant' the formula is.

Mistake nº7: I'm worth last year's sun cream

That which we have believed. Although the PAO (Period After Opening) of sunscreens is usually one year, it is more than advisable not to take advantage of one already open from one summer to another.

According to the Heliocare report by Cantabria Labs, when they ask how many solar products are consumed per year, they find that many of the respondents use those of previous years, when they must be replaced.

"Normally, sunscreen expires nine months after it is opened. It should always be stored tightly closed and in a dry place without sun exposure. In any case, if we see that it changes its appearance in color or has an unpleasant odor, it should not be used," explains Paola Gugliotta, director of Sepai and master in dermocosmetics.

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Mistake nº 8: bet everything on topical protectors

For some years now, there has been a lot of talk about combining topical protection with oral protection. As detailed from Cantabria Labs, it should not be used as a substitute for this, in fact, as recommended by experts, it should be used as a complement.

But it seems that the combination is the key, since studies argue that we usually do not make correct use of topical sunscreen (as we have listed so far).

Mistake No. 9: Thinking Sunscreen Works Miracles

To conclude, in addition to finding the protector that has all the qualities, and using it how much and how it deserves, we must not forget two more things when it comes to protecting ourselves from the sun: no matter how much we put on protection, do not abuse, better go for a while in the shade, and avoid burns above all, The most involved in the appearance of long-term diseases.

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