Myths and errors about sunscreen

Sunsmanship is the only care cosmetics that is necessary for every person, experts say. Moreover, there are still many errors around the use of such funds. We decided to check the most popular of them.

High SPF sunscreen provide reliable skin protection from ultraviolet radiation

Many travel sites writethat to protect from the Sun, it is necessary to use the means with SPF (Sun Protection Factor, that is, the factor of sun protection). This information You can find on Portals About cosmetics, news resources And entertaining sites. On the forums users DiscussHow effective are the means with SPF to protect against burns and the harmful effects of the sun. 

In the process of tanning on the beach, human skin is exposed to ultraviolet radiation. Rays of long -wave (UVA) and mid -volume (UVB) ranges can affect human health. There is also a short -wave ultraviolet type C, but it is completely blocked by an ozone layer and does not reach the ground. UVA more affects the premature aging of the skin and the appearance of tanning, UVB - on redness of the skin and sunburn. But both of them are harmful to health: they increase the risk of skin cancer, cause eye diseases, etc. It wrote About why sunbathing is not useful.

SPF is only responsible for protection against rays of type B, but does not protect against type A (that is, it helps to avoid burns, but does not prevent tanning). At the same time, UVB rays They make up Only 5% of ultraviolet radiation reaching the surface of the Earth, the rest - UVA. To make surethat the product protects from rays of type A, you need to look for the inscription "wide spectrum of protection" on the label (Broad Spectrum), abbreviation PPD Or a mark that the tool is effective and against UVA radiation. Some Asian manufacturers of sunscreen Mark their products, designed to protect against UVA, abbreviation PA+ (and the more advantages in this designation, the higher the degree of protection). 

In addition, often people use sunscreens incorrectly. To ensure that the product can provide maximum protection, it needs to be applied to the skin 15 minutes before leaving the house. An adult on the whole body should be used about 30 g of sunscreen. It is necessary to update it every two hours of staying in the sun and each time after you have bathed or sweated.

So the SPFs really protect the skin from the sun, if you use it correctly, but not from all types of radiation. Therefore, when choosing a sunscreen, you need to pay attention to its ability to protect from rays like A. 

Half truth

The higher the SPF level, the Effective means Protects from ultraviolet radiation

Many cosmetic brands Offer Means with SPF 80 or even SPF 100 protection factors, and some They saythat if you apply their tool with a smaller protection factor in several layers, it will be possible to achieve the same high value. The articles on the websites of online cosmetics stores are precisely such means Consult Choose those who have a very bright skin. 

SPF - This is an indicator of the effectiveness of the sunscreen. Its value is the share of the UVB-radiation causing, which affects the skin, despite the application of sunscreen. For example, SPF 20 means that 1/20 part of the radiation, which would damage unprotected skin, will reach it even after applying the product. As the SPF value increases, protection against sunburn increases. Nevertheless, it is important to understand that we are not talking about the time of staying in the sun, since solar activity at different times of the day is different - and this must be taken into account.

SPF really more efficiently protects from the sun, but only if we are talking about the means of protection factor to SPF 50. Specialists of the Environment Working Group public organization directly Not recommended Use the funds with SPF above 50. Firstly, experts believe, they create a false sense of safety, which is why people spend much more time in the sun. Secondly, they contain a high concentration of chemicals that can potentially be harmful to health. And thirdly, the difference in the degree of protection of funds with SPF 50 and SPF 100 is actually not so great. So, the former protect from 98% UVB radiation, and the latter-from 99%. At the same time, none of these funds still protects from UVA radiation if there is no appropriate marking on the package. Agree With this, experts from the Foundation for Combating skin cancer.

Therefore, for tanning on the beach or long walks under the bright sun, it is really worth choosing funds with a high protection factor, but this is true only for funds with the protection factor to SPF 50 inclusive. Higher indicators - rather, marketing move.

Half truth

In cloud weather, sunscreen are not needed

Internet users They tellLike them Charged In cloudy weather, Thinkingthat protect against sun no need. On the sites of services and answers, people Interested, is it possible to sunbathe on a cloud day. 

Up to 80% ultraviolet radiation passes Through the clouds, so burn out (or get other health problems caused by solar radiation) even in the most clear weather. Experts of the American Dermatological Association Recommend use sunscreen, even when cloudy.

To understand whether it is necessary to apply a special cream to the skin, you can check UF-index. This indicator is displayed in many standard applications with a weather forecast on popular smartphones, you can also see it on specialized sites. WHO experts claim that it is protected before going out to the street at UV Index 3 and higher.

Not true

If the skin is dark or already tanned, the sun protection is not needed

Internet users divided his own opinion The fact that people with dark skin do not need sunscreen, in the comments on articles on this topic. Some They tell About how in childhood we went all day in the sun without any protection and, having by nature a dark shade of skin, did not receive sunburn. On forums for a similar reason Consult use at the end of the vacation Means With a low protection factor (for example, SPF 6).

People with a darker skin, indeed, are less likely to burn in the sun, but this does not protect them from all other dangers that ultravioletus carries. Even the darkest skin tone Provides Protection, similar to a cream with SPF 13 protection level, which in many cases is not enough. Experts Consult Use products with SPF 30 even people with a dark shade of skin by nature.

Specialists of the Foundation for Combating skin cancer remindThat even dark -skinned ones are subject to this disease, and solar radiation is one of the risk factors. In addition, the intensive effects of sunlight provokes Premature aging - and this people with dark skin are prone to the same way as “Snow Whites”.

In general, experts in this matter are quite unanimous and advise even dark -skinned people to use sunscreen, since natural melanin is not enough. And of course, this is even more fair for just dark -skinned or slightly resigned people.

Most of the untruth

Sunscares are hazardous to health

Many media wrote about the possible harm of sunscreen ("News","Science and life" BBC, "+1"Et al.). Information that sunscreen can do more harm than benefits on sites pharmacies And shops cosmetics. On forums dedicated to children, parents DiscussWhat is more harmful to the child: the sun or sunscreen. 

In 2019, the United States Products and Drug Administration (FDA) published results research of four popular sunscreen in America. Experts found that some components (Avobenzone, Oxybenzone, Okloland and Ekamsul) are really absorbed and fall into the blood of a person, and then can negatively affect his health. True, only 24 volunteers participated in the study, so FDA experts emphasize that their results should not cause rejection of the use of sunscreens. 

Then FDA released Press releasewhere it stated that only two of the 16 most common active active substances in sunscreens can be recognized as guaranteed safe: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. At the same time, the department does not claim that all other substances are dangerous, but their effect on the body must be studied more intently.

ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP declaresthat some of the components used in sunscreen can be dangerous - they can cause hormonal failures, allergic reactions and other problems. And those very substances recognized by FDA are safe can be carcinogenic when inhaling, and this is more than possible in the process of applying funds, especially produced in sprays format.

Thus, there is no reason to say that sunscreen are directly harmful. Nevertheless, some components can really be potentially dangerous, but to say for sure, additional studies are needed. In addition, as already It wrote “Verified”, there are some reason to believe that individual components of sunscreen may not be harmful to a person, but to nature - to destroy coral reefs.

This is not for sure

What do our verdicts mean?

Photo on the cover: Kindel Media, pexels.com

Read on the topic:

1. Is it true that the effect of sunlight is good for health?
2. Is it true that sunscreen destroy coral reefs?
3. Is it true that ultraviolet lamps for manicure increase the risk of getting skin cancer?