July Is UV Safety Awareness Month

DID YOU KNOW…

…that UV radiation is the leading cause of skin cancer? Furthermore, overexposure to the sun creates other complications to the eye (cataracts and macular degeneration), weakened immune system, damaged skin and premature aging (wrinkled and leathery skin) that are irreversible!

SO… WHAT KIND OF SUNSCREEN SHOULD I GO FOR?

As a minimum, you should go for SPF 30 (which protects you for 30 mins under direct sunlight) and “broad spectrum” for UVA protection, too. If you have other skin conditions, you should consider the following:

1. Acne? Select one that is “non-comedogenic.”

2. Sensitive skin? Avoid allergens.

3. Dark spots? Look for "visible and indoor light" protection.

4. Photo-sensitive? Use mineral sunscreens

SHALL I APPLY EVEN SUNSCREEN WHEN INDOORS? DO I NEED TO APPLY DAILY?

Yes and yes, visible light indoors can cause melasma and other hyper-pigmentation (dark spots and blotches). And don’t be surprised that UVA does pass through windows. The damaged caused by the sun is cumulative — even the little sun that you get while crossing the street or through windows or windshields counts builds over time.

HMM… ARE THERE ALLERGENS IN SUNSCREEN?

Typically, some products have high allergenic metals such as nickel, gold, manganese, palladium and cobalt. Metals with extremely low rates of allergic patch-test reactions are zinc, ferric chloride, and tin. Titanium, vitallium, and aluminum powder has so far not been found to cause any allergic reactions. To be safe, you may want to considertitanium or zinc oxide (also known as mineral) sunscreens.

IS THERE NUTRITION THAT PROTECTS ME AGAINST THE SUNBURN?

Polypodium leucotomas (a central American fern) is found to significantly reduces UV-induced erythema (skin redness), epidermal hyperproliferation (sunburn cell formation), DNA damage and dermal mast cell infiltration, all of which are signs and symptoms of a sunburn reaction. Furthermore, Polypodium leucotomas repairs cells that are damaged from UV rays by improving the integrity of cell membranes.

It is also found that vitamin B3 (Nicotinamide) helps increase the amount of NAD+ in the body which enhances cellular repair. 

Shop the safest suncare products here.