UV rays and the effect on your skin microbiome
Do you long for the warmth of the sun on your skin and would prefer to spend the whole day outside? We understand completely! But before you expose yourself to the sun, there are a few things to consider to protect your health! UV rays can affect the skin microbiome.
Excessive sun exposure can kill off good microbes on the skin, disrupting the balance of the microbiome. This can lead to a change in the composition of the microbiome, which in turn can contribute to the skin becoming more susceptible to infection and inflammation.
Additionally, UV radiation can also contribute to the formation of free radicals that can further affect the microbiome, so it is important to protect yourself from excessive sun exposure by using things like a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen with a high UV protection factor.
7 Sun Protection Tips: What You Should Pay Attention To
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Choose a day cream with SPF that suits your skin type.
Mineral UV filters such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide provide safe protection from UV rays. Chemical filters can cause allergies and penetrate the skin. Mineral creams reflect the sun's rays and provide immediate protection, but need to be applied more frequently. Oil-free, alcohol-free, non-comedogenic, mattifying mineral sunscreen is ideal for oily skin. Soothing ingredients such as chamomile extract are suitable for sensitive skin.
Our tip: Sunscreens for babies offer additional protection for sensitive skin. Use plenty of sunscreen and care for dry skin with aloe vera extract or glycerin. Moisturizing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin C or E are important for mature skin.
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Don’t forget UVA protection:
UVB rays are mainly responsible for sunburn. The SPF indicated on sunscreens mainly indicates protection against UVB rays. However, a good sunscreen should also promise protection against UVA rays. These penetrate deep into the skin and accelerate the skin aging process. Excessive exposure can also cause skin cancer.
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2g sunscreen:
About 2g of sunscreen should be applied to the face and neck. The SPF stated on the packaging is adjusted in the laboratory for amounts of 2mg/cm2 of skin. If you only use half of that, it is as if you were only using half the SPF, if at all. In theory, this means that if you use an SPF of 50, you can stay in the sun fifty times longer than without sunscreen. However, the sun protection is reduced by things like swimming and sweating. So reapply the cream approximately every 2 hours.
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Read the ingredients carefully:
Mineral UV filters such as zinc oxide and titanium oxide are safe and well tolerated, but can leave a white film on the skin. The ingredients of chemical UV filters should be checked carefully, as some can enter the body through the skin. For example, benzophenone-3, benzophenone-4, benzophenone-5, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, homosalate, octocrylene or octyl methoxycinnamate. Perfume-free sun creams are important to avoid phototoxic reactions and, in the long term, sun allergy. Active ingredients such as vitamins and antioxidants such as vitamin E, C and Q10 can fight off free radicals and help the skin to repair itself and are therefore welcome active ingredients in our creams!
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Speaking of ingredients:
Octocrylene is an ingredient found in many sunscreens. It helps protect our skin from the harmful effects of UV radiation.
However, octocrylene can produce a substance called benzophenone. This happens through a specific chemical process. Interestingly, research shows that up to 70% of the benzophenone in these sunscreens can enter our bodies through the skin.
In a study of 16 sunscreens from various well-known brands, benzophenone was found to be detectable even before the creams were subjected to a simulated aging process. After this process, which corresponds to about a year, the amount of benzophenone in the sunscreens and day creams had increased significantly. This is important because the question of whether benzophenone can cause cancer is still being investigated. There are some studies that suggest that it may be carcinogenic.So if you are concerned about the potential risks of octocrylene, there are alternatives. There are sunscreens on the market that are labeled "reef safe" or "mineral" that instead use the aforementioned zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to protect the skin from UV radiation. These substances are physical filters that reflect the sun's rays instead of absorbing them like chemical filters, and they do not contain octocrylene.
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Don’t forget to take a break from the sun:
The process of fighting off free radicals is stressful for the skin. So take a break from lying in the blazing sun. This is also particularly helpful when it comes to avoiding sun allergy. Even those who feel more comfortable with a tan should sit in the shade from time to time, as the tan sets in after just a few minutes of sunbathing. It only takes 15 minutes for the skin to be so stressed by the sun that it tans more slowly.
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After-Sun:
No UV filter offers absolute protection. After a day in the sun, the skin is damaged and usually very dry. Therefore, moisture is extremely important for the skin after sunbathing. As already mentioned, vitamin E and Q10 are good radical scavengers. However, an after-sun cream should contain dexpanthenol, as well as vitamin C and A, to repair and regenerate the damage caused to the skin. You can also easily make your own after-sun products. For example, you can use curd or yoghurt as a mask and remove it before it dries. Using aloe vera is also an effective method, as it is cooling, moisturizing and anti-inflammatory.
In short
UV rays can affect the skin microbiome because the rays can damage the DNA of skin cells and cause inflammation. This can cause harmful bacteria to outnumber beneficial bacteria and affect the skin microbiome. Overexposure to UV rays can also contribute to a change in the pH of the skin, which can encourage the growth of harmful bacteria. It is important to protect your skin from excessive UV radiation. This can help maintain the skin microbiome and promote its health.
It's also always a good idea to consult a dermatologist or pharmacist for advice on safe and effective sunscreens that suit your skin type and specific needs. Finally, remember that sunscreen is just one of many measures you can take to protect yourself from UV radiation - protective clothing, hats and shade are also very important, especially during the hottest hours of the day.
