UV rays and their effect on your skin microbiome
Do you long for the warmth of the sun on your skin and would love to spend all day outdoors? We totally understand! But before you bask in the sun, there are a few things to keep in mind to protect your health! Because UV rays can affect the skin microbiome.
Excessive sun exposure can kill beneficial microbes on the skin, disrupting the balance of the microbiome. This can lead to changes in the microbiome's composition, which in turn can make the skin more susceptible to infections and inflammation.
Additionally, UV radiation can also contribute to the formation of free radicals, which can further impair the microbiome. Therefore, it is important to protect oneself from excessive sun exposure by, for example, wearing a hat, sunglasses, and using sunscreen with a high UV protection factor.
7 sun protection tips: What you should pay attention to
- Choose a day cream with SPF that suits your skin type. Mineral UV filters like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide offer safe protection from UV rays. Chemical filters can trigger allergies and penetrate the skin. Mineral creams reflect the sun's rays and offer immediate protection, but they need to be reapplied more frequently. Oil-free, alcohol-free, non-comedogenic, mattifying mineral sunscreen is ideal for oily skin. Soothing ingredients like chamomile extract are suitable for sensitive skin.
Our tip: Sunscreens for babies offer extra protection for sensitive skin. Use sufficient 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.
- Don't forget UVA protection: UVB rays are primarily responsible for sunburn. The SPF rating on sunscreens mainly indicates protection against UVB rays. However, a good sunscreen should also offer protection against UVA rays. These penetrate deep into the skin and accelerate the skin aging process. Excessive exposure can also cause skin cancer.
- 2g sunscreen: Approximately 2g of sunscreen should be applied to the face and neck. The SPF indicated on the packaging is adjusted in the laboratory for a skin concentration of 2mg/cm². If you only use half that amount, it's as if you're only using half the SPF, if that. Theoretically, this means that if you use an SPF of 50, you can stay in the sun fifty times longer than without sunscreen. However, sun protection decreases due to activities like swimming and sweating. Therefore, reapply sunscreen approximately every two hours.
- Read the ingredients carefully: Mineral UV filters like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are safe and well-tolerated, but can leave a white cast on the skin. With chemical UV filters, the ingredients should be carefully checked, as some can be absorbed through the skin into the body. Examples include benzophenone-3, benzophenone-4, benzophenone-5, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, homosalate, octocrylene, and octyl methoxycinnamate. Fragrance-free sunscreens are important to avoid phototoxic reactions and, consequently, sun allergies.Active ingredients such as vitamins and antioxidants, like vitamins E, C and Q10, can ward off free radicals and help the skin to repair itself, and are therefore welcome ingredients in our creams!
- Speaking of ingredients: Octocrylene is an ingredient found in many sunscreens. It helps protect our skin from the harmful effects of UV radiation.
Octocrylene can, however, produce a substance called benzophenone. This occurs through a specific chemical process. Interestingly, research shows that up to 70% of the benzophenone in these sunscreens can be absorbed through the skin and into our bodies.
A study of 16 sunscreens from various well-known brands found that benzophenone was already detectable before the creams were subjected to a simulated aging process. After this process, which lasted approximately one 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 under investigation. Some studies suggest that it may be carcinogenic. ist.Wenn If you're concerned about the potential risks of octocrylene, there are alternatives. There are sunscreens on the market labeled "reef safe" or "mineral" that use zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to protect 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.
- Don't forget to take a break in the sun: The process of fighting off free radicals is taxing on the skin. Therefore, take breaks when lying in the blazing sun. This is also particularly helpful in preventing sun allergies. Even those who feel more comfortable with a tan should occasionally seek shade, as a tan develops after just a few minutes of sun exposure. It only takes about 15 minutes for the sun to stress the skin enough that it tans more slowly.
- After-sun: No UV filter offers absolute protection. After a day in the sun, skin is damaged and usually very dry. Therefore, hydration is extremely important for the skin after sunbathing. As mentioned earlier, vitamin E and Q10 are good free radical scavengers. However, an after-sun cream should contain dexpanthenol, as well as vitamins C and A, to repair and regenerate the damage to the skin. You can also easily make your own after-sun products. For example, you can use quark or yogurt as a mask and remove it before it dries. Applying aloe vera is also an effective method, as it is cooling, moisturizing, and anti-inflammatory.
In short: UV rays can disrupt the skin microbiome because they can damage the DNA of skin cells and trigger inflammation. This can lead to harmful bacteria outnumbering beneficial bacteria, thus impairing the skin microbiome. Excessive exposure to UV rays can also contribute to changes in the skin's pH balance, which in turn can promote the growth of harmful bacteria. It's important to protect your skin from excessive UV radiation. This can help maintain the skin microbiome and promote its health.
It's 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.
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