Mistakes we make (and you knew us) when sunbathing
Most of us act unconsciously about the risks that sun exposure poses to our health. 94% of the population only protects themselves when on vacation (on the beach or in the mountains), but not when doing outdoor activities, according to a recent study carried out by the OCU.
"Everyone has to take action and the cream is just one of them," explain the professional dermatologists at the firm Organic Sun, specializing in certified organic sunscreens. The experts clarify that, in addition to slathering ourselves with sunscreen, we should avoid exposure to the sun when it hits the hardest (during the midday hours), stay hydrated, cover ourselves with clothing and even wear a hat to protect the head. Because, far from what we may think, that tone that we take in summer is not as healthy as it seems. We debunk this and other myths about the sun with the help of a team of professionals.
tanning for the skin
Being tanned is healthy "A tan is not synonymous with health and should not be synonymous with beauty," say the experts. "It is actually a defense mechanism of the skin against ultraviolet radiation, which is an external aggression." Dermatologists explain that it is one thing to have a slight tone and quite another to go to the beach with the intention of getting a tan: “Sunburn is a very important risk factor for the development of skin cancer, whose incidence is so high due to lifestyles that lead us to expose ourselves for a long time”.
It is necessary to get a tan to synthesize vitamin D “It is false”, the professionals reply. Although it is true that the synthesis of vitamin D is obtained through exposure to the sun, "there is a time when it is no longer stimulated," they say. Precisely for this reason, it is not necessary to spend hours in the sun for our body to obtain the benefits of this compound.
Protective cream for sun exposure
You have to apply the cream at least half an hour before sunbathing. This myth is linked to the idea that sunscreen takes around 30 minutes to take effect. Something that the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology took care to deny last summer. The Association issued a statement in which it assured that "the absorption of ultraviolet radiation by the protective cream is effective from the moment of application, although it does not stabilize until minute 10". Despite this, experts recommend applying it both before leaving and when arriving at the beach or pool "to protect ourselves the time it takes to put up the umbrella and leave things."
Putting on sunscreen once a day is enough. “Photoprotection is a set of measures”, repeat dermatologists, who consider it a mistake to focus only on the cream, since “it is not the only one or the best, there are also clothes, shade and hats”. Therefore, no matter how comfortable we are when we lie down on the sand, in a hammock in a swimming pool or sitting on a terrace, we must not forget prudence and be aware that the protector is not enough: "The purpose of the photoprotector is not stay longer in the sun, but be better protected during that time”. Also, people with lighter skin tones should take extreme measures.
