May. 02, 2020

Myths about your skin and sun protection

We all feel a lot happier when the sun is out. Not all that surprising because scientific studies have shown that sunlight has a positive effect on your health. More even, our body needs sunlight. Unfortunately, the sun can also cause serious damage to your skin. Below you’ll find a few myths about skin & sun. Nomige will be happy to debunk or confirm them for you.

Myths about your skin and the sun

CAN MY SKIN BURN THROUGH GLASS?

To answer this question we must explain the difference between UVA and UVB rays. Glass only blocks UVB rays. Around 50% of UVA rays penetrate glass. Although UVB rays are the primary cause of sunburn UVA may also be a contributing factor. So in actual fact it is possible to get mild sunburn or a tan behind glass. Of course this means you’d have to spend a long time behind glass for this to happen. In addition to pigmentation UVA is also a key factor in premature skin aging and skin cancer. Behind glass may be safer than direct exposure to sunlight but it’s not entirely safe so protect your skin against the sun, even behind glass. Read our blog ‘What do you know about sun protection’ for more details on the different kinds of radiation and UV protection.

CAN GETTING SUNBURNED JUST ONCE CAUSE PERMANENT DAMAGE TO MY SKIN?

Unfortunately the answer to that question is ‘yes’. Skin burned by the sun or a tanning bed is permanently damaged. Every time your skin gets burned, skin cells are damaged and the body has to repair that damage. The more often and deeper the skin gets burned, the more serious the damage and the bigger the risk the damage cannot be repaired successfully. These damaged cells are a type of scars deep in the skin which, in the long run, may give rise to skin cancer.

THE HIGHER THE SUN PROTECTION FACTOR OF MY CREAM, THE MILDER MY TAN?

Just like the skin ageing process, the way in which we tan is also determined by our genes. Depending on skin type some people will tan quicker and more deeply than others. In other words, the depth of your tan is determined by your genes and in no way depends on your sunscreen. The higher the SPF factor of your sunscreen, the longer you can stay out in the sun before you start to burn. While you will tan slightly slower when using sunscreen with a high SPF factor, using a lower SPF factor will definitely not help to deepen your tan.

I'M TANNED ALREADY SO DO I NEED TO APPLY SUNSCREEN?

Research has shown that the tanned skin of Caucasian people equals no more than SPF 5. So despite the brown colour the skin may still burn and suffer DNA damage. This means the risk of skin cancer and skin ageing is still present. Moreover, small tumours on the skin can be harder to detect on tanned skin so the diagnosis often comes too late. So always be careful even if you do have tanned skin.

I DON'T TAN WHEN I USE SUNSCREEN

Sunscreen slows down the tanning process, but it certainly doesn't stop it. No SPF factor is sufficient to stop the tanning process entirely so don’t panic. Even when you use SPF 50 your skin is still able to produce pigment. Pigment in skin is the result of melanin production by the pigment cells. Melanin is not only responsible for a suntanned skin, it also offers protection against the sun’s UV rays. When we don’t protect our skin with sunscreen the pigment cells won’t have the opportunity to produce melanin. This results in red and burnt skin that no longer builds protection. So it’s best to take it slow and protect your skin with sunscreen. This allows for a more gradual melanin production so your skin is healthier and gets a more even tan.

DOES THE SUN ALSO HAVE A POSITIVE EFFECT ON OUR BODY?

Sun exposure can cause quite a bit of damage. However, the sun also has positive effects on our body. For instance, UV radiation boosts the production of vitamin D in our body. Vitamin D builds strong bones and can help prevent osteoporosis. In addition, vitamin D also keeps our teeth and body healthy. Just 15 to 30 minutes of sunlight a day is all it takes. Another important and positive effect of sun exposure is the fact that it lowers the risk of depression. The sun has an undeniable feel-good effect. The warmth of the sun stimulates the production of endorphins, one of our happiness hormones. Don’t the first rays of sun after a long cold winter bring a smile to your face?