A Guide to Keeping Your Skin Safe In the Sun
Be smart like Bond and cover up in between tanning breaks. Image: Dr. No, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Of all the tests life hurls at you, few will harden your mettle like your relationship with the sun.
There is no bond is more “on-again, off-again” than this, only in this context, the sun will never need you.
Veer too close, get attached, and you’ll literally burn. On the other hand, stay away from the sun — like some weird recluse — and your immune system pays the penance. It’s a delicate line to strut for anyone who exists, basically. Again, unless you dwell in a cave, you’re going to be in touch with our bearer of light. And all powerful, she is. So much so, in fact, that she’ll make you old fast. But that’s only if you’re not careful.
While facing the sun and living long isn’t quite a feat in our modern age, it’s not a game one wants to play, either. Are you in construction? How about landscaping? Or maybe you’re just booking a six-month trip someplace hot to get away from this hell. If you’ve answered “yes” to any of those, you’ll want to play close attention and heed our tips on managing your relationship with that thing. With some help from Dr. Benjamin Barankin, our go-to, award-winning dermatologist from the Toronto Dermatology Centre, here’s how you can.
I. The Difference Between UVB Rays and UVA Rays
The sun’s rays that hit the earth’s surface are split into two basic types: UVA (or Ultraviolet A) and UVB (or Ultraviolet B), with practically no UVC — the harshest of the sun’s three types of rays — reaching us. UVA rays are the ones “known for causing aging effects, namely wrinkles,” says Dr. Barankin. “UVB rays cause more sunburns, and both actually play a role in causing skin cancer (or melanoma),” the “least common form” of skin cancer according to Aim At Melanoma Foundation.
Fact(s): “UVA rays penetrate the skin deeper than UVB rays do, and there are about 500 times more UVA rays in sunlight than UVB rays,” says Dr. Barankin. UVA rays are also what bequeaths you with your Spartan tan every summer, but really, that tan’s a defensive response from your body; When UVA rays penetrate your skin, cells called “melanocytes” start making melanin, a brown pigment responsible for tanning. Though, in actuality, melanin cares more about blocking harmful rays than turning you into Fabio. This is why in UVA-dense places like the continent of Africa, Africans evolved, over time, to become darker skinned on account of their skin having to adapt to the sun’s unrelenting rays over thousands of years.
II. Never Pick The Wrong SPF Again
Back in the day, when no one cared about holes in the sky, traditional sunscreen led the war against skin cancer, but according to Dr. Barankin, it’s all about the broad spectrum kind these days. “We should all be using broad-spectrum sunscreens, and the higher SPF the better.” Think of a higher SPF (“Sun Protection Factor”) as a proxy for UVA protection. As long as you’ve got it on, you won’t sizzle, simple as that. “You can use a lower SPF if you want,” reminds Dr. Barankin. “But in that case, it should have great UVA protectors like higher concentrations of zinc or titanium, both of which act as physical sunblocks.” Dr. Barankin also suggests checking out sunscreens with protective chemicals like Avobenzone (or “Parsol 1789” in trademarked terms) and Mexoryl, the latter of which has spawned controversy in the skincare industry for years; While Mexoryl’s been the standard in Canada and Europe since the early nineties, the U.S.’s FDA still isn’t sold on its safety. The drug regulator cites, more than anything else, the fact that these chemicals can be absorbed into the body, and they’re wary of it. But to be fair, there’s still not enough data that proves either of the two aforementioned ingredients cause real damage to people.
“Here in North America, we recommend using an SPF of 30,” says Dr. Barankin. “And it should ideally be reapplied every two to three hours, especially after swimming or sweating.” In his work regarding this matter, the doc’s found most folks just don’t put on enough SPF. “In fact, we estimate about half do, or even less,” says Dr. Barankin. “So I always say put on sunscreen as you always do, and then do it again.”
Spray or Lotion? Really, it doesn’t matter (though spray is probably the easiest if you’re in between lovers). Just make sure you’re shielded one way or another.
Bonus Tip: Keep two types of sunscreen: One for your body and a specialized one for your face. Why? Because the kinds made for your body are typically thicker in weight, and the thicker the cream, the better chances of clogging up all those precious pores on your face.
III. The Sun Hooks You Up With Vitamin D
One way the sun’s on our side is through its unique way of giving us vitamin D, your bones’ best chance at staying strong. Plus, the sun’s brand of Vitamin D is the only kind you can get without having to eat it. Here’s what happens: Once those UVB rays hit your skin, they trigger a photosynthesis process that technically produces something called “Vitamin D3” in your body. That form D3 goes through a few transformations inside your body, including your liver, before ultimately becoming what’s known as “1,25(OH)D,” or in other words, the form of Vitamin D that hooks up your bones and teeth with the density and strength thy need. According to a 2008 study released by the US National Library of Medicine — the same one to which our first link in this post takes you — “1,25 (OH)D accumulates in…the intestine, where it enhances calcium and phosphorus absorption, controlling the flow of calcium into and out of bones to regulate bone-calcium metabolism.”
Here’s Another Way The Sun’s Got You.
In this 2016 report from the University of Georgetown Medical Centre, researchers found a potential connection between sun exposure and immune system response. They noticed that our “T Cells” — the elite guard of our immune system — get working faster when in direct contact with the sun. Our T Cells don’t just kill off infections, they command and regulate your body’s entire “immune response.” Keep in mind what the researchers studied was “mouse cell culture and human blood,” not skin T Cells. But what’s of note is our skin packs a lot of T Cells, so do the math.
IV. How To Treat A Sunburn
First, stop touching or picking at it. Your back’s not a science project. Second, take a cold bath or shower; it’ll relieve a ton of pain and itchiness. But, if the itch is unbearable, “grab an over the counter hydrocortisone cream,” recommends Dr. Barankin. He also says an Aspirin or two could go along way if the pain’s bad. Third, solve things with a quality emollient that’ll cool down the burn. “After a sunburn, you need to moisturize fast as the skin gets dehydrated,” says Dr. Barankin. “There are plenty of soothing agents out there, but aloe vera is your best bet, as is anything with soy in it.” The doc also stresses steering clear of anesthetic products that end in “caine,” reason being Fourth, drink more water. And lastly, don’t let whatever’s been burned be in contact with the sun for a month. “Ideally, you’ll want to make sure of this with both the right clothes and a good sunblock,” says Dr. Barankin.
V. Don’t Be An Idiot
Safety isn’t a science, and you’re not a hero, so keep your bond with the sun on an even keel.
The sun’s rays good for you in moderate doses, and we all know that, but once your gut starts telling you enough’s enough, get your ass inside. And when you are out there, make sure you’ve got an SPF of at least 30 on.
Unless you’re a self-masochist, in which case, hey, no one’s judging.