Sunscreen and natural alternatives

The UV radiation is responsible for the vitamin D synthesis in the skin, in addition, a sunbath lifts our mood. But even in the 1930 years, one was also aware of the dangers of excessive sunlight. 1933 has already filed a patent for Drugofa GmbH, a Bayer subsidiary, for a product called Delial. The first sunscreen with UV protection filter, the first sunscreen, was born. Cremes, sprays or oils that have been rubbed against the sun during the 1980 years have become really important. Suddenly everyone spoke of the ozone hole and the sun protection factor on the various products rose rapidly.

Products with a UVA seal ensure that the UVA protection factor is at least one third of the UVB protection factor. The sun protection factor refers namely only to the protection against UVB rays, UVA radiation is often paid little attention. The UVA seal is a good guide when choosing the right sunscreen.

Invisible: UV radiation

In addition to its visible light, sunlight consists of long-wave UVA radiation, short-wave UVB radiation and UVC radiation that does not reach the earth due to the ozone layer. The UV radiation is responsible for making the skin brown. This process is a protective reaction. The epidermis contains pigment-forming cells, the melanocytes, whose brown pigment melanin protects the skin from solar radiation. If too much UVB radiation hits unprotected skin, there is an inflammatory response corresponding to burn, the sunburn. But even the long-wave UVA rays are by no means harmless. They penetrate deeper into the skin and damage the collagen of the skin, which leads to a decrease in skin elasticity and thus also to premature aging and wrinkles.

UV myths about sunscreen

Prolonged application of sunscreen prolongs the protection period?
No, the protection is not extended, but maintained. For example, anyone who gets red skin in the sun unprotected after ten minutes can stay in the sun for about five hours with the sun protection factor 30.

Do Blondes need a higher sun protection factor than dark haired?
No, because it is not the hair color that matters, but the skin type.

Once the skin is tanned, you do not get sunburn anymore?
Creaming is still indispensable. The skin never gets used to the sun permanently and does not forget sun damage.

With first redness it is sufficient to go for a few hours in the shade? No, it's already too late. A sunburn reaches its peak after around 24 hours.

The solarium helps to prevent sunburn? No, tanning beds work with UVA light. From a medical point of view, additional exposure of the skin to UV light should be avoided. This leads to premature aging of the skin. At the same time, the risk of developing skin cancer is promoted.

Sunscreen & After Sun

Most sun creams rely on a combination of physical and chemical filters. Titanium oxide or zinc oxide physical filters reflect and scatter incident UV light like tiny mirrors. Chemical filters convert the harmful UV rays into harmless energy, ie harmless infrared light or heat. In After Sun products, skin-soothing agents such as algae extracts or aloe vera are used to cool and soothe the skin after sunbathing. After 20-minute UV irradiation, damage to the genetic material of the skin cells occurs. Some after-sun products therefore contain the enzyme photolyase, which supports the skin's own repair mechanism. For some time now the trend has been towards so-called cross-over products. For example, day creams or self-tanners now have UVA and UVB filters.

Mineral sunscreen (also called physical sunscreen) is a natural alternative to traditional sun creams and sprays and also provides effective protection against UV radiation. In contrast to chemical sunscreens, the mineral products work on a different principle: natural minerals are present on the skin and reflect the incoming UV rays like a mirror the light. These natural sunscreen filters work immediately after application and are not hormone-active. The natural minerals pigments in the emulsion are also visible: Through light reflections they appear as a white shimmer, the skin is perceived whiter and duller. Getting used to it.

In conversation with Dr. Dagmar Millesi, specialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery for sun cream, sunburn & Co.

Sunburn: What happens to the skin?
Millesi: "The sun emits UV rays. These lead in the skin to the release of certain messenger substances such as histamine or interleukins. Excessive radiation causes dilation of the blood vessels, redness and swelling of the affected skin area. Itching or burning is the result. This inflammatory reaction of the skin is called sunburn. In severe sunburn, it also causes blistering and often fever, nausea, chills and vomiting. A sunburn is a burning of the skin and should be avoided at all costs. "

How does a sunscreen work?
Millesi: "Sun creams filter the UV radiation of the sun and thus extend the skin's own protection factor against UV radiation. Differences are sunscreen creams with physical or chemical functionality. The chemical UV filters penetrate into the skin after application and form a kind of inner protective film. This converts the UV rays into infrared light and thus into heat. The disadvantage is that these sun creams only after about 30 minutes act, in addition, some people react to it allergic. Physical filters do not penetrate the skin but form a protective film on the outside of the skin. As a result, the UV rays are shielded or reflected. The benefit of these sun creams is that they are well-tolerated. "

Is there also natural sunscreen?
Millesi: "The best natural sunscreen is to avoid strong sunlight. So do not expose yourself to the blazing midday sun, look for shady places and wear clothes and headgear in the sun. Also, certain oils can act as a light sunscreen, such as sesame oil, coconut oil or jojoba oil. These shield only 10-30 percent of the UV rays. But one should not forget that the sunlight fulfills important tasks in the human body. It activates the production of vitamin D, has an important influence on messenger substances, such as serotonin, and it can also positively affect the hormones. "

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