Skincare Products : Sunscreen

Why do we insist so much on sun protection? Because the damage that UV rays can cause is numerous, irreversible, and often even severe: they are one of the main causes of wrinkles, cellular DNA damage, and skin cancer. So you'll understand that protecting the skin (even in winter) brings countless benefits for your health.

Sunscreens can be divided into two main categories: 

• Physical filters (or inorganic or mineral): act as a screen that reflects UV rays, preventing them from penetrating the Skin. The most commonly used ones are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. 
• Chemical filters (or organic): act by absorbing UV rays, converting them into heat and releasing them from the Skin. The most commonly used chemical filters are octocrylene, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate.

To get the maximum benefit from sunscreen, it's important to apply it correctly on clean, dry skin and reapply every two hours or after sweating or getting wet.

What are the essential things you need to remember:

• Apply it even in winter if you’re exposed to the sun;
• Apply it even when it’s cloudy but you’re outdoors: UV rays reach your skin even through clouds;
• Apply it even if you’re under an umbrella: if clouds can’t block UV rays, you can’t expect an umbrella to do it either;
• Reapply it multiple times during the day: it’s difficult (especially when wearing makeup) but it’s necessary;
• Do not use it if it has exceeded the PAO (Period After Opening, the number of months from opening indicated on the packaging after which the product should no longer be used as its properties may be altered);
• Make sure it also protects against UVA rays.

To understand whether or not to use sunscreen, it is enough to check the UV index: this is the exposure index to ultraviolet rays, a scale that measures the amount of UV rays present in the Earth's atmosphere. It is used to inform about the risks of sunburn and damage to the skin:if it is equal to or higher than 3, it is always best to protect yourself with sunscreen, as well as wearing protective clothing such as hats and sunglasses, and trying to avoid exposure to the sun during the hottest hours.