What you didn’t know about skin and sun

The sun can be our best friend, and our worst enemy. In addition to sunburn, all the latest dermatological knowledge shows that it impacts our skin all year round and can be responsible for skin aging, pigmentation and long-term damage. Even if the sun makes us happy if it kisses our face, especially after months of lockdown, not enough people are aware of it and adopt correct behavior in exposure.
La Roche-Posay, brand partner of dermatologists and pediatricians around the world, hosted an event on June 10th Dermlive world dedicated to sun protection. As a brand committed to skin health and a pioneer in sun protection for 27 years with its Anthelios range that protects the skin, the brand has set itself 3 goals: to raise awareness of all the effects of the sun on the skin, to share the latest dermatological knowledge and solutions to help people better protect themselves. Here we have listed some information about the sun that not everyone knows.

1. 95% of the UV rays that reach the Earth are UVA. Unlike UVBs responsible for sunburn, UVAs are responsible for premature skin aging, hyperpigmentation and DNA damage2.
2. 365 days a year: UVA are present all year round and can pass through clouds and windows
3. 80% of the signs of aging (pigmentation and wrinkles) are due to exposure to UV rays3
4. 20 times: the skin is exposed about 20 times more to UVA rays than to UVB rays.
5. Only 28% in Europe use sunscreen products every day, 38% in the US and 52% in China, which demonstrates the need for education in product application and protection
6. 5 or more cases of sunburn in childhood and adolescence = 80% increased risk of skin cancer.
7. 50%: Annual cases of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, have increased by nearly 50% over the past decade.
8. 99% of melanomas are treatable if detected over time.

Here are some tricks to enjoy the sun without causing damage. In an interview with Prof Sergio Noviello, Health Director of the Sergio Noviello Cosmetic Surgery & BAT Center, we have collected the necessary gestures to guarantee protection and hydration to some sensitive parts of the body.

Lip – The mouth covered for months and stressed by the use of masks, needs to be properly hydrated and protected from the sun to avoid the possible appearance of herpes due to excessive and sudden exposure to UVB rays (it is estimated that in Italy every year there are about 10 million relapses of cold sores). Whether or not you suffer from herpes, the use of protective creams before and during exposure to the sun will prevent any recurrence or dehydrate the skin of the lips whose horny layer is much thinner – and therefore more sensitive – than that of other areas of the face. The application of the protection (better SPF 30 especially in the mountains where the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays are even more powerful) must be repeated several times during the day. Choose nourishing balms based on Vitamin C, Bisabolol, Beta Glucans, Olive Oil, Sunflower Oil, Lemon Balm.

Hands – To keep them beautiful and young for a long time, let’s protect them with sunscreen for the body and dedicate a little attention to them every evening that also enhances the manicure. The hands are one of the parts of the body most exposed and subject to the signs of photoaging and chronoaging. Frequent washing, alcohol-based sanitizing gels, sun, chlorine can dry out the skin and make it more vulnerable to the appearance of sun spots and irregularities, aging even younger hands. To nourish them and keep them toned and seductive every night before going to sleep, it may be useful to make compresses by applying a generous dose of cream with nourishing and reparative function with rose hip or olive oil. Allow to absorb slightly and wear light cotton gloves.

Semi-permanent make-up and tattoos – To preserve them over time, some important precautions must be followed. The sun tends to dehydrate the skin leading to the loss of luster of the tattoo colors, fading the contours and making the design less defined. A fundamental aspect in the case of the increasingly widespread permanent make-up, a solution that requires some extra attention when exposed to the sun, both for the risks to the health of the skin and for the good maintenance of the tattoo over time that must be protected especially in initial phase. Before exposing yourself to the sun (or making lamps) you should wait at least 4-6 weeks from its realization, then it is possible to sunbathe, but it is advisable to use sunscreens with very high protective factors such as creams with spf 50+, now also available factors 100+. It is important to reapply the lotion every 2-3 hours to keep the skin protected and avoid allergic reactions or phototoxic effects due for example to the use of certain dyes or additives used in the creation of some shades.

EVEN A SOLAR CAN SAVE THE PLANET
Approximately 8 million tons of waste are abandoned on beaches every year and ends up in
seas, 70% of these are plastic. By 2030, world plastics production is expected to increase by 40% if concrete reduction actions are not taken. Collistar, part of Bolton Group, has this important issue at heart and is engaged in a process of redesigning its packaging from an eco-design perspective, according to criteria of use of recycled plastic material, recyclability and reusability. In fact, the new Solari line includes 100% recycled plastic bottles that are now even lighter and more recyclable.
Thanks to these new packaging Collistar has avoided adding 3.32 tons of new plastic to the planet, equal to about 270 thousand bottles of water. This commitment involves other products such as the best-selling Talasso-Scrub, whose jars are made of 100% recycled and recyclable plastic, and aims to embrace an ever-increasing number of references. Many artists are trying to raise awareness of a more ethical and conscious use of these materials. On the occasion of the Plastic Free July, Collistar interviewed Enrica Borghi – a multifaceted artist who has been creating works of art for almost thirty years by investigating the themes of reuse – who uses waste materials as the main elements of his works to raise awareness on two important issues: waste and the role of woman in today’s society.