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Sun Protection Products: Choose a Safe and Effective Product!

Without the protection of clothing and effective sunscreen, prolonged exposure to the sun can be risky.

Which Sunscreen Product to Choose?

Always check the instructions on the product label!
Sun protection products (creams, gels, oils, or sprays) are cosmetic products intended to protect against the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation from the sun (UVA and UVB) when applied according to the instructions provided on the packaging.
However, it is wrong to believe that these products offer complete sun protection and allow you to stay exposed for longer. Caution should be exercised in terms of time and duration of exposure.

UVA, UVB, Make the Difference!

Tanning is a skin defense reaction that opposes a filter to the penetration of solar radiation. But this filter does not have unlimited capacity.
Solar radiation is composed, among other things, of ultraviolet B rays (UVB rays) and ultraviolet A rays (UVA rays). "Sunburn" is mainly caused by UVB rays. UVA rays are responsible for premature skin aging.
UVB rays are the main factor in skin cancer, while UVA rays play a significant role in its appearance.

Different Types of Sun Protection: Which to Choose?

There are two main categories of sun protection offered by cosmetics, depending on the nature of the filters and their mode of action; all must be expressly authorized by regulations:
•   Organic or chemical filters that act by absorbing UV radiation;
•   Mineral filters, namely titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, which act by reflecting UV rays: they do not penetrate the epidermis;
•   Organic or inorganic filters may be present in nanometric form. The [nano] mention must then be added to the name of the substance in the mandatory list of ingredients on the packaging.
•   These different filters, chemical or mineral, nano or not, can be combined by manufacturers to optimize efficiency.

Sunscreen Products, Protection Level: Read the Label!

Against UVB rays: the sun protection factor (SPF) or protection index (IP) is an essential criterion of choice. It corresponds to the delaying effect of the product in relation to sun aggression.
The product category followed by a number corresponding to the "sun protection factor (SPF)" is used to assess its effectiveness. The higher the SPF, the greater the photoprotective action.
The European Commission proposed grouping sun protection factors to keep only eight different numbers on labels. However, not all labeling has been changed, and old sun protection factors are sometimes retained.

Note: Claims like "full screen" or "total protection" should not be used. Although common, they are false because no sun product offers complete protection against ultraviolet radiation.
The European Commission defined, in its recommendation of September 22, 2006, the labeling rule for sunscreens. Taken from this recommendation, the table below specifies the correspondences between categories and sun protection factors:

Sun Protection Factors

Low protection   6-10
Medium protection   15-20-25
High protection   30-50
Very high protection    50+

Against UVA rays: check if your sunscreen has, in addition to the SPF, the UVA logo. This is the guarantee of ideal protection against ultraviolet rays.

Note: This logo is not mandatory but recommended and used by many professionals. Other mentions or indications regarding protection against UVA rays may, however, appear on the packaging.
Some "conventional" media insist on the existence of so-called controversial ingredients in sun products.
Remember that sunscreens can only contain UV filters authorized by cosmetic regulations (about thirty) because they are assessed as risk-free for human health. Exposing yourself to the sun without any protection, however, is dangerous.
Consumers are advised to read labels and inquire about the composition of the products they purchase, especially if they have special ethical or environmental requirements or a history of sensitivity to certain substances.

Usage Tips
The National Union of Dermatologists has published the 10 precautions to be taken against the harmful effects of the sun:
•   The best protection is clothing for everyone (especially children): hat, sunglasses, shirt.
•   Babies and young children should not be exposed to direct sunlight;
•   Sunburns are dangerous, especially in children;
•   Avoid direct exposure between 12:00 and 4:00 PM
•   Sun exposure should be gradual;
•   Sand, snow, water can reflect more than half of the sun's rays on your skin;
•   Your sunscreen, anti-UVB and anti-UVA, should be renewed every two hours and after each bath, regardless of its protection index;
•   Use sunscreen suitable for your skin type;
•   Sunscreen is not intended to increase the exposure time;
•   In altitude and in the tropics, it is necessary to increase the sun protection index of the product usually used.