The protection of sunscreens
The essential role of sunscreens is to protect against UVA and UVB,responsible for sunburn, skin aging, and cancers. Each sunscreen has an IP protection index,more precisely called Sunburn Protection Factor (SPF), reported very distinctly on sunscreens. The meaning of the SPF is the divisional factor of UV exposure: an index of 20 means that the protected skin receives 20 times less UV than the same unprotected exposed skin.
The value of the indices
With an index included:
– between 0 and 4,it is considered that the cream does not provide any protection.
– between 6 and 10,the protection is low
– between 15 and 20,the protection is average
– between 30 and 50,the protection is high
– beyond 50,the protection is very high,or called total screen.
What clue for what type of skin, depending on the sunshine
Very light skin and children | Light Skins | Matte Skin | Very Matte Skins | |
Sunshine Very strong | 50+ | 50 | 30 | 20 |
Strong sunshine | 50 | 30 | 20 | 10 |
Moderate sunshine | 30 | 20 | 10 | 6 to 10 |
Low sunshine | 30 | 20 | 6 to 10 | 6 to 10 |
Some additional tips
Use sunscreen does not prevent sunbathing, on the contrary. The final tan will only be more beautiful and durable,because the sunscreen protects from burns and peeling. Tanning will therefore be more progressive, more uniform, and less dangerous for the skin.
When the lips are exposed to the sun's rays, they can germinate,especially when they are also exposed to extreme cold and wind in high mountains. It is therefore important to protect them, like the skin, with the help ofa lip stick.
In the mountains,the intensity of the solar rays increase by 12% every 1000 meters and the snow reflects 5 times more UV than the sand of the beach. It is therefore necessary to use products specific to the mountains; note that the "anti-cold" formulas provide long and long-lasting hydration,with protection against cold and extreme winds.
Beware of clouds! A slight cloud cover allows up to 80% of the UV radiationto pass through.
The shelf life of a sunscreen bottle is indicated by a logo,which indicates the number of months of validity of the product, after opening the bottle.
Some tips
Many cheap sunglasses can be a real danger to our eyes if we do not pay attention to the degree of sun protection they offer.
Indeed, although the tint of the lenses limits glare, they are often ineffective when it comes to UV filtration. Also, in order not to risk damaging your eyesight or burning your skin,some checks are necessary when buying the model.
- Buy only glasses with an indelible CE marking (preferably delivered with a notice in French).
- Choose a protection index at least equal to 3 in summer. Use index 4 goggles in high mountains, boats or warm countries.
- Prefer enveloping forms with wide branches that cover the eyes, eyelids and eye contour (especially in case of reverberation phenomenon).
- For children, choose a model of index 3 or 4, giving preference to glasses equipped with organic lenses and a cover protecting the eye area.
Good to know: contact lenses usually have a UV filter that effectively protects the eye from UV. However, during prolonged exposure to intense radiation, it is advisable to dress in a pair of glasses in order to protect the eyes and skin.
Glasses and treatments
The types of glasses. The so-called"mineral"glass is more resistant to scratches while the"tempered"glass is designed not to break during a shock.
Aimed at children and the most clumsy among us,"organic"(plastic) glasses are both light and almost unbreakable.
Glass treatments
- Polarizing treatment: it reduces reverberation and glare. It is especially useful in the mountains or for driving in direct sunlight.
- Anti-glare treatment: it decreases the reflection of light towards the eyes. It improves visual comfort for driving in the summer.
- Anti-scratch treatment. It strengthens the resistance of the glasses to friction. It can be of interest to athletes, globetrotters.
choose your glasses well
Here are the three main criteria to help you choose your sunglasses:
The risks of UV rays (ultravilolets). When a person is exposed to sunlight without protection, the light rays reaching the eye can cause, when they are powerful and numerous, a burn of the eyelid and inflammation of the conjunctiva (membrane lining the eye) or edema of the cornea (transparent part of the eyeball).
Medical studies also show that the sun's rays increase in the long term, the risk of contracting cataracts (clouding of the lens causing blurred vision) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
In snowy environment or near the sea, the risk of injury is increased by reverberation phenomena. Altitude alsoincreases the harmful effects of the sun because the atmosphere allows a greater amount of rays to pass to the eye.
In case of exposure to this type of intense radiation, an unprotected individual then risks Photokeratitis,also called snow blindness. It causes momentary blindness and sometimes irreversible damage to the eyeball (irritation, tingling and chronic tearing…).
The protective index of the glasses. When you are about to buy sunglasses, it is imperative to check that they bear the words "CE". This indelible marking usually inscribed inside the frame, concretely means that they filter the sun's rays. However, only theprotection index ranged from 0 to 4, allows to know exactly the degree of filtration.
For the usual situations of sunshine, category 3 offers a good level of protection, while glasses with an index of 0 to 2 will be used only in cloudy or veiled weather.
When you are in the high mountains,in the open sea or under the sun of tropical countries,it will then be better to opt for category 4models. Be careful, however, these are not recommended for driving because they can distort the perception of distances.
The tint of the glasses. As far as the color of the glasses is concerned, only the gray coloring renders the colors identically.
On the other hand, be wary of pink or blue hues that change color vision and can be dangerous for driving. The yellow hues are particularly suitable for sports practices because they offer a good perception of depths and reinforce contrasts.
As a rule, ophthalmologists advise farsighted people to wear green glasses,myopic people to wear brown glasses. In any case, you have to try them outdoors to really realize the visual comfort of each shade.
From left to right: Bioderma 50+ Sunscreen (****), Bergasol 50+ Sun Oil (****), Bergasol Sun Oil 30 and 20 (****), Bergasol Sun Care (***).