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The days when we worshipped the sun are a distant memory: in fact, if we see someone baking in the midday sun today, we usually raise an eyebrow in disapproval because, in 2019—as we all know by now—exposure to the sun’s rays can cause wrinkles, age spots, and, far more seriously, melanoma. However, the sun should not be avoided, nor should it be underestimated. Excessive sun exposure, repeated over the years, leaves indelible marks even on the most flawless skin: this is the phenomenon of photoaging, or the biological process through which the sun’s rays cause premature and profound aging of the skin, resulting in a progressive loss of elasticity and hydration.
Today, we’re certainly much better informed about the effects of the sun’s rays, but if we want to delve deeper into the issue, there’s still a lot of confusion: How much sunscreen should you apply? How often should you reapply it? What SPF (Sun Protection Factor) should you use? All skin types and tones require broad-spectrum protection, a high SPF, and regular reapplication.
All products should be applied 30 minutes before sun exposure and reapplied at least every 2 hours—and even more frequently if you go swimming or sweat excessively. The amount of sunscreen you use is also very important: to maintain the SPF indicated on the label, the recommended amount for an adult is about 30 grams per application, while people generally use less than half that amount.
It is also necessary to find the right sunscreen for your skin type, which is why it is important to know your skin type—that is, the set of individual physical characteristics (ethnicity, eye and hair color, and how easily you tan) related to the amount of melanin in your skin. Belonging to a particular phototype means having more or less melanin, and therefore more or less natural protection against the sun’s rays.
Conventionally, six skin types are identified (based on the Fitzpatrick classification), ranging from Type I—typical of people with very fair skin and light-colored eyes—to Type VI, characterized by dark skin, dark hair, and dark eyes. The lower the skin type, the greater the risk of a reaction, and therefore the higher the SPF should be; conversely, if the skin type is higher, more melanin is produced, so the skin is already physiologically better protected, and a lower SPF can be chosen.
To choose the right sunscreen, the most important factor is knowing how your skin reacts to the sun: if you tend to burn easily, a high SPF is recommended, while if you rarely—or never—burn, you can opt for a medium or low SPF.
Even when you apply a good sunscreen frequently and in the right amount, you can still get a perfect tan—safely! A sunscreen, no matter how high its SPF, does not provide total protection against UVB rays; therefore, the skin’s natural reaction to sun exposure—tanning—still occurs, albeit more gradually.
