It would seem that yesterday your skin was a perfect bronze shade, like the models in swimwear advertisements, but today it has age spots or, even worse, a burn … What to do in this case and how to protect yourself from negative ultraviolet radiation – in the Woman’s Day guide …
Solar radiation can cause skin pigmentation
Ultraviolet light is dangerous not only for dehydration and premature aging of the skin, it is the main cause of the appearance of age spots. “Sunburn is, first of all, a protective reaction of the skin to the effects of solar radiation,” says Elena Eliseeva, dermatovenerologist, training manager of VICHY. “Thus, an even bronze skin tone is one side of the coin, and brown spots on the skin are a completely different, less joyful one.” Of course, people of the first color type are primarily prone to pigmentation: with very light or pinkish skin, light hair and blue or gray eyes, but spots can also appear on very dark skin. “Pigmentation also appears for other reasons: for example, as a result of changes in hormonal levels or heredity. In this case, the sun’s rays can enhance it, ”says Irina Tkachuk, training manager of the SkinCeuticals brand. But the worst thing is another thing: it is almost impossible to get rid of age spots, therefore, in order to avoid their appearance, it is necessary to protect the skin from the harmful sun in advance. And if you can’t imagine your skin without a bronze skin tone, try bronzers. By the way, many of them not only give a beautiful tone, but also have protective and caring properties.
It is also important to know that there are two types of pigmentation – superficial and deep. In the first case, spots can appear in the summer and disappear in the winter. Unfortunately, many do not pay any attention to this, thereby making a mistake. The fact is that every year the color of the spots can become brighter, and their number increase, then they can completely remain on the skin forever. Then comes the second stage – deep pigmentation.
Products with SPF-factor will help to avoid the appearance of skin pigmentation
What can you do to protect your skin from the negative effects of the sun? First of all, always (and not only in the summer on the beach!) Use products with UV factor. But remember: sunscreens and lotions have a shelf life of 12 months, so you need to change the products every year! It is important to carefully read their composition. “The best protective properties are possessed by those products, the formula of which combines such components as L-ascorbic acid (this is a water-soluble form of vitamin C), phloretin, alpha-tocopherol and ferulic acid,” says Irina Tkachuk. “Also, be sure to pay attention to the PPD indicator, which shows how many times the skin is protected from the sun,” continues Irina. The SPF factor depends on the type of your skin: the lighter it is, the higher the protective factor. But during the period of extreme solar radiation, regardless of your skin color, use products with a protection factor of at least 50!
Another point: in the summer or before a trip to hot countries, in no case should you do epilation, face cleansing, peeling, mesotherapy, otherwise you will not only provoke the appearance of pigmentation, but you can also get a serious sunburn. After these procedures, you should not appear in the sun for at least a month.
Ultraviolet light can cause sun allergies
Another negative consequence of ultraviolet radiation is the so-called solar allergy. In most cases, it bothers the owners of sensitive skin and appears as pink spots on the face and body after prolonged exposure to the sun. If you have already experienced such a skin reaction to the sun, then at the beginning of summer and especially before going to the resort, use tanning preparations (these include special creams and oils, as well as dietary supplements and vitamins). Take products for photosensitive skin with you to the beach (they must have an increased protection factor – UVA) and apply them liberally every two to three hours. If the spots appear for the first time, do not panic: try applying intensely moisturizing creams to your skin (especially good with aloe vera) and, of course, do not go outside in the active sun. If no positive changes have occurred during the day, it is better not to self-medicate and consult a doctor.
Products to help fight pigmentation
But if it is in our power to prevent the appearance of pigmentation, then, unfortunately, it is very difficult to get rid of it. Of course, you can turn to cosmetic procedures – whitening peeling, photorejuvenation. But even expensive procedures by an experienced beautician cannot give a XNUMX% guarantee of getting rid of stains.
At home, whitening serums and creams will help to restore an even tone to the skin at the first stage of pigmentation. In order to mask blemishes, take on the arsenal of foundation creams and fluids for the face and body; if the spots are small – a corrector.