Summer is coming. Get out the glasses and hats! Temperatures are rising and the sun's rays are making their appearance. But don't forget that protecting your skin from the sun is essential. 

We are constantly told that exposure to the sun gives us the vitamin D our bodies need, but we should also be very responsible regarding our sun exposure. The sun's rays can have a bad effect on the skin if the exposure is irresponsible and unprotected. This can lead to premature ageing of the skin, sun allergies, dark spots, hyperpigmentation, sunstroke and even skin cancer.

How to responsibly enjoy the sun? Avoid sun exposure between 1pm and 3pm, when the rays are the most intense, wear appropriate clothing and always wear your sunscreen. 

What should we know about UV rays?

The sun's radiation is composed of five categories of rays, including ultraviolet rays. There are two major UV rays that we should know about: UVA and UVB. These rays are considered to carry the most energy, which means that they can be more harmful.

 

-        UVA Rays (A for Ageing: responsible for premature skin ageing)

These rays make up about 95% of the radiation that reaches the earth's surface and that we receive. Contrary to what one might think, they remain at the same intensity all year round. As they can penetrate the skin, it is necessary to wear sunscreen daily. UVA rays have a longer wavelength which means they can penetrate deeper into the skin.

 

-        UVB (B for Burning: responsible for tanning and sunburns)

These UV rays have a medium wavelength so they cannot penetrate beyond the superficial layers of the skin but they can provoke damage to the superficial layers and are thus responsible for sunburns, malignant melanoma, a malignant tumor of the pigment system. Most sunscreens protect against a large proportion of UVB rays, so it is essential to apply them to the skin. 

Learn your skin phototype to better protect it

Before buying a sunscreen, it is important to know what phototype we have because every skin reacts differently to sunlight. To better categorize your skin phototype we use the Fitzpatrick Skin Phototype Classification as a well known reference. Developed in 1975 by Dr Thomas Fitzpatrick, this approach categorizes skin types based on the skin's pigmentation and how it responds to sun exposure. This scale might be used to predict an individual's overall risk of skin cancer and UV damage.

You may arm yourself with the tools needed to safeguard your skin once you are aware of your level of vulnerability. Continue reading to discover your Fitzpatrick skin type, the best methods for using sunscreen, and more.

You should choose the phototype that most accurately reflects your skin because it's likely that you won't fit all of the criteria for anyone. Read carefully the following categories to see which one you fit into.

 

Your skin type and what it means to you

As we already know everyone should use sunscreen every day to get the best protection. Here are some additional tips about your skin type and how to protect it that you should be aware of:

 

Types 1 and 2

Follow these recommendations to better protect your skin:

• Use sunscreen that has an SPF of at least 30.
• When you're outside, especially between 1pm and 3pm, keep your sun exposure to a minimum and look for cover.
• Put on a large hat to shield your face and head from the sun.
• Put on UV-blocking eyewear.
• If you intend to spend a lot of time in the sun, use protective clothing with a UPF rating of 30 or higher.
• Every month, examine your skin from head to toe.
• Visit a doctor for a yearly skin examination.

Types 3 to 6

If you have skin types 3 to 6, you still risk having skin damage from sun exposure. Even if your risk is smaller than people with type 1 or type 2 skin, you should still wear sunscreen.

Follow these recommendations for the best protection possible:

• Reduce the amount of time you spend in the sun.
• Put on a big hat to shield your face and head from the sun.
• Put on UV-blocking eyewear.
• If you intend to spend a lot of time in the sun, wear protective apparel.
• Put on sunscreen that has an SPF of at least 15.
• Every month, examine your skin from head to toe. Keep a close eye out for any odd growths. The most common type of melanoma in those with darker skin is acral lentiginous melanoma. It manifests in areas of the body that are rarely exposed to sunlight. Make sure you check every part of your body because it's sometimes not discovered until the cancer has spread.
• Visit a doctor for a yearly skin examination.

 

What are the added benefits of using CBD in suncare

UVA and UVB damage caused by sun exposure triggers ongoing protein synthesis, which results in an excessive development of immature and defective molecules that makes your skin unbalanced and accelerate skin ageing. CBD is shown to inhibit UV-induced expression of those proteins.

Studies demonstrate that CBD has a number of beneficial behaviors that encourage skin cells to protect themselves against UVA and UVB radiation's damaging effects. This includes controlling enzyme function through structural alteration, protein biosynthesis and degradation regulation and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action.

Make sure that you replenish your skin with the right ingredients and benefit from its wonders. To take good care of your skin, after your responsible sun exposure, you might want some extra nourishment and repairing treatments. There is no better choice than applying a face oil like Huile Précieuse which will lock the water inside your skin for long-term hydration, and repair the possible UVA and UVB damage that you might be exposed to due to CBD action. You can learn more about how to incorporate Huile Précieuse in your skincare routine here.

So what do we have to offer?

At Sowé we suggest Huile Précieuse, a range of six 100% natural facial oils, composed of a blend of nine botanical oils and 500mg of cannabidiol. These oils have many benefits, protective, soothing, nourishing, regenerative and anti-inflammatory. Each composition has been carefully created to suit each skin type and you can find the oil that best suits your needs through a simple test. A little extra: our oils are unscented but we offer you the possibility of perfuming your oil with our essential oil blends for those looking for a more sensory experience.

 

We also recommend Sowé CBD Oil, a mixture of cannabidiol and organic hemp oil that can be used both internally and externally. You can apply a few drops directly to your skin or incorporate it into a cream that you will apply afterwards.

 

So what are you waiting for? It's time to make an order.

 

The Sowé team wishes you a good summer and happy holidays.

 

 

 

 

Sources :

1. Fors M, González P, Viada C, Falcon K, Palacios S. Validity of the Fitzpatrick Skin Phototype Classification in Ecuador. Adv Skin Wound Care. 2020 Dec;33(12):1-5. 
2. Gęgotek A, Atalay S, Rogowska-Wrzesińska A, Skrzydlewska E. The Effect of Cannabidiol on UV-Induced Changes in Intracellular Signaling of 3D-Cultured Skin Keratinocytes. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Feb 2;22(3):1501