Attention: 5 reasons to never skip your sunscreen

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How important is sunscreen to protect our skin? Imagine that it is Sunday, you have drunk your morning coffee and you have made all the necessary preparations for your trip to the nearest beach! You are a little late so you leave in a hurry, you reach your destination, you find parking & sunbed (if you are lucky) and where it comes time to enjoy your coffee, you remember that you never got the sunscreen that you had leaned on the kitchen counter. What are you doing; We all know why we have all done it… here we look at the 5 most important reasons why you need to borrow your girlfriend's sunscreen or even (as extreme as it sounds) get dressed again and go home to get your own!

1. Protects the skin from UV rays

There are two types of ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun - UVA and UVB. UVA rays have a constant presence all year round, even on cloudy days, penetrate deeper into the skin and are responsible for the accumulative damage that the skin suffers, such as:

  • The premature aging of the skin manifested by spots, wrinkles and the loss of its elasticity
  • Reduce the skin's defense against environmental attacks
  • Damage to skin cell DNA

UVB rays are responsible for cell mutation, redness and sunburn. They are more intense during the summer months as well as at noon (11:00 am - 3:00 pm). Both types of radiation can cause skin cancer. For this reason we must on the one hand reconcile with the idea of ​​mandatory use of sunscreen as a necessary step for the proper protection of our skin and on the other hand be careful in choosing the sunscreen product that we apply.

2. Covers every skin type & tone

Many people think that because they have darker skin tone and do not blush easily, they do not need sun protection! This is of course wrong. So even if you have more chocolate skin or happen to have the privilege of being more resistant to sunlight, you should not underestimate the risks involved. Because if you do not live in a dark cave away from the light, UV rays are literally attacking your skin right now.

3. Slows down premature skin aging

Over time, UVA rays destroy connective tissues, such as elastin and collagen, causing the skin to relax, resulting in the formation of lines and wrinkles. This makes sunscreen the number one anti-aging product! What does this mean in practice? Even if you use the most expensive terms & creams, if you are not regular in using sunscreen, you are just wasting your time and money.

4. Prevents skin discoloration

Are you used to spending endless hours sunbathing during the summer? Does the nature of your job require you to spend a lot of time under the hot midday sun? In these cases, the sunscreen should be an extension of your hand! This is because frequent and prolonged exposure to the sun leads to overproduction of melanin, causing the appearance of anything but welcome souvenirs / discolorations, such as brown spots and freckles. Regardless of aesthetic reasons, hyperpigmentation of the skin is something that needs attention as it is a warning sign that your skin is no longer able to properly defend itself against the harmful effects of UV rays.

5. Prevents the appearance of skin cancer

In addition to redness and sunburn, UVB rays are also responsible for the development of melanoma and other cancers, such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. This is because they cause damage to the DNA of cells that lead to their mutation over time. That in itself's a pretty important reason to wear your sunscreen all year round, right?

What should you pay attention to when choosing your sunscreen?

Protection Index

Sunscreen products are classified according to the protection index SPF (Sun Protection Factor). The SPF index corresponds to the level of protection of the skin under the sun. The choice of SPF depends on a number of factors such as: skin phototype, geographical area, climatic conditions, and the conditions / duration of sun exposure. Sunscreens with a high or very high protection index are recommended for sun exposure of light skin or skin with hyperchromia, photoaging or after dermatological treatments. In general, the higher the SPF, the greater the skin protection.

But beware! SPF is only for protection against UVB rays, which correspond to only 5% of the ultraviolet radiation that reaches the earth's surface! The remaining 95% of the UV radiation our body receives is UVA. Therefore, in order for a sunscreen to be effective, it must offer "broad spectrum" coverage, that is, it must protect us from both UVA and UVB rays! So the next time you look for a sunscreen, make sure you choose the right one - the one that says broad spectrum on it.

Sunscreen application

The sunscreen should be applied evenly to the skin (in abundance) taking care not to leave any area exposed 30 minutes before sun exposure. It should be applied every 2 hours, especially after swimming, sports activities, sweating or wiping with a towel. You should not forget to put sunscreen on areas such as the ears, neck, middle of the arm and toes.

Why Heliocare Sunscreen?

Because quite simply no product out there can offer you the same high level of protection as Heliocare. This is because the international pharmaceutical company Cantabria Labs, a pioneer in the research and development of innovative dermatological technologies and products, in collaboration with Harvard Medical School and international experts in the field of photoprotection, have taken sun protection one step further through Fernblock® patented technology.

The exclusive Fernblock® technology is based on the extract of the plant Polypodium Leucotomos, which grows in Central America. It is a variety of fern that for centuries, through its evolution, has acquired natural protective properties against UV rays. The extract is obtained from selected plants that are grown in privately owned plantations of Cantabria Labs, under strictly controlled conditions without the use of drugs or insecticides. The strict procedures applied, according to the highest pharmaceutical specifications, ensure the absolute safety and effectiveness of the Fernblock® ingredient, whose properties go beyond simple protection against burns and operate at 4 levels:

  • Antioxidant Action: Fernblock® has a strong anti-oxidant effect that prevents the formation of free radicals caused by UV rays.
  • Immunoprotective Action: Fernblock® has an immunoprotective effect that helps maintain the proper functioning of the skin's immune system.
  • Cell Protection DNA:: Fernblock® protects DNA from damage caused by exposure to UV rays by reducing the number of burnt cells and cellular DNA damage.
  • Skin Support System Protection: Fernblock® protects the supporting structure of the skin (skin matrix) from photoaging by reducing the damage to fibroblasts by UV radiation and preventing the formation of MMPs.

Need some help finding the perfect Heliocare sunscreen for your skin? Call us at 27210 87480 and schedule a free appointment to get to know the entire Heliocare range up close and help us choose the right one!