SPF-SUN PROTECTION FACTOR: IS IT A MYTH?

 

Sun screen, sunblock, sunburn cream, sun cream are the various names given  is a lotion, spray, gel, foam, stick or other topical product that absorbs or reflects some of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation and thus helps protect against sunburn.

 

It decreases your risk of developing skin cancer.

It keeps you looking young.

Sunscreen keeps your skin tone even.

The ozone layer is depleting.

The occurrence of skin cancer is more in European countries mainly in Scandinavian countries. Comparatively  the prevalence of skin cancer in India is on a lower scale due to presence of Eumelanin , which acts as a protective mechanism in Indian population.[found in dark skin].Eumelanin is one of the constituents of which melanin is made up of.

 

Benefits like it keeps you looking young & keeps skin tone even are important from aesthetic point of view. Especially the UV rays cause the major damage to your skin. The ozone acts as a sun shield for the earth by absorbing harmful UVB rays before they reach the ground. As the ozone layer depletes, your body needs added protection from these harmful rays which sunscreen may provide.

 

SPF: SPF measures sunscreen protection from UVB rays, the kind that cause sunburn and contribute to skin cancer. SPF does not measure how well a sunscreen will protect from UVA rays, which are also damaging and dangerous. Many studies have found that people are misled by the claims on high-SPF sunscreen bottles. They are more likely to use high-SPF products improperly and as a result may expose themselves to more harmful ultraviolet radiation than do people who rely on products with lower SPF values. People using sun screen often assume they get twice as much protection from SPF 100 sunscreen as from SPF 50. But the extra protection is negligible. Properly applied SPF 50 sunscreen blocks 98 percent of UVB rays; SPF 100 blocks 99 percent. When used correctly, sunscreen with SPF values between 30 and 50 offers adequate sunburn protection, even for people most sensitive to sunburn. [EWG-Washington]

 

SAFE INGREDIENTS: U.S.F.D.A. considers “generally recognized as safe and effective,” or GRASE.  12 ingredients which include some of the most commonly used UV filters, including oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate and avobenzone,zinc oxide & titanium dioxide.

SKIN IS THE FIRST BUSINESS CARD IN A HUMAN'S SOCIAL LIFE

EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS AGING IS A NATURAL  & INEVITABLE PROCESS. BUT FEW CAN EMBRACE IT GRACEFULLY. THE FEAR OF LOOKING OLD SOMETIMES IS SO OVERWHELMING THAT SOME PEOPLE FALL PRAY TO WRONG ADVICE  &  LAND UP IN PROBLEMS.
 

Broadly speaking anti-aging treatments fall under 4 categories. 
1. Invasive 
2.Noninvasive 
3. Cosmetics
4. Lifestyle changes

The most popular category could be cosmetics which are within reach of the majority population. The market is flooded with newer & newer anti-aging cosmetics luring individuals to use them. The promise of making you a younger-looking person is so exciting that people fall prey to these instant remedies. In most of the cases, the results are not as per the promises made or at times an individual lands up in a soup.

The gold benchmark for anti-aging cosmetics is laid down by Dr.Kligman by posing 3 questions.

• 1.      Can the active ingredient penetrate the upper layer of skin and be delivered in sufficient                 concentrations to its intended target in the skin?
• 2.       Does the active ingredient has a known specific biochemical mechanism of action in the               tissue   in  human skin?
• 3.      Are there published, statistically significant, clinical trials to substantiate the efficacy claims?

Now let us understand which cosmetics ingredients when used are measuring up to the expectations of   Dr.Kligman.

1. Retinoids: shows skin penetration which is useful for the treatment of anti-aging.

2. Niacinamide: Studies demonstrate significant penetration into human skin.

3. Soy flavones Results showed that soy can penetrate through the upper layer of the skin and            can  reach the middle level of the skin.    

The practical benefits for the individuals are       

Retinoids:      decrease fine lines & wrinkles

Niacinamide: Decreases yellowing of skin, decreases blotchiness decreases wrinkles & fine lines,                                 hyperpigmentation.

Soy flavones:  increases collagen synthesis,

Green Tea:       Decreases collagen breakdown,   Antioxidant effects inhibit harmful UV rays.