The more we protect ourselves from the sun in summer, the darker we get. We have all fallen into these traps!

Summer is a good season for traveling. You can appreciate different customs and cultures during your trip and leave behind your brilliant smile. But everyone must not forget to do a good job of sun protection. Some girls say that they apply sunscreen every time they travel, so why do they still get darker? Don’t think that just applying sunscreen can ensure that you will have a fair complexion and will not get darker. Here we will update your sun protection concepts and tell you the most easily overlooked misunderstandings about sun protection in summer.

Summer sun protection requires recognition of ultraviolet rays

Ultraviolet light is a type of physical optics. In addition to natural ultraviolet light, there is also artificial ultraviolet light. The natural source of ultraviolet light is the sun, and the sources of artificial ultraviolet light include arcs of various gases, such as high-pressure mercury arc, low-pressure mercury arc, and so on.

Ultraviolet rays can be divided into short-wave ultraviolet rays (UVC), medium-wave ultraviolet rays (UVB) and long-wave ultraviolet rays (UVA) according to their wavelength. Short-wave ultraviolet rays (UVC) are absorbed by the ozone layer when passing through the stratosphere at the earth's surface, and therefore cannot reach the earth's surface. Most of the ultraviolet rays (UVB) are absorbed by the skin epidermis, causing severe damage to the skin. Long-term exposure can cause symptoms such as erythema, peeling, inflammation, and may even cause skin cancer. Long-wave ultraviolet rays (UVA) are much more penetrable to the skin than medium-wave ultraviolet rays, and can act on the melanin in the epidermis, causing the skin to darken. Although long-wave ultraviolet rays will not cause skin inflammation and peeling, long-term accumulation will lead to skin aging and damage.

Six common misconceptions about sun protection

Sun protection misunderstanding 1: Does sun protection mean protecting against the sun?

Ultraviolet light is an invisible spectrum, but just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it can’t cause any harm. The ultraviolet rays in the sun exist even on cloudy and foggy days, and a lot of artificial ultraviolet rays are also threatening our skin health at all times, so don't think that sunscreen means protecting against the sun.

Sun protection misunderstanding 2: The higher the SPF of sunscreen, the better?

Some people believe that the higher the SPF of a sunscreen, the better. The better the sun protection, this is also wrong. Because sunscreen products with a higher SPF generally tend to clog pores and hinder sweating.

Sun protection misunderstanding three: Is it enough to just protect your face from the sun?

Ultraviolet rays are strong in summer, so not only the skin needs to be protected from the sun, but the eyes also need to be protected from ultraviolet rays. What will happen if your eyes are damaged by ultraviolet rays? Medical experts say that ultraviolet rays can damage the eyes and cause eye diseases such as keratitis and cataracts. Therefore, in addition to protecting your face from the sun, you should also wear a hat when going on outdoor outings, and other parts of your body exposed to the sun also need sun protection.

Sun protection misunderstanding 4: Apply sunscreen evenly?

Some people say that it’s not good to apply too little sunscreen, but I guess it’s okay for me to just apply a thick layer. In fact, it is wrong to apply sunscreen. Because applying sunscreen can easily clog pores and cause various skin problems. The correct way is to pat an appropriate amount of sunscreen on your face with your hands.

Sun protection misunderstanding 5: Can wearing a sun protection shirt protect you from the sun?

An expert in textile chemistry and dyeing and finishing engineering said that the cheap sun-protection shirts currently sold on the market are just concepts proposed by merchants and are unlikely to have any practical effect. "Except for the National Basic Safety Technical Specifications for Textile Products (GB18401) issued by the Quality Inspection Commission, there are no mandatory regulations for UV protection clothing. Consumers don't have to pay for the gimmicks of merchants." Indeed, most of the colorful and thin sun-protection shirts on the market are made of polyester and polyester fiber fabrics, and the quality is not very good. 39 Health Editor believes that summer clothes should first be loose and breathable; secondly, they should be able to quickly absorb sweat; thirdly, the fabric must be soft and comfortable.

Sun protection misunderstanding six: Can you protect yourself from the sun with a sun umbrella?

If sun protection jackets are not reliable, then sun umbrellas should be able to protect you from the sun. In fact, it is also important to choose the right sun umbrella, otherwise it will be in vain. For example, light-colored sun umbrellas made of polyester have little sun protection effect. Because polyester material itself has thermal conductivity, and the color is too light, it is easy for ultraviolet rays to pass through, which ultimately leads to poor sun protection effect.