How and why to protect your eyes from sunlight. Home remedy for sun protection

Hello! In this article we will tell you about sun tanning. Gone are the days when pale white skin was considered a sign of aristocratic origin. Nowadays, successful and happy ladies stand out with a beautiful, even tan.

Tanning: is it useful?

“It’s harmful to sunbathe in the sun!”, “The sun ages the skin!”, “You can get cancer by lying on the beach!”, “Sunburn only causes burns!”- We have all heard such sayings at least once. But are they as fair as is commonly believed?

Indeed, the scorching sun can cause great harm to the skin and body. If you sunbathe in moderation and follow certain rules, then sunbathing becomes a useful and enjoyable activity.

Proper tanning helps in the fight against skin diseases. So, sunbathing with psoriasis is not only possible, but even necessary. The sun's rays have a beneficial effect on the condition of the patient's skin, reducing itching and discomfort. In combination with treatment, tanning also helps get rid of diseases such as fungus, eczema, acne, etc.

In addition, tanning becomes a prevention of rickets, since during sunbathing vitamin D is actively formed in the body, which helps strengthen bone tissue and muscles.

Ultraviolet light also stimulates metabolic processes in the body. Helps improve blood circulation and endocrine activity.

Melanin - what is it?

Why do people get different tans under the same conditions? Why doesn't my skin tan in the sun? Why can't I tan in the sun before? It's all about melanin. It is responsible for our eye, hair and skin color. In addition, melanin plays a protective function, protecting the skin from sun damage. Accordingly, the more melanin, the darker the skin and the richer the tan. Responsible for the production of melanin in the body special cells- melanocytes.

The tanning process occurs as follows:

1. You find yourself in the sun.
2. Ultraviolet rays begin the process of destroying DNA in the body.
3. The body begins to produce melanin to prevent further damage.

Sunbathing and solarium increase the amount of melanin. This may explain why people who are already tanned are less susceptible to burns and the harmful effects of the sun. For the same reason, it is recommended to tan gradually.

There are people whose skin practically does not tan in the sun, and any attempts to acquire a beautiful tan end in burns and disorders. In such people, melanin is produced in small quantities or not at all.

Those with such sensitive skin are not recommended to sunbathe or stay in the sun for a long time. It is worth noting that the number of melanocytes in everyone is approximately the same, but the amount of melanin secreted is different, and not everyone has enough of it to acquire a tan.

What diseases should you not sunbathe in the sun?

Tanning doesn't benefit everyone. Contraindications for tanning are:

• Oncological diseases
• All precancerous diseases
• Eye diseases
• Phlebeurysm
• Tuberculosis
• A large number of birthmarks
• A large number of
• A large number of pigment spots
• Some medications
• Age up to 5 years
• Large moles (more than 1.5 cm)
• Some female diseases
• Autoimmune diseases
• Small amounts of melanin (fair skin and hair)
• Relatives with melanoma
• Freckles
• Hypertension
• Disorders of the thyroid gland
• Diabetes
• Fever
• Infectious diseases
• Psychoneurological diseases
• You should not sunbathe if you have mastopathy and polycystic ovary syndrome.

Sometimes the question arises: “ At what temperature can you sunbathe?". You can sunbathe in the sun at any temperature typical healthy person. If the body goes inflammatory process, and the body temperature is elevated, trips to the beach should be canceled until recovery.

Pregnant women are prohibited from sunbathing and being in the sun. Nursing mothers can sunbathe, but very carefully, avoiding overheating and burns. Young mothers need to adhere to the following rules:

1. You can sunbathe only from 9 to 10 a.m. or from 4 to 5 p.m.
2. Drink water with lemon on the beach.
3. Tanning sessions start from 15 minutes, gradually increasing to 1 hour.
4. When choosing a sunscreen, pay attention to its possible effect on the child.
5. Tanning without protective equipment is prohibited.
6. Avoid direct sunlight and stay in the shade.

In addition to all of the above, some cosmetic procedures can negatively affect the condition of your skin and become a contraindication for tanning. Such procedures include:

• Peeling
• Hardware skin cleaning
• Epilation
• Botox injections
• Permanent makeup
• Wrap with essential oils
• Removal of moles and warts.

Baby tan

Children over 3 years old can already go to the beach, but under close maternal supervision. The baby should not be allowed to remain in the sun or water for a long time. If your child loves to swim and cannot be pulled away from the water, put a light shirt on him to cover his shoulders. Do not allow your child to be in the open sun without clothing. Give your child water often.

For sun protection, use only products designed specifically for children. Even good sunscreen for adults may cause irritation in the baby.

If a child does not tan at all in the sun, this is a reason to be wary. Perhaps the child does not have enough melanin and it is better to avoid sunbathing altogether.

How to tan properly in the sun

Before you start sunbathing, you need to decide on the level of protection and your skin type. The easiest way to find out your type is to look at your appearance. The table provides brief recommendations taking into account the type of appearance: how much sun you need to sunbathe, what type of sunscreen you should use, and what the reaction to tanning is.

Preparing for tanning

When it comes to getting a beautiful tan, the key is preparation. Before heading to the beach, take care of your skin:

1. Exfoliate or exfoliate. Dead cells prevent an even tan, which means you need to get rid of them. To do this, you can use any scrubbing agent or stiff brush. After the procedure, it is advisable to wait 2-3 days for the skin to fully recover. The tan applies evenly to clean, renewed skin.
2. Use the gradual rule. Start sunbathing for 5 minutes, gradually increasing the interval. This rule also applies to clothing. In the first days, try to cover your body, gradually exposing it to a swimsuit.
3. If you are going on vacation in hot countries, it would be a good idea to prepare your skin for the hot sun. For this visit the solarium twice a week for five minutes.
4. Buy a special vitamin complex for skin in pharmacy.
5. Rethink your diet for summer. Avoid alcoholic drinks on the beach. Include bright vegetables and fruits in your diet such as: carrots, tomatoes, watermelons, peaches, apricots, peppers, etc. They contain a lot of beta-carotene. And it, in turn, activates the process of melanin production. To prevent your skin from aging and to be protected from the harmful effects of sun rays, you need to add nuts, corn or olive oil. These products will nourish the body with vitamins E and selenium. Greens will help protect your skin from free radicals: spinach, cabbage, onions.
6. Don't sunbathe on an empty stomach, but you shouldn't sunbathe immediately after a meal either.. Most the best option: sunbathe 30-40 minutes after eating.
7. Select in advance right time and place. Remember that there are times when sunbathing is very dangerous.
8. Pack your bag. You must have a hat, a bottle of water, a blanket or blanket, a towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, and lip balm with you.
9. Apply sunscreen 10 minutes before leaving home.

What time can you sunbathe?

No matter how quickly you want to tan, you should not go to the beach during peak sun hours. The time of day and the degree of danger of tanning are presented in the table:

Choosing a place to sunbathe

In summer, the issue of sun tanning is resolved easily and quickly. All you have to do is prepare your skin and go swimming and relaxing at the nearest beach.

The issue of tanning becomes more difficult in the cold season. Many people wonder: “ Is it possible to tan in the sun in winter??. The answer is simple: it is possible, but difficult. The sun is at a different angle from the Earth, which means ultraviolet rays have to make a difficult path through other layers of the atmosphere. Therefore, tanning takes longer.

But even if you risk taking off your clothes to tan in winter, this procedure is unlikely to give you pleasure due to the cold. Therefore the most The best way Winter tanning means going to warm countries.

How to get a bronze tan in the sun

Where you go on vacation determines not only your impressions and the places you can visit, but also the color of your skin when you return home. Tanning in different countries ah they are different from each other.

However, if possible, it's best to soak up your local beach first to make your skin less sensitive to the sun. Is it possible to sunbathe in the sun after a solarium? Not only is it possible, but even necessary. Five-minute trips to the solarium will prepare your skin for the warm foreign sun.

How to get an even tan on the beach

For an even tan you need to follow a number of recommendations:

1. The main rule for an even tan is movement. Simply lying down and turning around periodically is not enough. On the beach you need to move: swim, play, run, walk, etc.
2. Do not apply perfumes or alcohol-containing compounds to your skin. This may cause sun spots.
3. To avoid this, do not stay in the sun for more than 2 hours.
4. Do not neglect hats, otherwise your hair will turn into straw.
5. Use sunscreen.
6. Moisturize your skin.
7. Relax. It's better not to read or watch videos on the beach. The eyes are already under strain. But you shouldn’t sleep on the beach, otherwise you will definitely get burns and have an uneven tan.

How to tan faster

If tanning is necessary, the following rules must be followed:

1. Apply protection. There is no way without this.
2. During peak hours, sunbathe not in the open sun, but in the shade.
3. Move.
4. Sunbathe near a pond. Water reflects the sun's rays and the skin tans faster. For the same reason, after bathing, you don’t need to wipe your skin. The water drops will act like lenses.
5. Use and .
6. A quick tan will help you get products with a “crucible” effect. They increase blood circulation.
7. Renew your layer of sunscreen every half hour to hour.

Why doesn't my face tan?

If your face does not tan, pay attention to the position of your body while tanning. Apply sunscreen to your face every time you go to the beach. After returning home, you should wash off the cream and apply a moisturizer: lotion or milk. Burns quickly occur on the face, so do not overuse tanning on this part of the body.

Home remedies for tanning

In getting a beautiful tan, folk remedies can give a head start to store-bought creams and oils.

Home remedy for sun protection

You will need:

• Walnut oil – 1 bottle
• Jojoba oil - 2 tsp.
• Wheat germ oil - 2 tsp.
• Lang-ylang oil - 5 ml.
• Shea butter - 1 tsp.
• Avocado oil - 2 tsp.

Mix all ingredients and place in an airtight container. You need to apply the mixture 3-4 hours before leaving home. This product will last you a long time.

How to maintain a tan using folk remedies

You can also make your own after-sun lotion. To do this, you only need apricot kernel oil (50 ml) and sea ​​buckthorn oil(3 drops). Apply the after-sun product carefully as it may stain the skin.

In order for your tan to remain beautiful and rich for as long as possible, you will need:

• Carrots 10-15 cm long - 1 pc.
• Honey - 1 tsp.
• Olive oil - 2 tsp.
• Buckwheat flour - 1 tsp.

Grate the carrots and mix with the rest of the ingredients. Apply and leave on skin for 30 minutes. Rinse off. The mask can be used every three days, in a course of five to six times.

Complications after tanning

Tanning does not always leave a mark on your health. Failure to comply with safety rules often leads to changes in the body. Many people notice the appearance of new moles and freckles. Sometimes skin diseases can get worse. This often happens with herpes on the lips.

In addition, vascular veins and “networks” may appear, areas light skin, a large number of small moles. The latter can lead to cancer if you overuse sunbathing.

Where to buy sun tanning products

Especially for readers of our site, we have selected tanning products, as well as after-sun creams of various brands and brands. Choose the one that will best suit your skin in composition.

Yves Rocher

For Tan:

• Set “Perfect tan” with SPF 30 - the set includes: Spray for preparing the skin of the face and body for tanning + Restoring milk for face and body after sunbathing + Sunscreen Milk-Body Spray SPF 30 and Transparent cosmetic bag - as a GIFT
• Sunscreen Milk for Face and Body SPF 50+
• Sunscreen Satin Body Oil SPF 30
• Sunscreen Anti-Aging Face Cream SPF 30
• Sunscreen Satin Body Oil SPF 15

After tanning:

• Revitalizing Milk for Face and Body after Sun - Milk with a light melting texture instantly refreshes and soothes the skin after sun exposure thanks to the extract of Eryngium primorium. This unique polyactive plant component protects the skin from photoaging and activates cell renewal.
• Restoring Anti-Aging Face Cream After Sun - Protects skin from photoaging and activates cell renewal.
• Moisturizing After Sun Milk 3in1 - will soothe sun-overheated skin, moisturize it and prolong the tan.

Vichy

For Tan:

• Capital Vichy Ideal Soleil Set mattifying emulsion SPF50 and mineralizing thermal water VICHY

After tanning:

VICHY thermal water Strengthens and restores the skin, normalizes pH, enhances the barrier-protective functions of the skin.

Vichy capital ideal soleil moisturizing set spray veil body tanning activator SPF30 and a beach bag as a gift.

Toning treatment against age spots SPF50+ Instantly evens out the complexion and corrects age spots day after day.

La Roche Posey

For Tan:

• La Roche-Posay ANTHELIOS XL FLUID 50+ - fluid for the face.
• La Roche-Posay ANTHELIOS MILK FOR INFANTS AND CHILDREN 50+ - milk for babies.
• La Roche-Posay ANTHELIOS SPRAY FOR CHILDREN 50+ - spray for children with sun protection.

Garnier - Amber Solaire

For Tan:

GARNIER intense tanning oil with coconut scent

GARNIER sunscreen body spray SPF30 pure protection+

After tanning:

• GARNIER moisturizing and soothing after-sun milk
• GARNIER Sun protection spray oil for an intense golden tan, waterproof, SPF 15

Other tanning products:

• Avene SPF 50 - Solaires Mineral Cream. Cream with natural base, not only protects, but also restores facial skin after damage, contains spf and ppd filters.
• NIVEA SUN 30 or Sun Care spf 50 It has a soft texture with caring components.

Other after sun products:

• NIVEA cooling after sun spray

Differences between tanning in the sun and in a solarium

It is difficult to find external differences between tanning in the sun and in a solarium.

However, the main advantage of a solarium is the ability to dose radiation. Natural conditions will not allow this to happen. In addition, hard waves that have a bad effect on the human body are filtered.

Another advantage of the solarium is its accessibility for city residents.

How to tan quickly/8 rules for a perfect tan

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Hi all! My name is Lyudmila Panyushkina, I am a practicing ophthalmologist, and I also run my own blog about eye health. In my work, I often come across myths and prejudices: some still believe that blueberries help with eye diseases, and some are sure that vision deteriorates from glasses.

Especially for website I will answer the most common questions and tell you how to maintain eye health for a long time. The article does not replace specialist advice and is not scientific, but is for informational purposes only.

1. Is radiation from screens harmful to the eyes?

2. I work a lot on the computer and my eyes get tired. What should I do?

As we have already figured out, complaints about fatigue, discomfort, redness and dryness in the eyes do not arise due to radiation from monitors, but due to improperly organized workplace and infrequent blinking.

How to prevent the appearance of unpleasant symptoms? It's much easier than it seems:

1. Maintain visual mode. For example, you can use the 20-20-20 rule: look at objects 20 feet away from you for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.
2. Make sure that the diopters in your glasses are suitable for working at a computer (after 40–45 years, glasses for distance and glasses for working at a computer will be different).
3. Use moisturizing drops for dry eyes.
4. When organizing your workplace, observe the following standards:

• The screen should be located at a distance of approximately 50–60 cm from the eyes, preferably 20 cm below eye level.
• The height of the chair should be adjusted so that your feet are completely flat on the floor. Do not forget to adjust the chair to the child if the computer is shared with adults.
• Face your computer away from other light sources to minimize screen glare.
• Reduce lighting or use anti-glare screens.

3. Is childhood myopia caused by gadgets?

Many parents consider television to be the main culprit in the development of myopia in children. Let's see if this is actually true.

Most children are born with farsightedness (that is, they have a slight plus). As the child grows older eyeball stretches out, lengthens, and farsightedness is corrected without any correction. If the eye grows too rapidly, myopia appears. In this case, in order to see well, the child needs minus glasses.

The causes of myopia are still not fully known. The main role is played by heredity and external environmental factors. Among the latter, the protective effect of sunlight on the risk of myopia has been the most studied. According to several large studies, walking outdoors can reduce the incidence and progression of myopia.

What about the load at close range, which for a long time was considered as the main factor causing myopia? Modern research do not find confirmation of this theory. Teenagers who watch TV or spend a lot of time on the computer have a greater chance of developing or worsening myopia because they deprive themselves of sunlight and do not spend time outside, and not because of gadgets. Despite parents' concerns about children being stuck in front of screens, it is unlikely that ophthalmologists should limit this time. It is necessary to shift the focus of parents’ attention from gadgets to organizing children’s leisure time outside the home, in the fresh air.

Recommendations for limiting screen time are no longer important for preserving vision, but for normal development nervous system child. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under 2 years of age avoid watching TV completely and use gadgets for very short periods of time. At older ages, it is necessary to limit the total time watching television to 1-2 hours a day, and children aged 2-5 years are recommended to use gadgets no more than 1 hour a day.

4. Are sunglasses required?

Both adults and children, regardless of skin type, have a high chance of damaging their eyes from excessive exposure to UV radiation. It is important to remember: the damage from UV radiation is cumulative; it accumulates throughout life. People with light color irises (blue, green) have more high risk development oncological diseases, such as iris melanoma or uveal melanoma.

UV radiation is not blocked by fog or clouds. You're at risk for the most UV radiation during the middle of the day, at high altitudes, and when light is reflecting off water or snow. Therefore, it is important to choose good sunglasses for both yourself and your children.

Sunglasses should block 100% of harmful radiation. Give preference to lenses marked UV 400 and remember: the color intensity of the lenses does not affect this parameter; glasses with both dark and light lenses can protect equally well. Glasses also differ in light transmission. There are 5 categories of filters. They are designated by numbers from 0 to 4 (usually the number is indicated on the inner surface of the lens next to the CE mark). A filter marked “0” transmits from 80 to 100% of light, while a filter marked “4” transmits from 3 to 8%. In the city, for example, for driving a car, the 1st or 2nd filter category is enough, for a trip to the sea or to the mountains - the 3rd or 4th.

Another important nuance: it is better to be without glasses at all than to wear dark glasses without proper UV protection. In bright sunshine, our pupils reflexively decrease in diameter, limiting the harmful effects of UV radiation on the lens and retina. If you are in the sun wearing sunglasses without a UV filter, the pupil will remain wide, allowing even more harmful radiation to enter the eye. If you doubt the quality of sunglasses, it is better to refrain from purchasing.

5. Is it true that blueberries and carrots improve vision?

Fruits, vegetables and the vitamins they contain are necessary for the human body, but the benefits of some of them are clearly overestimated: for example, there is a myth that blueberries and carrots have a beneficial effect on vision. Blueberries actually contain vitamins and microelements. But this does not mean that its appearance in your diet will protect you from eye problems.

There is not a single study that could confirm the benefits of this berry for human vision. The situation is approximately the same with carrots. At all eye diseases are rarely associated with a lack of vitamins, and a normal diet completely satisfies the eyes’ needs for vitamins. Therefore, it is much more effective to consult an ophthalmologist if you have problems with your eyes, rather than load up on vegetables, fruits and berries, hoping for a magical healing.

6. Is it true that nulliparous women cannot undergo laser vision correction? What are the risk factors?

It is a myth. Laser correction is a fairly safe procedure; the risks involved are minimal. Before the operation, a thorough examination is carried out: the parameters of the eye are analyzed (diopters, thickness and topography of the cornea, the condition of the retina and optic nerve and so on), exclude inflammatory diseases and corneal pathology, which may adversely affect the result of correction.

To correctly calculate the parameters laser exposure, we need to make sure that myopia does not progress, and that the minus that we measure during the preoperative examination is true and will not change after a few days or months.

And here we smoothly approach pregnancy and childbirth. The fact is that against the background of hormonal changes in a pregnant and lactating woman, the cornea may swell slightly, which will lead to an increase in the minus. This phenomenon is temporary and goes away after childbirth or completion of lactation. That's why no one will do it to you laser correction during pregnancy, as it is easy to make mistakes with calculations and get overcorrection. At any other time, if your myopia is stable and there are no other contraindications, you can safely decide to undergo surgery. Not having a child or planning to have one should not be an obstacle to good vision.

7. Will wearing glasses worsen your vision?

It's just the opposite. If vision is imperfect and we cannot focus the image on the retina, we see the world not clear. This happens with myopia, farsightedness and astigmatism. Glasses come to the rescue contact lenses, which shift the focus to the retina and return us to clear vision. There is no point in being afraid of glasses. Properly selected glasses cannot harm your eyes.

Adequate correction is especially important in children. Vision is an acquired skill. Just as a baby gradually learns to walk, he also learns to see. A necessary condition For the development of the visual apparatus, a clear image from the retina enters the brain. If this does not happen (due to imperfect vision), then the brain receives distorted information and simply gets used to seeing poorly - a “lazy eye” develops. If adequate correction is not carried out in time, in adulthood no glasses will allow you to read the bottom lines in the table, and strabismus may develop.

If you read the article to the end, then you may already guess that there will be no tips about blueberries here, visual gymnastics, limiting screen time and other such things. Eye health primarily depends on your overall health and lifestyle.

If we are talking about children's vision, then in order for it to develop correctly, it is important to remember the need for full correction (glasses or lenses), long walks and regular monitoring by an ophthalmologist. According to the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the first examination by an ophthalmologist should take place before 6 months. This allows us to exclude serious pathologies that may interfere with the normal development of the visual apparatus, such as congenital cataracts, glaucoma, corneal opacities, and so on. Observation by a doctor should be carried out annually from the age of 1 to 3 years. Its goal is to identify conditions that may lead to the development of a “lazy eye” (high farsightedness and myopia, astigmatism, strabismus). It is recommended to carry out a vision test according to the table from the age of 3 or 4 and then at 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 15 years.

The main causes of visual impairment in adults are diabetes, cataracts, glaucoma and age-related dystrophy retina. Therefore, regular monitoring by an ophthalmologist is important:

• aged 40–54 years: every 2–4 years.
• aged 55–64 years: every 1–3 years.
• aged 65 years and older: every 1–2 years.

Don't forget to wear sunglasses, eat a varied diet, and monitor arterial pressure and blood glucose levels, monitor your weight. Quit smoking and fall in love physical activity. All this, much better than dietary supplements and miraculous techniques, will help you see well for as long as possible. Be healthy!

Many of those who like to lie on the beach in sunny weather and then enjoy their own dark skin will be unpleasantly surprised that, despite all its popularity, the tanning process itself is harmful.

For many, this is not a secret, because... On TV they constantly talk about the dangers of sun rays, but still millions of tourists go every year to sunbathe at beach resorts in different countries. Unfortunately, tanning in the sun really needs to be done wisely and with knowledge of the clear reasons why doctors do not recommend sunbathing a lot and for a long time.

First of all, it is worth highlighting the group of people who are strictly prohibited from sunbathing! Moreover, even on a hot summer day, if they need to go outside, they should not wear clothes that are too revealing. These people include:

• Owners of the first type of skin photosensitivity;
• Cancer patients;
• Patients with connective tissue diseases;
• People with dysplastic nevi;
• If you have relatives who have had melanoma;
• Patients who have undergone chemotherapy;
• Patients who took courses of antibiotics or photosensitizers less than a month ago.

You should also be careful about tanning:

• Owners of the second type of skin photosensitivity;
• People suffering from psoriasis;
• Pregnant women.

Now let's move on to the reasons why doctors (dermatologists and oncologists) recommend not sunbathing in the sun.

1. Ultraviolet, which is essentially the sun's rays, can cause cell mutation, even changing their gene pool.

2. Tanning is the final protective reaction of the skin to ultraviolet radiation. Before this, it goes through stages of inflammation. It is very important that this inflammation occurs under the protection of the cream and that the skin does not absorb harmful UV rays.

3. Today, the relationship between the number of sunburns and the likelihood of developing cancer, primarily skin cancer, has been scientifically proven. Therefore, it is very important to approach sunbathing wisely and take all precautions.

4. Every sunburn is “remembered” in the DNA. Consequently, if you suffered a sufficiently large number of sunburns in childhood, they can make themselves known after many years. For this reason, you need to take special care of children's sensitive skin.

5. The sun greatly ages the skin. As you know, our body mostly consists of water. It's quite easy to draw an analogy with fruits, such as grapes. Now remember what the sun does to grapes? That's right, raisins. We think now it will become clearer to you why you should not sunbathe excessively.

6. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation causes photoaging - the skin becomes dehydrated, wrinkles and age spots appear. And they are not far from cancer.

Of course, if you do not belong to the group of people for whom tanning is contraindicated in principle, then 3-4 days of exposure to the sun during your vacation is unlikely to harm your health. But it’s still worth remembering, at a minimum, about the burns that you can get even after 2-3 hours of thoughtless exposure to the sun.

It is known that solar radiation can cause serious damage to the skin, but few people think about how harmful it is to the eyes and vision. The sun's ray is divided into several spectra: infrared radiation, visible and ultraviolet. The most dangerous for vision is ultraviolet radiation - its long-term exposure to the eyes can lead to a number of serious diseases. “The ultraviolet spectrum of sunlight affects both the surface of the eye - the mucous membrane, and its inner part - the retina, which perceives the image and transmits it to the brain. The maximum amount of ultraviolet radiation enters the eyes at right angles precisely during those hours when the sun's disk is not too high - for example, in the morning on the way to work. In addition, those rays that are reflected from water, windows and other surfaces also pose a danger,” says Valida Zalieva, ophthalmologist and laser surgeon. medical center"Atlas".

“Two centuries ago it was possible to walk without sunglasses without any special consequences, but now ophthalmologists are faced with the consequences of sun exposure on the eyes, especially in southern countries, more and more often. This is due to both the general environmental situation and the thinning of the protective ozone layer of the atmosphere. The consequences of sun exposure on the eyes can range from premature aging of the retina to serious sunburn, which can lead to the appearance of blind spots, which are very problematic to restore,” adds Marianna Ivanova, Candidate of Medical Sciences and head of the Ophthalmic Center for DNA Diagnostics and Eye Treatment. .

What eye lesions are possible?

Long-term exposure to ultraviolet radiation has a detrimental effect on the external and internal structures of the eye. Depending on the wavelength, ultraviolet is divided into three ranges: UV-A, UV-B and UV-C. The last of them, the shortest wavelength, is completely absorbed by the ozone layer, and therefore has no effect on human eyes. “Excessive exposure to UV-B rays can cause photokeratitis - a sunburn of the cornea of ​​the eye, which is accompanied by inflammation, swelling, acute pain and can even lead to temporary vision loss. Rays of this type practically do not penetrate inside the eye and have a harmful effect only on its surface, explains Vladimir Zolotarev, ophthalmologist, head of Essilor Academy Russia. - Ultraviolet A radiation is less dangerous. But, unlike UVB rays, they penetrate into the eye and damage the lens over time. This may appear later serious illness like a cataract."

What are the risk factors?

When exposed to the sun, you need to take into account the latitude of the rays, time of day and duration of exposure to the sun. “Even increased cloudiness and generally cloudy weather is not an obstacle to ultraviolet radiation, so it is recommended to wear sunglasses when staying outside for a long time. Ophthalmologists do not recommend being outside without sunglasses from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Also, the closer a person is to the equatorial zone, the more ultraviolet radiation the human eye absorbs. Since water and snow reflect rays well, it is recommended to use glasses with high degree protection from the sun,” advises Valida Zalieva.

How can sunglasses help?

Glasses with protective lenses block UV A and B rays that enter through the front surface of the lens and are also reflected from it. back surface. First of all, glasses protect a person’s vision.

"For people with poor eyesight Photochromic lenses are suitable, they simultaneously protect the eyes from the sun and correct vision,” recommends Vladimir Zolotarev.

What should glasses be made of?

Glasses lenses should be made of high quality plastic (usually polycarbonate), in which case good optical properties and the proper level of sun protection will be provided.

“Glass lenses are also suitable, but over the years they are used less and less for two reasons: if the glasses break, more risk eye damage, as well as glass lenses are more difficult to produce,” says Marianna Ivanova.

How to choose sunglasses?

Lenses have the same gradation of protection factors as sunscreens. “For example, for the city you need glasses with an index of at least E-SPF 25+, and for relaxing on the beach - E-SPF 50+,” says the head of Essilor Academy Russia.

“There is a whole classification based on the darkness of glasses. There are 5 categories in total from 0 to 4, where 0 is transparent glasses. For example, light-colored category 1 glasses with a light transmittance of 43–80% of sunlight have slightly darkened lenses. Glasses of this category can be worn in the city in not so sunny days and in cloudy weather. And the darkest (4th category) transmit 3–8% of light; these must be used in mountainous areas where the reflectivity of snow is extremely high. Glasses of this category are not recommended for drivers,” says an ophthalmologist and laser surgeon at the Atlas Medical Center. The most popular dimming is 15–40%.

When buying glasses, you should evaluate whether color distortion occurs, how comfortable it is to look through them and how color perception changes, whether there is clarity and contrast - it is most convenient to understand this in daytime natural light.

What are the dangers of cheap glasses?

You shouldn’t skimp on protection: if you buy glasses not in an optical store, but, for example, in a mass market, it’s easy to run into a counterfeit, where darkened plastic is used as a light filter instead of sun lenses. “Cheap plastic does not guarantee the quality and transparency of optical media, that is, in such glasses it can be worse to see and the eye strains, vision deteriorates. Also, as experience shows, the frames of such glasses are made of cheap plastic, which can be toxic to the skin and cause irritation, itching, allergies, and atopic dermatitis,” warns the head of the Ophthalmik DNA diagnostics and eye treatment center.

"In the optical salon famous brands provide all the necessary certificates with a classification of the degree of protection against solar radiation, which depends on the conditions in which the glasses will be used. The percentage of light transmission is indicated by a number from 0 to 100 in the certificate (than smaller number, those better glasses protect from radiation),” adds Valida Zalieva.

Coco Chanel introduced the fashion for tanning in the 1920s. Before this, women carefully hid from the sun behind wide-brimmed hats and umbrellas.

Over time, doctors sounded the alarm. It turned out that excessive tanning can accelerate the natural aging of the skin and even provoke skin cancer. Because of this, many myths about sun protection have arisen, some of which we will now try to debunk.

Myth 1. It is impossible to get burned on a windy, cloudy day.

It is not true. On a cooler or windier day, the sun's radiation will have the same UV value as on a hot day. UV radiation penetrates clouds and even becomes more intense when reflected from the bottom of them.

Remember to wear sunscreen every day and protect your skin, even if you're only in the sun for a short time. Pay attention to solar warnings in weather forecasts.

Myth 2: Sunscreen should be applied immediately before going outside.

The cream will be most effective when it is absorbed into the skin, so apply it in advance. Experts recommend using the cream no earlier than half an hour before going out into the sun.

Myth 3. One cream can be applied to both face and body

Since the skin on the body and face has different sensitivity to sun exposure, it is better to buy several products. When choosing a cream, pay attention to its composition and whether it can protect against UVA and UVB rays.

Also, when purchasing, you should not forget about your skin type. Thus, light emulsions and non-greasy textures with a matte effect are better suited for oily skin. Dry skin not only needs hydration and nutrition, it will need the maximum degree of protection that products with SPF50+ have. Creams with the greatest protection are also best used for sensitive skin around the eyes and lips.

Myth 4. If cosmetics contain SPF, then you don’t need to use sunscreen

Foundations and moisturizers with SPF only work well if you are outside for a short period of time. But if you're going to be out in the sun all day, be sure to use sunscreen and reapply it every two hours. Keep in mind that most cosmetic products provide protection that is well below the recommended SPF30.

Myth 5. Cream with maximum SPF protects more effectively

The main difference in the degree of protection between SPF50 and SPF10 is the duration of action. Of course, a product with a higher level of sun protection lasts longer, but a cream with SPF10 needs to be applied more often, which means that the skin constantly receives an additional portion of hydration.

Myth 6: Dark-skinned people are not at risk of developing skin cancer.

In fact, dark-skinned people are just as likely to get skin cancer from overexposure to the sun as anyone else. Although they are less likely to get sunburned and eventually develop skin cancer, that doesn't mean they don't need to use UV protection. In addition, if a dark-skinned person develops melanoma, he will not discover it immediately, but only at a more dangerous stage.

Myth 7. Protective cream is not needed in water

In this case, everything is exactly the opposite. In water, our skin needs protection even more, since its exposure to sunlight becomes more intense. To do this, you will need a product that has a waterproof effect. As a rule, it is marked “sport”.

Myth 8. It is enough to apply protective cream once a day.

To ensure that your skin is reliably protected, you should periodically repeat the procedure for applying the cream. This is especially true when you are outside all day.

Myth 9. If you just close your eyes, the sun will not harm them.

Without sunglasses, the delicate skin of the eyelids will remain vulnerable. Glasses, like creams, have varying degrees of protection. In less sunny times, ordinary cosmetic lenses are also suitable, but for relaxing near the water or in the mountains you will need special glasses with high level protection from ultraviolet radiation.

Myth. No protective cream is needed indoors or in the car.

Glass reduces, but doesn't completely block, UV radiation, so you can still get burned if you're in a car for long periods of time or near a window when the sun is shining brightly.