Genetically determined at birth, the sun capital gradually decreases with each exposure to the sun. To protect one's skin and continue to tan, it is imperative to preserve this sun capital. How can this be achieved? Here are a few tips.
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How to preserve your sun protection capital?
- Solar Capital: Why should we preserve it?
- The measures to adopt to preserve one's solar capital
- Sources
Solar Capital: Why should we preserve it?
The solar capital, sometimes referred to as tanning capital, represents the skin's ability to protect itself against the sun's UV rays. It can also be seen as the amount of sun exposure the skin can tolerate over a lifetime. The solar capital functions like a reservoir determined at birth, allowing the skin to protect itself from the negative effects of UV rays. It varies among individuals, particularly depending on their skin tone. The darkest phototypes (phototypes IV to VI on the FITZPATRICK scale) naturally have a larger solar capital, but this does not mean it is unlimited.
The solar capital diminishes over the years and with sun exposure, hence the importance of preserving it so that it lasts a lifetime. Certain signs are characteristic of a solar capital that is almost depleted: the appearance of brown spots, increasingly frequent sunburns, tingling sensations under the sun... Once the solar capital is exhausted, the skin is more sensitive to the sun but also more likely to be affected by cancer.
Given that the skin of babies and children is naturally more sensitive to sunlight, it is at this age that the depletion of the solar capital is most significant. This is one of the reasons why the youngest absolutely must be protected from direct exposure.
The measures to adopt to preserve one's solar capital.
The solar capital cannot be restored or increased. To take care of it and prevent its premature depletion, it is important to protect it. Here are our tips for preserving your solar capital.
Avoid exposure during the hottest hours.
The sun's UV rays are most intense between 12pm and 4pm. Therefore, to protect one's sun capital, the first thing to do is to avoid exposure during these hours of the day.
Protecting oneself from the sun's rays.
Even if the goal is to tan, it is advised to exercise caution when exposing oneself to the sun, to avoid rapidly depleting one's solar capital and ending up with burnt skin instead of a tan. During prolonged exposure, it is recommended to wear covering clothing and a wide-brimmed hat, and not to hesitate to seek shade whenever the opportunity arises. Studies indeed show that it is unnecessary to expose oneself for extended periods to tan : depending on phototypes, daily exposure between 15 and 40 minutes is sufficient.
Systematically apply a sunscreen cream.
Sun and sun protection should always go hand in hand. Indeed, to preserve one's sun capital and take care of one's skin, it is essential to apply a sun care product daily and in sufficient quantity (2 mg per cm2) and to reapply in case of prolonged exposure. It's worth noting that it's important to use a sun protection product with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 to benefit from adequate protection. For your information, an SPF 30 blocks approximately 96.7% of UVB rays while an SPF 50 protects against 98.3% of UVB rays.
Taking care of one's skin before and after exposure.
When the skin is dehydrated and its hydrolipidic film is impaired, its protection against the sun's UV rays is diminished. The skin's sun resilience then tends to decrease more rapidly. To prevent the skin from displaying a sun-reddened colour instead of a beautiful brown glow, it is advised to apply a daily moisturising cream suitable for your skin type. Moreover, after sun exposure, we recommend using a after-sun product to replenish the skin's lipid layer and restore your skin's water balance. Indeed, aiding the skin in regeneration is also a way to preserve its sun resilience.
Avoid tanning booths.
Sunbeds, or UV booths, should be avoided at all costs as they contribute to the rapid depletion of our sun capital. Indeed, artificial UV rays are more energetic than sunlight and, consequently, much more dangerous. Furthermore, UV booths emit UVA, UVB, and UVC rays, whereas UVC rays are normally blocked by the ozone layer and do not reach our skin when we expose ourselves to the sun. They are extremely harmful to the skin and eyes. It is also worth noting that scientists from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) have estimated that exposure to artificial UV rays before the age of 30 increases the risk of developing melanoma by 75%.
Sources
FITZPATRICK T. B. The Validity and Practicality of Sun-Reactive Skin Types I Through VI. Archives of Dermatology (1988).
CARLISLE K. & et al. Histology of sun-damaged human skin. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (1988).
MOAN J. & al. Sun and sun beds: inducers of vitamin D and skin cancer. Anticancer research (2009).
FISHER G. & al. Natural and Sun-Induced Aging of Human Skin. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine (2015).
Ultraviolet Radiation and Cancer Risks. National Institute of Cancer (2021).
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