Focus on

Summer light eruption an extremely common sun allergy

Summer light eruptions – often called sun allergies – are the most common form of photodermatitis. Triggered by the sun's rays, it causes a rash of small, red, itchy spots. There is only one solution: prevention.

Symptoms

What it looks like: small, red spots accompanied by itching

Very common, benign summer light eruption particularly affects women between the ages of 15 and 35. Just as uncomfortable as it is unattractive, it takes the form of small, red spots accompanied by itching. Sparing the face, it appears on the neckline, shoulders, arms and legs, not to mention the instep.

Origins

The primary cause? UVA rays

Triggered by ultraviolet rays, and more especially UVA rays, summer light eruption generally appears 12 hours after exposure. Relapses are often inevitable. Light eruption can be more severe: more spots, more itching and more affected areas.

Treatments

Prevention

The primary treatment is still prevention. The ideal solution would be to avoid all sun exposure or to wear protective clothing.
If exposed to sun:

Avoid tanning between noon and 4 p.m.
Opt for gradual exposure (20 to 30 minutes per day)
Use sun protection creams with a high protection factor and a broad spectrum (anti-UVB and anti-UVA)
Reapply the cream every two hours

All these precautions must be taken regardless of the time of day.

Focus on

Children and the sun: sensitive skin that needs protection

Children's skin, which is still in development, is far more fragile than adult skin, particularly when it comes to the harmful effects of UV rays. There is only one solution: protect them.

Symptoms

Thin skin, an immature pigmentation system…

While adults are very familiar with the dangers of the sun, they are not always aware of the extreme vulnerability of little ones.
And yet children's skin, which is still in development, is immature and thus more vulnerable to the sun's ferocity:

Because it is thinner, it is more vulnerable to deeper cellular damage
With a less developed pigmentation system, it does not have a self-defence system (which, in adults, helps protect the skin against UV rays).

This is why children must be completely protected, even more so than adults.

Origins

… very vulnerable to sunburn, cellular damage and heatstroke

80% of exposure to UV rays in a lifetime is done by the age of 18
And one out of 55 people born in 2008 will one day have a melanoma.

Why?
Children are overexposed to UV rays. On holiday, one-third of children spend an average of 15 hours per week in their swimsuits : That is far too much. Especially considering that water and sand reflect 30% of UV rays.

And at these ages, children are unable to assess the danger. Consequences: They only express their discomfort when the damage is already done:

Sunburn and deep cellular aggressions cause irreversible damage and make skin fragile over the long-term (acceleration of skin ageing, increased risk of developing skin cancer later in life).
This deep-seated damage is compounded by the risk of dehydration or heatstroke.

Treatments

Protect them from the earliest age

Protecting your children means educating them first and foremost. A study conducted in Germany involving young children demonstrated that sun education increases good protection habits by 500%:

Avoid periods of peak sunlight (between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m.) by encouraging activities in the shade or naps.
Wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses with filtering lenses and dark clothing (a black tee-shirt protects more than a white one).
Apply sunscreen frequently and generously (at least two layers every two hours and after each swim) on all exposed skin...without forgetting the nape, ears and feet!
Choose a cream that is specially formulated for children with a protection index of 50+ that is water- and sand-resistant.
Drink regularly.

CAUTION! Before the age of three years, the entire medical profession recommends total sun avoidance.

Don’t hesitate to ask your dermatologist for more details.

Your skin in the sun

Golden rules in the sun

For your safety, La Roche-Posay reminds you that using a sun protector does not mean you can forget to take essential precautions during every exposure to the sun.

Excessive sun exposure is dangerous. Opt for the shade. Avoid exposure when the sun is at its hottest.

Keep babies and young children out of direct sunlight.

Protect yourself, babies and young children, with a hat, sunglasses and T-shirt.

Use an SPF adapted to your skin type. Apply generously before sun exposure and reapply frequently, especially after swimming, sweating and drying off with a towel.

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Focus on Sun risk

Sun damages on skin are mainly induced by UV rays:

UVB rays (B for Bronzing or Burn) stimulate tanning and are also the primary factor responsible for sunburn.

UVA rays (A for Age or Allergy) more insidious because painless, penetrate more deeply into the skin.
They accelerate skin aging and can cause sun intolerances commonly know as sun allergies and trigger pigment disorders (melasma, brown spots).

UVA and UVB rays can both trigger changes at the heart of our cells and damage their DNA.
If this invisible damage is repeated it can, in the long term, lead to the development of skin cancer.

These damages, in the short and long run, can be prevented thanks to the use of a very high sun protection product (SPF50+) composed by a filtering system reinforced against UVA.

Don't forget the golden rules in the sun

How to identify a good sun protection?

> SPF indicates the UVB protection factor.
> PPD indicates the UVA protection factor (mentioned on the side of the pack).
The UVA logo certifies that the UVA protection level is in line with the European recommandation.

2010, ANTHELIOS brings to sensitive and sun allergy prone skin:

> The highest protection
Anti-UVB: SPF 50+
Anti-UVA: PPD 38 Stricter UVA protection than the European recommandation*
> In an even more minimalist formula : non-perfumed, paraben-free, lighter in chemical filters
> and an ultra-fluid texture : non-greasy and non-sticky, bare skin feeling.