HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SUNSCREEN?

UVA, UVB, SPF… what should you base your choice of sunscreen on?

Understanding UV: UVA vs. UVB 

Ultraviolet (UV) rays are emitted by the sun and are divided into several categories, including UVA and UVB, which are often mentioned in sun protection due to their adverse effects on the skin. Learn how to differentiate them and how to protect yourself effectively. 

UVB rays

Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays are a form of solar radiation whose intensity varies depending on the season and time of day. In summer, when the sun is at its zenith, they are particularly powerful. Unlike UVA rays, UVB rays only penetrate the surface layer of the skin, the epidermis. This is where they trigger biochemical reactions leading to the production of melanin, responsible for skin color and tanning. Tanning is therefore a natural reaction of the skin allowing it to protect itself from the sun, and more specifically from UVB rays. However, excessive exposure to these rays can lead to sunburn and longer-term skin damage. 

It is therefore crucial to protect your skin from UVB rays with comprehensive protection that takes into account the full range of damage caused by the solar spectrum, such as the skincare products offered by Institut Esthederm. Also remember to limit your direct sun exposure and wear a hat, especially during the hottest hours of the day. 

UVA rays

UVA rays are present all day long, even when the sky is cloudy. They can also penetrate windows, making them omnipresent and particularly insidious.

They penetrate to the dermis, the deepest layer of the skin, and are responsible for accelerating skin aging as well as the appearance of signs of aging linked to sun exposure: wrinkles, loss of firmness and pigment spots. 

Choosing the right sunscreen for your needs is therefore essential to provide your skin with effective protection against UV damage.  

 A pioneer of the European recommendations currently in force, Institut Esthederm has always emphasized the need to maximize protection against UVA rays , responsible for photoaging and DNA damage, in addition to protection against UVB rays. 

SPF: Sun Protection Factor 

Understanding the link between SPF and UV 

SPF is an indicator of a sunscreen's ability to protect the skin from sunburn, mainly caused by ultraviolet B (UVB) rays.

More specifically, SPF indicates how long a person can be exposed to the sun without getting sunburned, compared to unprotected exposure.

A useful, but insufficient indicator 

SPF is one of the useful indicators for choosing sun protection, but it is insufficient on its own.

In fact, SPF only measures protection against UVB rays, which cause sunburn, without taking into account UVA rays, which play a major role in skin aging and increasing the risk of skin cancer.

However, for complete protection, it is crucial to choose a product that guarantees broad-spectrum protection, covering both UVB and UVA rays. 

SPF alone does not guarantee the effectiveness of sun care and this is why Institut Esthederm has chosen to provide a comprehensive response to the damage caused by solar radiation.

Institut Esthederm's sun care products are designed to help each skin optimize its natural self-defence capabilities based on the level of sunlight, thanks to ever more efficient cellular technologies. 

Consider filter types

To choose the right sunscreen, it's also important to understand the difference between mineral and chemical filters used in formulas. Both types of filters provide protection against UV rays, but they work differently. What are the differences? 

Mineral filters

Also known as "physical filters," mineral filters act as a physical barrier on the skin. Like micro-mirrors, the particles that make up these filters reflect and scatter UV rays before they penetrate the skin.

Chemical filters 

Chemical sunscreens, known as "organic" sunscreens, penetrate the skin. They absorb UV rays, capturing their energy and dissipating it in very low-energy form, without causing direct damage to skin cells. 

Take into account your skin type and condition 

It's essential to choose a sunscreen product that's tailored to your skin's needs and your level of sun exposure. Since its inception, Institut Esthederm has adopted a positive approach to the sun and established itself as a suncare expert, offering solutions tailored to all skin types and capable of protecting skin's youthfulness and beauty in the sun. 

For tolerant skin: adapt the skin to the sun

For sun-tolerant skin, Institut Esthederm focuses on adapting the skin to the sun's rays. Institut Esthederm sun care products for sun-tolerant skin are formulated with dual sun protection. This powerful multitasking active ingredient, however, requires simple but essential precautions to ensure it performs at its best. 

External protection: These products contain a balanced amount of UVB filters that promote rapid tanning, the skin's natural defense mechanism against the effects of the sun. In addition, ADAPTASUN technology optimizes the production and distribution of melanin , a natural pigment that protects the skin and stimulates tanning.  

High UVA protection is also provided, especially in facial care, to prevent cellular damage responsible for premature skin aging due to the sun. 

Internal protection: GLOBAL CELLULAR PROTECTION technology neutralizes free radicals, protects cellular DNA, and helps fight collagen degradation factors. They prevent photoaging and strengthen the skin's natural defences against the sun. 

 The formulas of these hydra-protective skincare products have also proven their long-lasting moisturizing effectiveness. Protection against dehydration allows the skin to protect its barrier function: it better defends itself against sun damage and photoaging. 

Available in milk, cream, oil, mist, and spray forms, these sunscreens meet all beauty needs and expectations. From the lightest to the richest textures, they are extremely easy to apply and offer a non-greasy finish with no white marks. 

For intolerant skin: very high protection SPF 50+ care

Skin can be classified into six phototypes, which determine how it reacts to the sun. This classification ranges from phototype I, which corresponds to very fair skin that burns easily but never tans, to phototype VI, which corresponds to very dark skin that practically never burns.

Phototype I and II skin are generally considered intolerant, as they react very strongly to sun exposure and require special attention when exposed to the sun. Thanks to a tailor-made approach, Institut Esthederm targets these specific issues and makes sun exposure possible, in complete safety, even for the most sensitive skin. 

 Institut Esthederm's very high protection sun care products, specially designed to address aesthetic problems (pigmentation spots, post-aesthetic procedures, tattoos, etc.) or dermatological problems (sun intolerances/allergies), offer very high UVB protection to prevent erythema and control sun-induced pigmentation.

High UVA filtration is also ensured, particularly in facial care, to prevent cellular damage that accelerates photoaging and pigmentation disorders. 

Institut Esthederm's very high protection face and body care products allow reactive, hyperpigmented, or sun-intolerant skin to be exposed, regardless of the intensity and duration of exposure. They help the skin gradually adapt to the sun while optimizing its natural defences. 

Consider the area of ​​the body to be protected

When choosing your sunscreen, it is essential to consider the area of ​​the body to be protected, as each has specific needs.

The face, décolleté, and hands are particularly exposed to the sun and require specific care. These sensitive areas are often affected by wrinkles, loss of firmness, or pigment spots. To address these issues, Institut Esthederm offers specially formulated sunscreens to sustainably strengthen the skin's natural ability to fight premature aging.  

The Photo Reverse skincare line offers very high protection treatments, particularly suited to the most exposed areas, such as the hands and décolleté. These treatments allow the skin to maintain its clear complexion even when exposed to the sun, while helping to prevent and reduce existing pigment spots.