Real men don't wear sunscreen? The skin peeling off from the sun makes you tear it up

Image source: Weibo screenshot

gossip

Recently, the topic #He said real men don't wear sunscreen# was posted on Weibo, sparking heated discussions among netizens. In daily life, many people think that sunscreen is a woman's specialty and men look "feminine" when they wear it. Some people also think that "only when you get tanned can you be manly, and only when you get sunburned can you feel traumatized!" There are even claims that sunscreen is an unnecessary chemical that is not good for the skin and only makes people look oily. So, is this really the truth?

analyze

Men don't need to wear sunscreen?

The truth: Ultraviolet rays show no mercy to people based on their gender, and the consequences of exposure to the sun without sun protection are very serious!

If you have the above idea that "real men don't wear sunscreen", then congratulations, you have fallen into this misunderstanding. This is a very dangerous idea, because if you are exposed to the sun without sun protection, the sun's radiation will cause irreparable damage to your skin and even endanger your life.

Just look at this, a big brother on the Internet was so obsessed with this that he boasted before going out, "Real men don't wear sunscreen." So after a day of exposure to the sun, he received a bitter lesson: #This is the fate of men who don't wear sunscreen#

Image source: Weibo screenshot

In the #This is the fate of men who don't use sunscreen# topic video, this man's whole body is dark and peeling. Looking at the scene of "hand-tearing" the skin, netizens said directly, "It hurts to watch", "I got goose bumps when I tore it off", "I should apply sunscreen in the future"...

Image source: Weibo screenshot

In addition to darkening and peeling, there are many other serious hazards of sun exposure without sun protection:

1. Causes skin aging

Ultraviolet rays can damage the collagen and elastic fibers of the skin, leading to aging phenomena such as sagging, dryness, roughness, and fine lines. Ultraviolet rays can also stimulate the production of melanin, leading to pigmentation problems such as spots and freckles.

Sun protection can delay skin aging and maintain skin's radiance and elasticity.

2. Causes sunburn

Ultraviolet rays can damage cells on the surface of the skin, causing symptoms such as redness, swelling, burning, and blisters. Sunburn not only affects the beauty and comfort of the skin, but also increases the risk of skin cancer.

After sunburn, take timely measures to repair and relieve it, and avoid exposure to the sun again.

3. Causes Skin Cancer

Ultraviolet rays can damage the DNA of skin cells, causing gene mutations, leading to abnormal proliferation of skin cells and the formation of malignant tumors.

There are many types of skin cancer, some of which can be life-threatening, and timely sun protection is the most effective way to prevent skin cancer.

Sunscreen is a chemical

Is it harmful to the skin?

Sunscreen contains many ingredients, which can generally be divided into two types: physical sunscreen and chemical sunscreen.

Image source: Copyright Library

The main ingredients of physical sunscreen are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which can reflect and scatter ultraviolet rays, reducing the amount of ultraviolet rays reaching the skin. These two ingredients are certified by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) as effective and safe sunscreen ingredients.

The main ingredients of chemical sunscreen are ekondrol, benzophenone, ethylhexyl salicylate, octocrylene, etc. They can absorb ultraviolet rays and react chemically with them to prevent them from damaging the skin.

In fact, the debate about whether sunscreen is harmful to the human body originated from a paper published in the American Journal of Medicine in 2019, which pointed out that four chemical ingredients in sunscreen can be absorbed by the human body and the content is higher than the safety level specified by the FDA, which may cause harm to the human body. However, the experimental design is very extreme, that is, under the conditions of high intensity (4 times/day, 4 consecutive days), large area (75% of the body surface), and sufficient dosage (2mg/cm2), it means that almost one kilogram of sunscreen is used in 4 days!

As the saying goes, "It is foolish to talk about toxicity without considering the dosage." In our daily lives, we do not use such a large dose of sunscreen, and the amount absorbed by the skin is far from reaching the specified safety level. Therefore, compared with the harm caused by using sunscreen, not using sunscreen will cause much more harm to the human body.

How to use sunscreen correctly and reasonably?

1. Choose a sunscreen that suits you

The main indicators of sunscreen are SPF (sun protection factor) and PA (UVA protection level), which indicate that the sunscreen can prolong the time the skin can resist UVB and UVA.

Generally speaking, the higher the SPF and the more PA, the better the sun protection effect, but it is also more likely to be greasy and thick. Therefore, we should choose the right sunscreen according to our skin type and activity intensity. For example, oily skin can choose a refreshing sunscreen, dry skin can choose a moisturizing sunscreen; if you are only indoors or on cloudy days, you can choose a sunscreen with SPF15-30, PA+ or ++; if you are going outdoors or in places with strong sunlight, you can choose a sunscreen with SPF50+, PA+++ or ++++.

2. Apply sunscreen correctly

When: Apply sunscreen 15-30 minutes before going outdoors to give it time to form a protective film on the skin. Reapply sunscreen every two hours, especially after swimming, sweating or wiping.

Dosage: Apply enough, a coin-sized amount on the face and neck, and more on other parts of the body.

Method: Apply evenly and gently, avoid rubbing or circling. You can use four fingers together to gently press from the center to the outside.

In addition to using sunscreen

In daily life

Also note these matters

1. Avoid peak sunlight hours

Generally speaking, ultraviolet rays are at their strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., so it's best not to go out during this time. If you have to go out during this time, try to find a cool place to hide, or use tools such as parasols and tents to block the sun.

2. Wear sunscreen

Wear sunscreen when going out, such as wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, long-sleeved shirts or sun-protective clothing. When choosing sunscreen, pay attention to the material and color. Generally speaking, tightly woven fabrics, dark colors, and products with the UPF logo have better UV protection.

Image source: Copyright Library

How to repair after sun exposure?

1. Use cold water or ice to reduce skin temperature and inflammation;

2. Apply lotion or gel containing aloe vera, vitamin E and other ingredients to calm and moisturize the skin;

3. Drink plenty of water to replenish water and electrolytes;

4. Avoid exposure to sunlight again until the skin fully recovers;

5. If serious symptoms such as blisters, infection or fever appear on the skin, seek medical attention immediately.

in conclusion

Applying sunscreen is not just for women, sun protection is the same for both men and women!

In the hot summer, ultraviolet rays will mercilessly damage your skin, causing you to age prematurely, develop spots and wrinkles, and even develop skin cancer! To avoid these injuries, it’s time to put on hardcore physical sun protection (hats + sunglasses + sun-protective clothing) and sunscreen!

Author: Meng Yao, doctor of medicine at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University

Review | Cheng Fang Chief Physician, Department of Dermatology, Xingtai People's Hospital, Hebei Province

The article is produced by "Science Refutes Facts" (ID: Science_Facts). Please indicate the source when reprinting.

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