Genetically determined at birth, the sun capital gradually decreases with each exposure to the sun. To protect your skin and continue to tan, it is imperative to preserve your sun capital. How to do it? Here are some tips.
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How to Preserve Your Solar Capital?
Summary
Published July 9, 2024,
updated on October 4, 2024,
by
Pauline, Chemical Engineer
—
6 min read
Sun 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 based 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 it lasts a lifetime. Certain signs are characteristic of a solar capital that is nearly 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 baby and children's skin is naturally more sensitive to the sun's rays, 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 exposures.
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 your skin's health, the first step 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 recommended to exercise caution when exposing oneself to the sun, to avoid rapidly depleting one's solar capital and ending up with sunburned rather than tanned skin. During prolonged exposure, it is advised 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.
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 important to note that using a sun protection with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 is necessary to ensure adequate protection. For your information, an SPF 30 blocks about 96.7% of UVB rays while an SPF 50 protects against 98.3% of UVB rays.
Taking care of your skin before and after exposure.
When the skin is dehydrated and its hydrolipidic film is altered, 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 color instead of a beautiful brown glow, it is recommended to apply a daily moisturizing 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, helping the skin to regenerate is also a way to preserve its sun resilience.
Avoid tanning booths.
Tanning booths, or UV cabins, should be avoided at all costs as they contribute to the rapid depletion of your sun capital. Indeed, artificial UV rays are more energetic than sunlight and, consequently, much more dangerous. Furthermore, UV cabins emit UVA, UVB, and UVC rays, while UVC rays are normally stopped 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's 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. & others. 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 Cancer Institute (2021).
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