Moderate Sunshine
Friday, February 6th, 2009
Whether we are at the seaside or in the mountains, when we are lying in the sun, we rarely take into consideration our lips. In general, in the sun, we pay attention to our skin when we are travelling to a sunny destination. Nevertheless, you have to know that lips do not contain melanin, which is the natural pigment of the skin, protecting it against harmful sunrays. Consequently, they do not get that golden colour like the skin, but the sun can affect them easily. Even saliva acts as a zoom that can intensify the harmful effect of the sunrays upon the lips. Without appropriate protection when you are on the move, lips can be affected by long sun exposure. Because of UV sunrays, collagen, the protein that gives elasticity and resistance to the lips protects them against wrinkles formation can be affected. As a result, fine wrinkles can appear around your mouth and instead of benefiting from a travel, it can cause you problems that are more unpleasant.
Increased sensibility to the sun in the case of children and teenagers
Wrinkles and early aging are not the only negative effects caused by the sun. Approximately 90% of the total number of diseases is caused by sun exposure. In the case of the lips the most vulnerable are children and teenagers who spend too much time in the sun. Studies show that excessive sun exposure during the first 18 years of life can cause problems that can lead during our lifetime to skin cancer.
One of the unwanted effects due to lack of protection of our lips against sun rays is occurrence of some tiny vesicles full of liquid. That is why adequate protection of the lips can prevent such lesions. Lips must be actually protected throughout the year. They must be protected, as UV rays can be perceived permanently even if we are in December during our Christmas holiday or in August when the sun is bright.
Even though the burning level of UVB sun rays (which affects the surface of the skin) decreases considerably during cold months, harmful sun rays, UVA type (which enter the skin and affect the collagen) are present at a constant level throughout the year. Thus, lips can suffer because of the sun even on cloudy days when you are in the mountains for example because clouds do not filter UV rays.
Most of us know that the sun is reflected by sand and water, which intensify burning effects but this aspect is also true in the case of snow. Moreover, the snow reflects almost 80% of the sunrays whereas the sand reflects only 20%. You can protect your lips during sun exposures using balm like products or lipstick that contains protection factors. It is important not to leave your home without applying lip balm and then you have to re-apply frequently those products during sun exposure. If you travel to the seaside or to the swimming pool make sure the balm is waterproof and it can protect you at least for 80 minutes.