The first rays of the sun appear and our first reflex is to expose us ... without necessarily thinking to apply sun protection.
A beginner's mistake that can turn into sunburn (or in the longer term, in skin cancer ) because we do not know what can cause these summer burns in our dermis.
What is sunburn?
A sunburn is a skin burn caused by UVB rays.
It is painful to the touch and appears in the form of redness. It also causes itching, sensations of heat and in the most extreme cases, blisters.
Sunburns usually heal in one or two weeks depending on their intensity.
The consequences of sunburn on the skin
Erythema, that is, redness that develops more or less intensely as a result of sunlight abuse, is the visible consequence of an inflammatory reaction within the tissues .
It is this "deep" inflammation that is problematic because it is a chain reaction that can harm the integrity of the skin: risk of brown spots , premature aging on the injured area, and sunburn on a young skin (between zero and five years), risk of skin cancer in adulthood.
For surface cells, the consequences are less severe, mainly unsightly: sunburn leads to the death of these surface cells (we speak of apoptosis). These "sunburn cells", literally sunburn cells, are eliminated when the skin peels.
The skin under the burn area will remain sensitive long, it should be overprotected even if the inflammation is resorbed. It may be the site of so-called "post inflammatory" brown spots, much like a pigmented scar.
Sunburn: deep damage
UVs alter collagen and elastin , the main constituent molecules of the dermis, involved in the firmness and elasticity of the skin. They block the synthesis of collagen and accelerate its denaturation , by the stimulation of degradation factors (the Matrix Metallo proteinases).
They also alter the elastin, which stiffens and loses its extensible functions.
There is also a separation of the junction zone between the dermis and the epidermis : the 2 layers of skin are disconnected, the dermis feeds less well and no longer supports the epidermis, which wilts on the surface.
Finally, UV damages the DNA of the cells , which deprogram themselves and are less able to fulfill their natural function.
How to protect yourself from sunburn?
The skin is naturally equipped with anti-radical and anti-inflammatory defense mechanisms , able to neutralize the negative effects of the sun.
It can also repair DNA damage , by using "mechanical" enzyme that eliminates damaged DNA portions, as well as damage to the dermis.
This natural system of self-defense can become saturated in the event of excessive exposure: it is in these conditions that one observes the sunburn.
To counter this situation, in parallel with sunscreen and other SPF that prevent the UV from reaching the skin, it is necessary to boost the mechanisms of natural defense , by antioxidant, anti inflammatory and protective technologies of the DNA.
Thanks to Isabelle Benoit, Director of Scientific Innovation Institut Esthederm.
The first rays of the sun appear and our first reflex is to expose us ... without necessarily thinking to apply sun protection.
A beginner's mistake that can turn into sunburn (or in the longer term, in skin cancer ) because we do not know what can cause these summer burns in our dermis.
What is sunburn?
A sunburn is a skin burn caused by UVB rays.
It is painful to the touch and appears in the form of redness. It also causes itching, sensations of heat and in the most extreme cases, blisters.
Sunburns usually heal in one or two weeks depending on their intensity.
The consequences of sunburn on the skin
Erythema, that is, redness that develops more or less intensely as a result of sunlight abuse, is the visible consequence of an inflammatory reaction within the tissues .
It is this "deep" inflammation that is problematic because it is a chain reaction that can harm the integrity of the skin: risk of brown spots , premature aging on the injured area, and sunburn on a young skin (between zero and five years), risk of skin cancer in adulthood.
For surface cells, the consequences are less severe, mainly unsightly: sunburn leads to the death of these surface cells (we speak of apoptosis). These "sunburn cells", literally sunburn cells, are eliminated when the skin peels.
The skin under the burn area will remain sensitive long, it should be overprotected even if the inflammation is resorbed. It may be the site of so-called "post inflammatory" brown spots, much like a pigmented scar.
Sunburn: deep damage
UVs alter collagen and elastin , the main constituent molecules of the dermis, involved in the firmness and elasticity of the skin. They block the synthesis of collagen and accelerate its denaturation , by the stimulation of degradation factors (the Matrix Metallo proteinases).
They also alter the elastin, which stiffens and loses its extensible functions.
There is also a separation of the junction zone between the dermis and the epidermis : the 2 layers of skin are disconnected, the dermis feeds less well and no longer supports the epidermis, which wilts on the surface.
Finally, UV damages the DNA of the cells , which deprogram themselves and are less able to fulfill their natural function.
How to protect yourself from sunburn?
The skin is naturally equipped with anti-radical and anti-inflammatory defense mechanisms , able to neutralize the negative effects of the sun.
It can also repair DNA damage , by using "mechanical" enzyme that eliminates damaged DNA portions, as well as damage to the dermis.
This natural system of self-defense can become saturated in the event of excessive exposure: it is in these conditions that one observes the sunburn.
To counter this situation, in parallel with sunscreen and other SPF that prevent the UV from reaching the skin, it is necessary to boost the mechanisms of natural defense , by antioxidant, anti inflammatory and protective technologies of the DNA.
Thanks to Isabelle Benoit, Director of Scientific Innovation Institut Esthederm.
