Some of you may have gone to the beach or pool and found that your skin turned bright red, or in worse cases, blistered.

Why do we get sunburned? In fact, oxidative stress is closely related to sunburn, so let me explain it to you.

Sunburn and Oxidative Stress

When exposed to ultraviolet rays from the sun, hydrogen peroxide, which causes oxidative stress, is produced in the area of the skin exposed to the ultraviolet rays.

This hydrogen peroxide stimulates the production of melanin pigments that cause the skin to turn dark. Melanin pigment absorbs UV rays to protect the skin from UV damage, so the production of melanin pigment by hydrogen peroxide is necessary to protect the body from UV rays.

However, if the skin is exposed to excessive amounts of UV light, the amount of hydrogen peroxide generated in the skin will also increase. Hydrogen peroxide is also an ingredient used in bleaching agents, so just as skin exposed to bleaching agents becomes inflamed, skin exposed to ultraviolet rays that produce hydrogen peroxide becomes inflamed and red, or in severe cases, blistered. This is a condition known as sunburn.

Sunburn Prevention

It is very difficult to reverse the effects of sunburn on the skin. The best way to fight sunburn is to prevent it in the first place, as the saying goes, “Defense is the best offense.”

The most important thing to prevent sunburn is to stay out of the sun!　

However, you can’t stay inside all the time, so when you go out, use a parasol, hat, arm cover, cardigan, and sunglasses with UV protection.

Next, apply sunscreen evenly.

UV rays come not only directly from the sun, but also from reflected light such as shining from buildings and the ground. Therefore, it is important to wear sunscreen. However, it is also important to reapply sunscreen frequently, as it may run off with sweat on hot days.

Sunscreens are labeled with SPF and PA. The SPF value is a standard value that indicates the effectiveness of the sunscreen in blocking B-wave ultraviolet rays, which cause spots and freckles, while the PA value is a standard value that indicates the effectiveness of the sunscreen in blocking A-wave ultraviolet rays, which cause wrinkles and sagging.

A high SPF value indicates a high level of protection against ultraviolet rays, but a high SPF value may also increase the burden on the skin, so it is best to use SPF 30 sunscreen for going out for an hour or so, and SPF 50 for going out for a long time or for sports and leisure.  Also, the more “+” in PA, the higher the level of protection.

It is also helpful to consume foods and ingredients that reduce oxidative stress. This will help you deal with sunburn from the inside of your body as well.

As mentioned above, there are two ways to deal with sunburn: externally, by protecting yourself from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, and internally, by increasing your body’s defense against sunburn.

It is important to use these methods effectively so that you will not be defeated by the sun.