Pharmacymix.com, Skin Care Pharmacy and Blog Specializing in Anthelios and Mexoryl Sunscreens

How Bioderma Photoderm Max Sunscreens Protect Your Skin

Because the sun’s UVA and UVB rays can cause substantial long-term damage to your skin, you should consider using a protective sunscreen throughout each day year round. For people who have skin that is sun-intolerant (for example, pale skin), a sunscreen needs to offer high, broad spectrum coverage of UVA and UVB rays. Bioderma Lait sunscreens contain Tinosorb M and Tinosorb S to provide high photostability while protecting your skin from UV radiation. Below, I’ll describe how these ingredients work to shield your skin from a wide range of UV rays.

Tinosorb M And Tinosorb S

Tinosorb M (Bisoctrizole) and Tinosorb S (Bemotrizinol) are both UV radiation absorbers. Tinosorb M can absorb both UVA and UVB rays. It’s an efficient UV filter that uses tiny particles to absorb, reflect and scatter ultraviolet rays. Tinosorb S can also absorb UV rays. While it provides effective protection from UVB rays, it’s also one of the most effective ingredients used in sunscreens for protecting the skin from UVA rays. Neither ingredient is fully absorbed into the skin nor do they cause skin irritations. Bioderma Lait sunscreens can offer a smooth texture for sun-sensitive skin by including Tinosorb M And Tinosorb S to provide broad spectrum UV protection.

High Photostability

The photons within ultraviolet radiation can cause photodegradation in molecules. This can lead to molecules breaking into small particles and even irrevocably altering their shape. Both Tinosorb M and Tinosorb S are highly photostable in direct sunlight. This level of photostability offers additional protection to other ingredients within Bioderma Lait sunscreens. Because many of the ingredients commonly used in sunscreens to absorb UV rays are photodegradable (for example, avobenzone and octinoxate), they can lose effectiveness. Tinosorb M And Tinosorb S can help avert this photodegradation. As a result, sunscreens that use these ingredients can offer significant UV protection when directly exposed to sunlight.

Extensive UV Protection

Many sunscreens offer limited protection from both UVA and UVB rays. If they do provide protection, it’s usually limited to a narrow band of UV wavelengths. This is why Tinosorb M and Tinosorb S are important. Together, these ingredients cover UV rays across the full range of UVA and UVB wavelenghts (280-400 nm). This can protect your skin from sunburns caused by UVB rays and the long-term cellular damage caused by UVA rays.

Tinosorb M and Tinosorb S complement each other while protecting other sunscreen ingredients from degrading under direct sun exposure. People who have extremely sensitive skin that is sun-intolerant should consider using Photoderm Max SPF 50+ Lait for face and body or Bioderma Photoderm Max Fluide for face. Both sunscreens include Tinosorb M and Tinosorb S and offer extensive protection from both UVA and UVB rays. For those who spend a significant amount of time in the sun, this product can prevent many of the long-term effects of exposure to UV radiation.

Topical Progesterone and Skin Care

You may already be aware of the role that your hormones play both in the way you look and feel. Many studies have shown that estrogen, an important hormone produced by the ovaries, contributes to thicker, healthier skin. Research however, has also shown that taking estrogen orally may have negative health impacts, including an increased risk for heart disease and breast cancer.

Is Topical Progesterone A Viable Alternative?

In addition to estrogen, the ovaries also produce progesterone. Often referred to as the pregnancy hormone (because it helps to sustain a healthy pregnancy), progesterone helps to balance estrogen’s effects in women.

Though research is sparse, there is some evidence that progesterone has similar effects on the skin as estrogen. That is, it may play a role in thickening the skin and helping it look healthy. A double-blind study was documented in The British Journal of Dermatology in 2005 that showed a strong correlation between progesterone and a reduction in wrinkles. What’s more, the 4-month study failed to uncover any side effects that resulted from the topical progesterone treatment.

While topical estrogen has been linked to several negative health impacts, such risks haven’t yet been discovered in relation to progesterone. And, a number of health practitioners maintain that it is a decline in progesterone and not estrogen that is the cause of many perimenopausal symptoms. These practitioners prescribe topical progesterone to help manage these symptoms.

The number of studies and tests that have been conducted documenting progesterone’s benefits on skin so far is small. Further, the FDA has not yet formally regulated the use of progesterone in cosmetics. Though there seems to be a lack of negative health impacts, this doesn’t mean that none exist.

Using Progesterone For Healthy Skin

If you choose to use a topical progesterone, speak to a qualified health practitioner first. Progesterone has been shown to help reduce perimenopausal symptoms and you may benefit from its use. If the side effect is greater looking skin, then that’s an added bonus. However, while the use of topical progesterone seems safe and effective, it’s still possible that further research will yield evidence to the contrary.  Young and vibrant-looking skin is worth pursuing. But, not at the cost of your overall health.

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What Can Honey do For Your Skin?

Science often borrows from nature to create effective products that work. This is certainly the case in the area of skin care where many naturally derived ingredients including alpha hydroxy acids, essential oils and other botanical (plant) extracts are incorporated into products to deliver results. One such ingredient, used through the ages, is honey. Cleopatra is reported to have taken milk and honey baths to improve the appearance of her skin. 

Honey’s Beneficial Properties

As customers seek more ‘natural’ alternatives in their skin care products, honey is being increasingly used in face creams, hair care products and moisturizers. It’s been shown to possess anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and antioxidant properties, which makes it a useful addition to skin care products. Honey is a humectant, which helps it attract moisture to the skin making it useful in the management of dry skin. Lastly, honey possesses anti-irritant properties, helping to soothe irritation in skin that is sensitive.

Due to its potent antibacterial effects, hospitals in Asia and Europe have used honey infused bandages to help heal infected wounds successfully. Many other countries are now following the lead. Though scientists still aren’t sure which ingredients give honey its benefits in wound healing, it’s likely that its use will expand.

Honey in Skin Care

Honey’s ability to retain and attract moisture make it an ideal ingredient for incorporation into moisturizers. Skin will feel hydrated and supple. Its antioxidant properties can help to combat free radical damage associated with exposure to the sun. Honey is also an excellent ingredient in cleansers due to its antibacterial action. This same antibacterial action may be beneficial to some individuals in the treatment of mild acne.

Honey and Soy Moisturizer

Honey tends to be well tolerated by all skin types. And if you’re a do it yourselfer, you’ll find a range of recipes on the internet for at home treatments to treat and pamper your skin.

If you’d like to incorporate honey into your skin care regimen and you’d rather purchase a ready made product, then consider a product like UltimaSkin Honey and Soy Cream. Infused with honey to soothe and moisturize, this skin cream also contains soy to help fight free radicals and boost collagen production in aging skin.

The Positive Aspects of Sunlight

If you’re concerned about keeping your skin looking youthful and healthy, it’s easy to focus on the damaging effects of the sun. UV radiation from the sun can cause long-term cellular damage, accelerate aging in the skin and can even lead to skin cancer and the formation of cataracts. The potential for each of these is a strong motivation to use effective sunscreens to protect your skin from excessive UV exposure. However, it’s important to remember that direct sunlight can be beneficial for the body. Finding the balance between shielding your skin from UV radiation while allowing your body to reap the benefits of direct sunlight begins with understanding these benefits. Below, I’ll explain a few ways in which direct sunlight can have a positive effect.

Seasonal Affective Disorder

The psychological impact of long-term sunlight deprivation are well-documented. Often, people eat more and sleep more in locations that experience little or no sunlight for long periods. This deprivation can even lead to a condition known as seasonal affective disorder. During seasons when the days grow shorter (thereby limiting sunlight), depression can set in. As the season progresses, the depression deepens, leading to apathy, a general feeling of hopelessness and even heightened levels of anxiety. Often, these symptoms will become less intense once the season passes, but will return the following year. Access to sunlight (or artificially simulated sunlight) can reduce the chances of seasonal affective disorder occurring.

Help For Skin Conditions

There are certain skin conditions for which sunlight has proven an effective treatment. For example, psoriasis manifests as a skin inflammation. In mild cases, it can cause itching and minor discomfort. In severe cases, people afflicted with psoriasis can experience intense discomfort and even perpetual pain. Exposure to sunlight has been known to provide relief to those who suffer from this condition. Similarly, sunlight has also shown mild effectiveness in treating eczema (another inflammatory condition of the skin).

Vitamin D Synthesis

Our bodies require vitamin D to maintain calcium levels, provide a boost to our immune system and regulate blood pressure. Because several health conditions are related to these factors, many doctors claim that vitamin D can help prevent a host of different cancers, diabetes and even osteoporosis. 90% of the vitamin D produced within the body is manufactured through direct exposure to the sun’s UVB rays.

Finding The Balance

The positive effects of sunlight don’t invalidate the need for broad spectrum protection against the sun’s UV rays. If you’re concerned about the appearance of your skin and reducing your risk of skin cancer, you should still use a sunscreen like Anthelios that offers broad spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays. That being said, sunlight does have its benefits. The key is to find a healthy balance between UV protection and the sun’s positive effects. Most experts suggest that your body only needs 5-10 minutes of direct sunlight each day to produce a sufficient amount of vitamin D. If you live in more Northern climates, you may want to consider supplementing during the winter months when UVB rays are too weak to aid Vitamin D production. Check with your healthcare provider.