Can sugar pills protect against sun? Don’t be lazy, still use umbrellas and sunscreen

Can sugar pills protect against sun? Don’t be lazy, still use umbrellas and sunscreen

Mangoes come in the beginning of midsummer. In recent days, the temperature across the country has soared. North China, Huanghuai and other places have started the "scorching mode", and the local temperature is approaching 42 ℃. The Bureau of Meteorology data show that July will be hotter.

　　As the temperature soared, the topic of sun protection was frequently mentioned. Outdoors have become the home of sun protection products such as umbrellas, sun protection clothing, and sunscreen. Recently, an artist recommended a sunscreen candy to the audience in a variety show, claiming that eating sugar can prevent sunburn. People who are too lazy to apply cream and powder have "planted grass".

　　But does sunscreen sugar really protect against sun? How can scientific sunscreen be used?

　　Oral products have no scientific basis for sun protection

　　"This so-called sunscreen sugar does not have the effect of sunscreen." After reviewing the ingredients recommended by the artist, Li Yong, the attending physician of the Dermatology Department of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital, told the Sci-Tech Daily reporter.

　　The ingredients of the sunscreen sugar include amylopectin, gardenia extract, glycerin, crystalline cellulose, modified starch, etc. The main ingredient is saffron acid in gardenia, which is said to have strong antioxidant capacity.

　　Li Yun said that first of all, sun protection and antioxidants are two different concepts. To put it simply, sunscreen protects the skin from ultraviolet rays through physical and chemical methods, and antioxidant is usually used to repair sunburned skin. Therefore, it is unscientific to say that sunscreen sugar protects against sun.

　　Li Yong also said that although saffron acid does have antioxidant effects, for oral products, whether the antioxidant components can be absorbed by skin tissue, how much is absorbed, and how long it can be maintained after absorption before it is metabolized These problems all need further verification.

　　What's more, the higher the ranking in the product ingredient list, the higher the proportion of ingredients. It can be seen from the ingredient list that the main ingredient in the sunscreen sugar is starch, and it is not clear how much active ingredients such as gardenia extracts account for.

　　A reporter from Science and Technology Daily also found several other oral products under the banner of sun protection on an e-commerce platform. The slogan “1 capsule rejuvenates young girl muscles” and “effective anti-ultraviolet rays for 12 hours” made people feel excited. Most of these product ingredient lists contain plant ingredients, such as yam, lily, red orange extract, etc., and other substances such as vitamin C, maltodextrin, citric acid are added.

　　"For the same reason, vitamin C, citric acid and other substances also have a certain antioxidant effect, but the effect needs to be further verified." Li Yin pointed out that at present, there is no scientific evidence in China that oral sunscreen pills, sunscreen sugar, etc. can affect the human body It plays a role in sun protection, that is to say, the dream of sun protection through food easily cannot be realized yet.

　　Sun protection is not needed in summer and outdoors

　　A number of dermatologists pointed out that the public should still use covering items or sunscreen as the main means of sun protection.

　　"Sun protection, the main protection is the ultraviolet rays in the sun." Li Jin said that according to the wavelength, ultraviolet rays can be divided into ultraviolet A (UVA), ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet C (UVC), of which ultraviolet C is almost completely absorbed by the ozone layer , UVA and UVB have a greater impact on the human body.

　　The main hazard of UVA is photoaging, that is, the skin is prone to wrinkling and aging after long-term exposure, and may even cause skin cancer. UVB will cause sunburn, skin swelling and peeling, and DNA damage to skin cells is a key factor in skin cancer.

　　It is worth noting that the number of non-melanoma skin cancers in men is higher than that in women. "This is not related to the fact that men generally do not attach importance to sun protection." Li Yong said.

　　Among the two mainstream methods of sun protection, sun protection principles such as sun clothes and umbrellas are not difficult to understand. These measures can directly isolate ultraviolet rays from the skin. The application products such as sunscreen and sunscreen spray can also be subdivided into two types of physical properties and chemical properties in principle.

　　"Physical sunscreens mainly include titanium dioxide, zinc oxide and other ingredients, which can be attached to the skin surface in the form of particles, reflecting or refracting ultraviolet rays, so as to achieve the effect of sun protection. Such sunscreens are usually suitable for pregnant women, children, and the elderly And people with sensitive skin, etc." Li Yong explained that chemical sunscreens usually include para-aminobenzoic acid and other ingredients, which need to be absorbed by the skin and bind to the protein in the skin to play the role of absorbing ultraviolet rays. Therefore, chemical sunscreen needs to allow time for skin absorption, it is generally recommended to apply half an hour before going out.

　　What are the tips for sun protection? Li Xun said that summer should try to avoid going out in the time period of 10-14 o'clock when the UV is strongest; when going out, it is recommended to use two sunscreen methods to "get together", both sunshade and sunscreen, and it is recommended to apply sunscreen twice , Reapply every 2-3 hours; when participating in underwater activities such as swimming and diving, waterproof sunscreen should be used.

　　In addition, many doctors also emphasized that we must adhere to the four seasons sunscreen.

　　"All year round, as long as the activity is in a place where there is sunlight, it will face ultraviolet rays, no matter indoor or outdoor." Li said that although the ultraviolet rays are stronger in summer, sun protection should not only focus on summer and outdoor, ignoring winter, spring and autumn And indoor areas. She suggested that the sun protection factor (SPF) of the sunscreen used in summer should be greater than 30, and SPF15-20 sunscreen can be used as appropriate in other seasons.