Dangerous Sunshine - A short guide to sun protection.

1. Did you know that sunscreen is the best anti-aging product?

In addition to premature aging, sunscreen protects you from sun allergies and hyperpigmentation. Up to 80-90% of the visible signs of skin aging – such as wrinkles, sagging, and age spots – are caused by the sun (photoaging). No expensive wrinkle cream can repair the damage UV radiation causes to the skin's collagen fibers.

By using quality sun protection daily, you protect your skin from three major challenges:

• Premature aging: Your skin stays elastic and firm longer.

• Hyperpigmentation: You prevent the formation of stubborn age spots and the darkening of existing ones.

• Sun allergy (polymorphous light eruption): The right protection keeps itchy rashes and redness at bay.

✨ The Altruist Story – Born from a desire to protect:

Behind the Altruist brand are two friends: a British dermatologist and skin cancer specialist Dr. Andrew Birnie and a Dutch cosmetic economist David Westerbeek van Eerten. They were fed up with high-quality sunscreens with high UVA protection being so expensive that people rationed their use. They created Altruist: a salon and pharmacy-grade, super-safe sunscreen range priced so affordably that everyone can afford to protect their skin with enough – every day. Additionally, Altruist donates a portion of its profits to protect children with albinism in Africa.

2. What are UVA and UVB rays, and SPF and PPD?

Solar radiation is divided into two main types that affect the skin differently. An easy mnemonic is from the English words: UVB = Burning and UVA = Aging.

• UVB rays: Cause skin burning and redness. They affect the superficial layer of the skin and are the main culprits in increasing skin cancer risk.

• UVA rays: Penetrate deep into the skin regardless of weather, clouds, or window glass. They destroy collagen (wrinkles!), cause sun allergies, and pigment spots.

What do the mysterious numbers on the bottles mean?

• SPF (Sun Protection Factor): Indicates the level of protection against UVB rays, i.e., how much longer you can stay in the sun without burning.

• PPD (Persistent Pigment Darkening) or UVA logo (circled UVA): Indicates the level of protection against UVA rays. The EU requirement is that UVA protection must be at least one-third of UVB protection.

🏆 Why is Altruist exceptional?

Ordinary sunscreens often only meet the EU's minimum requirements. Altruist is designed with medical considerations in mind: for example, Altruist Sunscreen SPF 50 offers extremely high PPD 52 protection, meaning it filters over 98% of harmful UVA rays. It's a true miracle weapon against sun allergies and aging!

3. I want to get a tan, what kind of sunscreens can I use?

This is a common myth: "If I use high SPF, I won't tan." This is not true! Even high SPF (such as SPF 30 or 50) allows a small portion of UV rays to pass through, causing the skin to produce melanin and thus tan.

• A safe tan lasts longer: When you use sunscreen, your skin won't burn or peel off immediately. Your tan will be more even and long-lasting.

• What to use? Choose a product that feels good on your skin so you remember to reapply it every 2 hours.

• A quick and safe option: If you want an immediate tan without the harmful effects of UV rays, the best solution is a self-tanner with quality self-tanning products (e.g., Wooden Spoon or That'so) and protecting your skin at the beach with a high SPF. [Link: Self-tanners]

4. What if I do get burned, what's the best first aid?

If an accident happens and your skin turns red, sun exposure must be stopped immediately. Sunburn is an acute inflammatory condition (burn).

Effective first aid:

1. Cooling: A cool shower or cool compresses on the affected area.

2. Moisturizing and soothing: Apply plenty of Aloe Vera or a very soothing After Sun product to the skin. Avoid thick, oily creams immediately, as they can "lock" heat into the skin.

3. Hydration from within: Drink plenty of water, as burned skin evaporates more fluid from the body than usual.

4. Anti-inflammatory pain reliever: If necessary, ibuprofen helps reduce internal skin inflammation and relieve pain.

5. Can you get a tan through a window, and do rays pass through?

Short answer: You won't really tan, but your skin will age and be damaged.

Standard window glass (in cars, homes, offices) effectively blocks UVB rays, which is why you usually don't burn or tan behind a window. UVA rays, however, easily penetrate glass. If you spend a lot of time in a car or working by a window, your skin is constantly exposed to photoaging and pigment damage. This is why a light, daily facial sunscreen is the best friend of an "office worker" and a driver.

6. Why are there different sunscreens for face and body?

Technically, body lotion also protects the face, but the skin type and comfort of use are completely different.

• Facial skin is thinner, more sensitive, and more prone to blockages (impurities, pimples) and application under makeup. Facial products are lighter, absorb quickly, and don't leave a sticky residue.

• Body skin is thicker and often requires more hydration. Body products are packaged in larger containers and can be slightly richer in texture or easily sprayed over a large area.

💡 Shopping tip: If you're looking for a product that fits perfectly under makeup, doesn't clog pores, and isn't shiny, Altruist Face Fluid SPF 50 (PPD52) is cosmetically so elegant that it surpasses many expensive luxury creams. It also contains niacinamide, which soothes the skin!

7. Do I need sunscreen in Finland or Sweden during winter?

As a general rule, no, not from November to February, as the UV index in Nordic countries is then close to zero, and there is little light anyway.

Exception proves the rule – Spring snow: In March-April, the situation changes qualitatively. When the sun starts to shine and there is pure, white snow on the ground, snow reflects up to 80% of UV rays back onto the skin. In late winter, on the ski slopes or pistes, you can burn and get pigment spots just as easily as in summer. Then, high SPF is essential!

8. What is the difference between physical and chemical sunscreens?

Sun filters are divided into two groups based on how they work on the skin's surface:

• Physical (mineral filters): Use natural minerals (such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide). They remain on the skin's surface like a mirror and reflect UV rays away. Excellent for children and the most sensitive skin (e.g., couperose or rosacea).

• Chemical (organic filters): Are absorbed into the uppermost layer of the skin, where they absorb UV rays and convert them into harmless heat. Their texture is often completely invisible and lightweight.

9. Why should sunscreens be thoroughly washed off in the evening?

Sunscreens (especially water-resistant products with high UVA protection) are designed to stay firmly on the skin's surface despite weather and perspiration.

If you don't wash them off thoroughly in the evening, the filter and oil residues from the cream mix with the skin's natural sebum, sweat, and air pollutants. This easily leads to:

• Clogged pores and pimples.

• Dull and rough skin.

• Reduced effectiveness of night creams (active ingredients cannot penetrate through the film).

• Recommendation: Use double cleansing in the evening (oil-based cleanser first, which dissolves the sunscreen, followed by a water-based cleanser).

10. Can sun allergy be alleviated, and can you still get a tan?

Sun allergy (polymorphous light eruption) is a troublesome condition that causes itchy blisters and redness on the skin as soon as the spring sun appears. However, it can be effectively prevented!

• How to alleviate? The biggest trigger for sun allergy is UVA radiation. Therefore, ordinary sunscreen is not always enough; you need a product with exceptionally high UVA protection (PPD). It's also advisable to gradually accustom your skin to the sun in spring.

• Can you still get a tan? Yes, you can. When your skin is protected with extremely high UVA protection, the allergy stays away, but the skin can still develop a light, safe protective tan without a painful rash.

11. Are self-tanners safe to use?

Yes, they are completely safe and a dermatologist-recommended way to get a tan.

The effectiveness of self-tanners is based on DHA (dihydroxyacetone), which is often a natural ingredient derived from sugarcane. It is not absorbed deep into the body but reacts only with the amino acids in the very top, dead skin cells (somewhat like an apple browning on a table).

New self-tanners like That'so Glam Body Mousse for the body and On the Go Spray for the face are pleasantly scented and provide a beautiful golden tan.

• Remember, however: The color from a self-tanner does not protect your skin from the sun. You always need separate sun protection at the beach!
  

12. What are modern sun filters?

Traditional chemical filters used in old sunscreens (such as oxybenzone) could irritate sensitive skin, smell strong, and most importantly, harm coral reefs and waterways.

Modern sun filters (e.g., Tinosorb S, Tinosorb M, Uvinul A Plus) are new-generation molecules. They are:

• Photostable: They do not break down in sunlight, meaning the protection remains reliable for longer.

• Safer for the skin: The molecular size is larger, so they do not absorb deep into the bloodstream but stay where they should – on the skin's surface protecting it.

• More environmentally friendly: They do not harm waterways in the same way as old filters.

🌱 Altruist uses the latest, modern, and very broad-spectrum filters in its products that are gentle on both your skin and the planet.