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Illustration : Retour de vacances, comment prendre soin de sa peau et de ses cheveux pour la rentrée ?

Back from vacation: how to take care of your skin and hair for the start of the new school year?

Written by the Phytocea team Reviewed by Phytocea Scientific Advisory Board Editorial credit: Iris de Phytocea
• • 6 min
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For Phytocea by Léa Bathily, Dietitian

After a sunny summer, it's back to school! Whether you went on vacation or not, what better way to prepare your body for the start of the school year than by getting it in top condition? Summer is synonymous with sunshine, and while it helps us recharge our batteries, it can be risky for our hair and skin. This article will give you tips on how to start September with healthy skin and hair!

How can the sun damage our skin?

The sun can cause skin cancer

Sunlight is composed of ultraviolet (UV) rays. There are three types of UV: UVA, UVB, and UVC. Of these three UV sources, only UVA and UVB can penetrate the atmosphere (approximately 95 to 99% of UVA and 1 to 5% of UVB). UVB rays are known to stimulate the production of provitamin D in the epidermis. Thus, sun exposure allows us to build up our vitamin D levels.

However, UV rays have a dual nature that should be treated with caution. They are responsible for numerous skin alterations, primarily causing DNA damage. This phenomenon is even more pronounced with UVA rays, which can penetrate the various layers of the epidermis. When UV rays damage DNA molecules in our epidermal cells, the body can repair this damage, but not indefinitely. When these repair capacities are exhausted due to overexposure to the sun, it creates genetic mutations in the DNA, which can subsequently lead to the development of skin cancer.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) also states that there are nearly 100,000 new cases of skin cancer per year.

The sun accelerates skin aging

In parallel, UV radiation is also responsible for the formation of molecules toxic to our cells called Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). These molecules damage our cells. The body has natural defense mechanisms to combat these molecules, such as glutathione. However, when the harmful effects of these toxic molecules outweigh the body's natural antioxidant mechanisms, a phenomenon called oxidative stress occurs. The body is then no longer able to combat the cellular damage caused by reactive oxygen species.

Among the damage caused to the skin, premature aging is a notable consequence. Repeated radiation exposure leads to alterations in the structural and functional components of the skin. More specifically, it disrupts the balance between collagen synthesis and degradation by stimulating collagen-degrading enzymes on the one hand, and inhibiting the synthesis of procollagen I and procollagen III on the other. Collagen is one of the skin's main components and plays a crucial role in its elasticity, firmness, and texture.

The sun damages the health of hair

UV rays have the same effects on hair fibers. These are composed of three layers: the cuticles (the central part of the fiber), the cortex, and the medulla. It turns out that UV-B rays can penetrate the hair fiber up to five micrometers deep and damage it in various ways.

First, they are thought to reduce the mechanical strength of hair, making it more fragile. Furthermore, as with skin, UV rays also create reactive oxygen species (ROS) in hair cells. Like skin cells, hair fibers have mechanisms to combat these molecules, notably thanks to melanin. In addition to neutralizing ROS, melanin is able to absorb some ultraviolet radiation. These mechanisms thus partially protect the numerous proteins that make up our hair fibers. However, depending on the natural hair color, its care, and the intensity of UV and heat damage, the penetration of these rays into the hair shaft affects the molecules that compose it to varying degrees. Moreover, when hair turns white, it means it no longer contains melanin. White hair has therefore lost its ability to neutralize reactive oxygen species.

How to protect your skin from the sun?

This article is not intended to make you feel guilty about your vacation, but rather to show you the different solutions that exist!

First of all, sun protection is important year-round. Contrary to popular belief, regardless of skin pigmentation, it's essential to protect your skin with a sunscreen of at least SPF 30, whether it's summer or winter. It's never too late to protect your skin from the sun's rays.

For those who are worried about their source of vitamin D, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) states that 5 to 10 minutes of exposure per day of the face and forearms during the summer is more than enough to avoid deficiency during this period.

How to protect your hair from the sun?

Regarding hair health, just as with skin, there are ways to protect the hair fiber from the effects of ultraviolet rays. First, the hair's natural pigments (keratin) are one of the compounds necessary for photoprotection. Therefore, bleaching does not facilitate the protection of hair against ultraviolet radiation.

Furthermore, many hair products exist today to enhance the effects of UV rays. This is particularly true of chemical filters. Some shampoos and conditioners contain them. Chemical filters contain specific molecules that protect the hair structure. The most effective chemical filters today are those containing positively charged quaternary molecules that have a high affinity for hair fibers, which are negatively charged. To put it simply, this means that these molecules adhere well to the hair. The most commonly used quaternary substance is cinnamidopropyltrimonium chloride.

How to protect your skin and hair from ultraviolet rays naturally?

While skin and hair protection products offer a more or less sustainable solution, they often contain controversial compounds. For this reason, in addition to checking the ingredients of your cosmetic products, it's essential to care for your skin and hair more naturally. Indeed, as we've mentioned, sunscreens and chemical filters provide protection, but what about the effects already caused by ultraviolet rays?

Unsurprisingly, diet and nutrition are essential to addressing this issue. A balanced diet provides the body with everything it needs to regenerate. For skin and hair, high biological value proteins (those containing all the essential amino acids), silica, zinc, and vitamins B6 and B8 are crucial for healthy hair.

Furthermore, to counteract the harmful effects of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), it is beneficial to consume antioxidants. These help neutralize these molecules, which are toxic to the body. Antioxidants also help protect hair fibers and skin. It has also been shown that antioxidants have a protective effect on hair color.

Let us also add that UltraViolet rays have deleterious effects on the cells of the eyes, the photoreceptors, and that antioxidants also help to fight against the alteration of these cells linked to UV.

For more information on antioxidants, we invite you to read the following article: " Antioxidants: What are they? What are they used for? "

Dietary supplements contribute to healthy skin and hair

Depending on one's diet and the foods available, achieving a sufficient intake of antioxidants can sometimes be difficult. This is why dietary supplements can be a solution to ensure optimal antioxidant intake.

Furthermore, dietary supplements for hair or skin are generally composed of a range of nutrients directly involved in the synthesis of proteins that make up the hair fiber (keratin) or proteins that make up the dermis (collagen). However, it's simply a matter of knowing how to choose them properly…

To help you with this, we have written a comprehensive article on the subject: " How to choose your hair supplement? "

Phytocea has developed the ideal supplement for your skin and hair!

Phytocea has developed ReGlow, a food supplement specifically designed for the health of skin, hair, and nails. ReGlow concentrates a range of active ingredients that address hair quality issues and promote hair growth. The nettle and horsetail it contains provide silica, an essential micronutrient for stimulating keratin production. In addition, ReGlow also contains zinc, a key compound for the proper functioning of connective tissues, particularly those of the skin. Thus, ReGlow guarantees a supply of essential nutrients and vitamins for healthy hair and skin.

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Sources

ANSES: the dangers of artificial tanning

Circ: Ultraviolet radiation and cancer risk

Cancer and the environment: sunlight

ARS: Sun protection and monitoring of the skin

Rittié, L., & Fisher, GJ (2015). Natural and Sun-Induced Aging of Human Skin. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine , 5 (1), a015370. https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a015370


Back to Health issues

FAQ

Pour renforcer la santé de votre peau et de vos cheveux, privilégiez des aliments riches en protéines de haute qualité, des fruits et légumes riches en antioxydants, ainsi que des sources de zinc comme les noix et les graines. Les vitamines B6 et B8, présentes dans les céréales complètes et les légumes verts, sont également bénéfiques.

Il est conseillé d'utiliser des shampoings et revitalisants contenant des filtres UV et des ingrédients hydratants comme l'huile de coco ou l'aloe vera. Ces produits aident à restaurer l'hydratation et à protéger les cheveux des dommages causés par le soleil.

Pour choisir une crème solaire, recherchez un produit avec un indice de protection solaire (IPS) d'au moins 30, adapté à votre type de peau. Les peaux sensibles bénéficieront de formules hypoallergéniques et sans parfum, tandis que les peaux grasses devraient opter pour des crèmes non comédogènes.

Il est recommandé de réappliquer votre crème solaire toutes les deux heures, ou plus fréquemment si vous nagez ou transpirez. Pour une protection optimale, appliquez-en généreusement 30 minutes avant l'exposition au soleil.

Les signes de dommages cutanés dus au soleil incluent des taches brunes, des rides prématurées, une texture rugueuse et une décoloration. Si vous remarquez des changements de couleur ou une nouvelle croissance sur votre peau, il est conseillé de consulter un dermatologue.

Oui, les compléments alimentaires peuvent être efficaces pour améliorer la santé des cheveux, surtout s'ils contiennent des nutriments essentiels comme la kératine, le zinc et les vitamines. Cependant, il est important de les utiliser en complément d'une alimentation équilibrée pour des résultats optimaux.

Les antioxydants aident à neutraliser les radicaux libres générés par l'exposition au soleil et à d'autres facteurs environnementaux, protégeant ainsi les cellules de la peau et des cheveux contre le vieillissement prématuré. Incorporer des aliments riches en antioxydants dans votre alimentation peut donc renforcer ces défenses naturelles.

Si vos cheveux sont secs, cassants ou manquent de brillance, cela peut être un signe qu'ils ont besoin de plus d'hydratation. Des masques capillaires hydratants et des huiles peuvent aider à restaurer l'humidité et la souplesse des cheveux.