During the summer season, many of us may find ourselves returning home or ending the day with a typical sunburn caused by improper exposure to the sun’s rays.

Exposure to the sun is not, in itself, a bad thing; our bodies need sunlight to produce Vitamin D, which is essential for the health of our bones and muscles.

However, it is important to ensure that sun exposure is both appropriate in amount and quality—allowing us to reap the benefits while minimizing the risk of sunburn (erythema solare), a skin inflammation caused by excessive and prolonged exposure to the sun.

Here are some important rules to help avoid sunburn:

1. Never exceed the maximum recommended time for direct sun exposure (a maximum of 30 minutes in intense sunlight);
2. Avoid the so-called "peak" hours—between 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM—as this is when solar radiation reaches its highest level, and consequently, the intensity of UVB rays is at its peak; these rays penetrate deeper into the skin and are responsible for sunburns;
3. Protect yourself by using a sunscreen with an appropriate SPF.

Depending on the severity of the inflammatory reaction, erythema caused by UV rays can range from sunburn limited to the most superficial layers of the skin to more serious burns. Typical symptoms include redness, itching, and edema—sometimes affecting large areas of the body—as well as pain and an uncomfortable burning sensation in the area of the sunburn or burn.

Furthermore, the varying degrees of damage to the epidermal structure present an additional challenge when applying products intended to soothe burning and inflammation, as the friction involved in applying such products—typically formulated as creams or ointments—causes pain.

This problem is further exacerbated in the case of extremely delicate skin. There is also the additional issue of infections, which, in such situations, could occur precisely because the skin’s integrity is compromised and due to the manual application of topical products.

The solution to the problem

To mitigate the trauma caused by such incidents, it is advisable to use spray-emulsion products; their lightweight consistency and ease of application allow for treatment without needing to touch the skin, thereby avoiding micro-trauma and the potential transfer of pathogens.

Valuable allies that have proven highly effective in soothing skin irritation and inflammation resulting from improper sun exposure include zinc oxide, calamine, hyaluronic acid, and plant extracts such as calendula and chamomile.

Zinc oxide and calamine—the latter being a mixture of zinc and iron oxides—are known for their soothing and healing properties. Zinc is an essential trace element involved in numerous cellular processes, including the repair of tissue damage and antioxidant defense. Hyaluronic acid improves skin hydration and its resistance to mechanical damage, thereby facilitating the regeneration of damaged skin.

Extracts of calendula and chamomile are also beneficial for alleviating the typical symptoms of burning and pain associated with sunburn, thanks to their soothing and calming properties.

A light emulsion containing these ingredients, applied even several times a day, helps to relieve skin discomfort caused by improper sun exposure and promotes the rapid restoration of the skin to its normal state.