Internal and External Healing: The Rise of After-Sun Care 

After-sun skincare is not necessarily a new concept, with many existing topical products on the market leveraging ingredients like aloe vera for a soothing effect on sunburned skin. However, emerging after-sun solutions are focusing on more than just easing the pain of a sunburn and are actively repairing the damage inflicted from sun exposure. 

THE IMPACT OF SUN EXPOSURE 

A lot of false information has been disseminated about sun exposure and sun damage. Contrary to popular belief, an overcast or cloudy day doesn’t shield us from harmful UV rays. Sunscreen and other protective measures are still essential on those gray days. Moreover, a sunburn will not function as a base for future tanning; rather, it’s a sign of skin damage. The myth that one sunburn won’t lead to cancer is dangerous. Even a single instance can contribute to long-term skin damage. 

When exposed to the sun, our skin faces multiple threats. Dehydration is a common consequence that often impairs the skin barrier, making one more susceptible to environmental factors like oxidative stress. In turn, this can lead to inflammatory skin conditions, which have the potential to develop into more severe health conditions. Additionally, harmful UV rays can damage the DNA in skin cells, increasing the risk of developing skin cancers such as melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Left unchecked and untreated, these conditions can be potentially fatal. 

INFLAMMAGING: A CHRONIC THREAT 

Consistent sun exposure can lead to inflammaging, or a chronic, low-grade inflammation that occurs in the body as we age. Inflammaging can manifest in various ways. For example, chronic exposure can lead to over-activation of the immune system, causing the skin to thicken and age prematurely. This is what you’ll commonly see referred to as “leathering” of the skin. 

Additionally, chronic exposure can be associated with increased oxidative stress that leads to cellular damage and the subsequent development of inflammatory skin disease or skin cancers. 

THE IMPORTANCE OF AFTER-SUN CARE 

After-sun care can help mitigate the effects of sun damage in several ways: 

Moisturizing: Preventing peeling and restoring the skin barrier to protect against environmental contaminants. 

Soothing: Reducing irritation, inflammation, and pain caused by sunburns. 

Protecting: Providing antioxidants like Vitamin E and C to combat oxidative stress caused by environmental factors. 

Ideally, impactful solutions should be devoid of any chemicals known to induce inflammatory responses of their own. With more after-sun products entering the market, it’s becoming very important to review their key ingredients. Some may contain chemicals known to induce skin reactions. This temporarily improves the skin but may cause complications in the future. 

EMERGING AFTER-SUN CARE SOLUTIONS AND RESEARCH 

Recent years have seen a surge in research on sun damage and how to mitigate its effects. This has prompted several companies to investigate what drives sun damage and if there are ways to prevent it or repair the skin in the event of overexposure. We’re now seeing more complex pre-clinical models used to test the anti-inflammatory properties of products prior to human exposure. 

There has also been a growing recognition of the potent anti-inflammatory activity possessed by natural products. Several companies (including Enveda Biosciences, Galileo Biosystems, and Sirenas) have formed with the specific intention of developing novel consumer products and therapeutics based on natural elements. Through these companies and others, we’ve learned that naturally occurring products can be used to treat oxidative stress, a primary result of increased exposure to environmental contaminants such as pollutants and harmful UV light. Additionally, we’ve learned that components of these natural products can be further refined into potent therapies for the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions. 

As awareness of the risks associated with excessive sun exposure increases, so does the demand for preventative and after-sun care products. The future likely holds even more advanced solutions and a greater emphasis on protecting our skin from the harmful effects of the sun and creating innovative solutions to heal the damage already done.