The weather is getting nicer and things are warming up… Spring is in the air! Unfortunately for some us though, its more the season of airborne allergies… As spring begins, greenery returns and flowers bloom everywhere which means lots of pollen in the air. Scratchy and runny noses, watery eyes, without a doubt: its the dreaded allergic rhinitis!
Spring allergies: not to be taken lightly
It is estimated that at least one person out of five is affected by what is commonly called “hay fever”.
For those that have allergies, contact with pollen causes an anormal immune reaction and the overproduction of histamine, a chemical mediator of the immune system. It causes a chain reaction in our organism’s defense systems that leads to inflammation. This is at the root of the (sometimes extremely) irritating symptoms that appear, with severity depending on:
- The amount of allergens in the air
- Personal sensitivity
You can find out what type of pollen is in the air and where (in France) here.
Vulnerable Nose, Vulnerable Skin
For some, allergic rhinits is one of the sings of “atopy”. Atopy is a natural tendency to overreact to environmental allergens : with clinical symptoms that can extend to skin conditions. For people affected, the skin becomes very sensitive or even intolerant. The epidermis is much more susceptible to airborne allergens. This can trigger inflammatory reactions that disrupt the “barrier function”. Skin gets very vulnerable and unable to defend itself. It must be protected as much as possible, notably against UV radiation.
In order to avoid adding allergenic factors, it is important to use sun protection that are safe for the health of the skin.
Many people with sensitive or even intolerant skin find answers with organic* skincare products. Indeed, the fragility of their skin requires harmless & effective high sun protection, so that they can enjoy in the sun safely.
Essential Organic* Protection
Organic* sun protection products are made with chemically inert mineral screens, meaning that there is no interaction with the skin and they have consistent efficacy. Laboratoires de Biarritz Organic* SPF50 and SPF50+ suncare products contain very few synthetic products, and in this way are non allergenic and non irritating. For the best tolerance possible, there are no preservatives (no parabens) or added fragrances in these very high SPF products.
Of course, you should follow good sun safety guidelines, which are:
- Renew frequently in sufficient quantities and particularly after swimming.
- Avoid exposure between noon and 4 PM.
- Wear a protective t-shirt, wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.
Now, get the in the right habits and simply… enjoy the sun safely !
* Natural and Organic Cosmetic certified by ECOCERT Greenlife according to ECOCERT standard available at http://cosmetics.ecocert.com