Our skin is our largest organ. It is far from being just a "cover". It is a complex system, composed of nerves, glands and cellular layers that play a role that is far from passive for health.

The skin does not only serve as a protection for your internal organs against extreme temperatures or chemicals. It produces antibacterial substances to protect us from infection and allows our body to produce vitamin D when exposed to the sun. Rich in nerve endings, it also plays an important role in interactions with the outside world.

Knowing all this, it seems obvious that healthy skin, in addition to being aesthetically more attractive, is of crucial importance for maintaining good health.

Many "truths" about skin exist, but most are myths. Here are 3 particularly fragrant ones:

1. Sun exposure and tanning are harmful: FALSE

Enjoying daily sun exposure is one of the best things you can do to be healthy. This is how the body will be able to produce enough vitamin D, which is well known to protect against many cancers and support the immune and cardiovascular system, kidney function, bone and tooth health. Since the skin on the face and around the eyes is thinner than on other areas of the body, it is strongly recommended to protect these fragile areas to avoid damage and premature aging. Sunscreen can then be used safely, as can wearing a hat or glasses.
For the first few days, exposure should be limited to allow the melanocytes to produce the protective pigment that not only gives the skin a tan, but more importantly serves to protect against the harmful effects of the sun and overexposure.
Different skin types will obviously not react the same way. If the skin is fair, the exposure should be for a few minutes, especially in the middle of summer. The more tanned the skin, the longer the exposure can be without risk and the darker the skin, the less time to watch out for.
However, you should always play it safe, protecting the sensitive areas, as mentioned above.

2. All commercial skin care products are safe: FALSE

Many skin care products on the market contain chemicals (parabens, phthalates, triclosan and many others) that are directly linked to cancer, hormone disruption, adverse reproductive effects and many other health disorders. Most of these products have not, to date, been studied over the long term.
All products that are slathered on the skin are inevitably absorbed and enter the bloodstream. Since the skin is an excellent delivery system, it is important to be as careful with what you apply as with what you eat.

3. The higher the SPF of the protection, the better: FALSE

It is often unnecessary to buy protection indexes higher than 50. In fact, since creams and lotions act by absorbing, dispersing or reflecting the rays, the protective capacity is not linear and does not offer much additional protection at higher levels. In addition, most SPFs only protect against UVB, the rays in the ultraviolet spectrum that allow the body to produce vitamin D. Since the most dangerous rays are UVA, it is very important to always check that the cream you buy protects against both types of UV and does not contain any traces of toxic ingredients such as oxybenzone or retinol palmitate.