Sunscreen and Skincare
Summer is here and so is the need for sunscreens and skin protection! To safely enjoy your time at the pool, shore, or park, remember there are two types of UV light that can harm your skin: UVA and UVB. Too much exposure can cause skin cancer. UVA light prematurely ages your skin, causing wrinkles and spots, while UVB light leads to sunburns. Though you should avoid the sun during the peak hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., you should also choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects you from UV light.
What about SPF?
Often, we may think that the higher the SPF, the closer to sun safety. However, high-number SPFs offer the same protection as low-number SPFs. You should use a sunscreen of at least 30 SPF, and keep in mind SPFs greater than 50 provide only a small increase in UV protection.
Effectiveness
Though it would be ideal, putting on moisturizer with sunblock in the morning does not last the whole day. It can be washed off when swimming, or even sweating, and we tend to not apply a thick enough layer in the first place. Water-resistant sunscreens are not a solution either: they last about 40 minutes in water. High water-resistant products last up to 80 minutes.
Types of Skin
The biggest question is whether we should use sun lotion/cream or a spray. Here are some basic differences you may want to consider:
- Lotions and creams: if you have dry skin, go for a cream sunscreen, especially on the face. Around your eyes, you can use a stick and for large areas, use a lotion.
- Gel and sprays: gels are very useful in hairy areas, and sprays offer an easy way to put sunscreen on your children. Be generous when spraying so that you end up with a thick coating, but don’t spray around the eyes and nose.
Aging
If you want the use of sunscreen to be effective in preventing aging, wrinkles, and sunspots, get in the habit of using it every day. This means, it’s not only for special occasions or only during the summer. Those who use broad-spectrum sunscreen daily show 24% less signs of aging than those who use it intermittently. In addition to the sunscreen, wear protective clothing that covers the arms and chest. Use hats and sunglasses to protect your head and eyes and find shade whenever possible.
Acne
One of the most common resistances to sunscreen is that it causes oily or acne-prone skin to break out even more, as it clogs the pores and is, simply, very thick. However, do not let that keep you from protecting your skin from UV rays: there are lightweight, oil-free, and non-comedogenic sunscreens available. Some of them even include lactic acid, perlite, silica control shine and antioxidants to work with oily skin and prevent breakouts while protecting you.