Summer is around the corner. This means it’s time for family picnics, poolside fun, and days at the beach. Spending time outdoors in sunshine is great for bonding with family and friends and getting some essential vitamin D. But being out in the sun comes with risks. The sun rays include ultraviolet radiation or UV rays. They’re invisible to the human eye but can penetrate the skin and damage it.
This brings us to sunscreens. A sunscreen or sunblock lotion protects your skin from the sun’s harmful rays, minimizing your risk of sunburns, wrinkles, age spots, and other signs of premature aging, even skin cancer. It’s the one thing that you cannot afford to skip before heading outdoors.
Consistently wearing sunscreen is a no-brainer, but shopping for sunscreens can be overwhelming. Lotion or spray? Chemical or mineral? SPF 30 or 50? Today, we’re answering all your questions about sunscreens. Come, let’s dive in.
Should I pay attention to SPF?
Experts caution that no sunscreen can protect your skin 100% from the sun. What sunscreen does is increases the amount of time you can spend in the sun. Most sunscreens mention an SPF, which is the sun protection factor. This is a number from 15 to 100 that corresponds to the amount of time you can spend outdoors.
The higher the SPF number, the more effective the sunscreen is in protecting against the sun’s harmful rays. Experts recommend using a sunscreen with at least SPF30, which blocks around 97% of the sun’s rays. You may use a lower number like SPF15 on a daily basis when you’re indoors and a higher SPF like SPF50 or SPF100 on beach days (higher SPF sunscreens tend to be stickier).
Remember, however, whatever the SPF, you need to reapply the sunscreen periodically for it to remain effective.
What is broad-spectrum sunscreen?
The sun’s rays contain ultraviolet radiation of three types – UVA, UVB, and UVC. UVA rays can penetrate glass and affect a deeper layer of skin, where they cause cellular damage. UVB rays, on the other hand, cannot penetrate glass but tend to cause more superficial damage, such as sunburns. Both UVA and UVB radiation can cause skin cancer. UVC rays are absorbed by the atmosphere and do not reach the skin.
A broad-spectrum sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB radiation. In some countries, sunscreens follow a PA rating system ranging from + to ++++, in which case you should look for a PA ++++ rating.
What are mineral sunscreens and chemical sunscreens?
Sunscreen acts as a filter and prevents the sun’s rays from harming the skin. Sunblock lotions are categorized into primarily two types – physical and chemical.
Physical sunscreens are also called mineral sunscreens. They sit on the surface of the skin and form a physical barrier against the sun’s rays. The active ingredients in these sunscreens (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) work like mirrors, essentially deflecting the UV rays away from the skin. Mineral sunscreens offer protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Because they form a physical barrier, mineral sunscreens are effective immediately after application. Also, they do not clog pores.
Chemical sunscreens get absorbed deep into the skin. When the outer layer of the skin is exposed to direct sunlight, the chemical sunscreen absorbs the harmful UV rays and converts them to heat, which is released. Chemical sunscreens are thinner, and most find these easier to spread and apply invisibly. However, they need to penetrate the skin in order to work, and therefore, they may not be effective against some UVA rays. Also, they take around 30 minutes to become effective, so you need to plan. Because they generate heat in the skin, chemical sunscreens may not be suitable for people with brown spots (which can darken from the heat) and acne-prone skin (which can break out due to clogged pores).
How often should I apply sunscreen? Do I need to use sunblock when I’m indoors? Do I need a separate sunscreen for the face and body?
Experts recommend wearing sunscreen 365 days a year. Just like you brush your teeth every morning, you should wear sunscreen. Be sure to apply enough sunscreen to effectively protect your skin and cover all the exposed areas of your skin. Reapply the sunscreen every 2 hours. If you have a dark skin tone that doesn’t burn easily, it doesn’t mean you can skimp on sunscreen. And yes, you need to apply sunscreen even if you’re going to be indoors all day. Your skin is guaranteed to come in contact with the sun’s rays through windows. You can use the same sunscreen for your face and body, but the skin of your face is usually more sensitive, so you may prefer a lighter, non-greasy formulation for your face, which is less likely to clog pores and cause breakouts.
Sprays, sticks, or lotions?
Although spray sunscreens are more convenient, especially for large areas like the arms and legs, a lotion sunscreen is preferable to avoid inhalation. You should avoid using sprays, at least on the face. If you use a stick sunscreen, be sure to go over at least 3-4 times on each area of skin to get enough product for the sunblock to work effectively. Also, go for a water-resistant sunscreen even if you’re not planning on going into the water – it stays on longer when you’re sweating.
Sunscreen Conclusion
We hope that this information has helpful as the summer days start approaching and the need for sun protection increases. As always, if you have any questions about sunscreen or skincare in general, do not hesitate to reach out and speak with one of our amazing aestheticians.
