Who doesn’t like a dip in the pool in summer or sunbathing on your beach vacation? Exposure to the sun does have benefits for your health and psyche, but it can also do some harm. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the ultraviolet rays of the sun or UV rays can increase the risk of skin cancer. Exposure to the sun can also cause sunburn. Sunscreen can keep your skin safe and protected from the harmful effects of the sun. Learn all about sunscreen and how to enjoy being out in the sun without worrying about your skin.
How to Get Maximum Protection From Sun Damage Using Sunscreen?
There are a few details to keep in mind when buying sunscreen. The things to look for in sunscreen so that you can get maximum protection from sun damage are:
Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 30
It is recommended to use sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher to protect your skin from sun rays. The SPF in the sunscreen can block the UV rays so that your skin does not get sun damage. A sunscreen with SPF 30 can block around 97 per cent of UV rays. And if you use sunscreen with SPF higher than 30, then also it can block 98 per cent of UV rays. 100 per cent of the UV rays cannot be blocked by any sunscreen.
Protection from both UVA and UVB rays
There are two types of UV rays. UVA rays and UVB rays. UVA rays have a longer wavelength and can cause premature aging. It can also increase the risk of skin cancer. UVB rays have a shorter wavelength. It can cause skin damage and sunburn. Your sunscreen should protect from UVA as well as UVB rays. If your sunscreen contains titanium or zinc oxide, then it can help in blocking both types of rays.
The basic forms of Sunscreen
Sunscreens come in four basic forms. Some need more application time but cover the whole body, and others are easier to apply, but provide protection to fewer areas of the body. Here are the four basic forms of sunscreen:
Cream
The sunscreen that comes in cream form takes time to apply, but you can apply it almost all over the body.
Gel
The gel form of sunscreen is not as common as cream. You can use them around areas having hair. You can put the on your scalp under the hat or head scarf to get scalp protection.
Spray
Nowadays, the spray form of sunscreen is becoming the most popular type. The reason behind it is the ease with which the sunscreen can be applied. But people apply only 25-50 percent of the required amount of sunscreen. It also becomes hard to spray sunscreen around the face. Because it makes inhaling hard and ingesting the sunscreen can be dangerous and unhealthy.
Stick
Sticks are a good choice for applying sunscreen on the face and lips area. But not for applying all over the body. Stick sunscreen might also include moisturizing and antibacterial agents.
Ways of Applying Sunscreen
Time of Application
If you want your sunscreen to work maximum and be effective, then apply it 30 minutes before going outside. This gives time to the skin to properly absorb the sunscreen. The sunscreen also gets time to form a protective layer around the skin. You should reapply the sunscreen after every two hours. Especially after swimming or sweating. If you are using spray sunscreen, then it requires to be reapplied more often. In such cases, try to apply the sunscreen every 6o to 90 minutes.
Amount of Sunscreen
You should not use the amount of sunscreen less than one ounce for application. One ounce is equal to one golf ball. Each time you apply sunscreen, do not forget to use at least this amount of sunscreen.
Replacing Sunscreen with other products? Not a good Idea!
You should not replace sunscreen with other products like tanning oils, natural oils, and lotion. They mostly do not have the SPF (Sun Protection Factor) number and amount that is required for maximum protection from UV rays. A study by Gause and Chauhan, 2016, shows that natural oils like Olive Oil, Aloe vera oil, coconut oil, etc were not effective in blocking UV rays. They are not able to absorb the wavelengths of UV rays.
Other ways of sun-protection
You should not only depend on sunscreens for protection from UV rays. Try to provide added protection to your skin as well. Like:
- Using hats, sunglasses, or special clothing for sun-protection
- Use lip balms that contain SPF 30 or higher.
- Protecting skin from direct sunlight that is between 10 AM to 4 PM.
Sunscreens not only protect from UV rays. Using them also has other benefits. It helps in preventing premature aging. Several studies show that people below the age of 55 who use sunscreen regularly had a 24% less chance of developing signs of aging than those who occasionally or do not use sunscreen. It can also prevent acne and other skin damage from the Sun. While choosing a sunscreen, make sure that it is waterproof and had SPF 30.
If you want to buy sunscreen for yourself and are confused about where to get the right product, then you don’t need to worry! You can check out Tira Beauty. They have a wide range of high-quality products available at affordable prices. You can also read their blogs to get all the information that you need for your skincare and make-up.