Sunscreens – What You Need To Know About Them
No one likes to have dry and damaged skin. No one likes to develop wrinkles prematurely. And most especially, no one likes to have skin cancer. If you want to protect yourself from all these, then you better start using protection from the sun: sunscreens! Those harmful UV rays make excessive sun exposure bad for you. And this is at its worst from 10 in the morning till 3 in the afternoon.
Even when the sky is cloudy, or even during winter time, UV radiation can still reach your skin. While it’s true that the amount is not as intense as during summer, still the skin may receive some damage. That’s why you need to protect yourself from this radiation, even during brief exposure to the sun.
There are all sorts of sunscreens available these days. There are water- and sweat-repellant ones. These are suitable for wearing at the beach or when playing outdoor sports. There are those in lotion or spray forms most suitable for application all over the body. For your nose, lips and eye areas, there are salves and sticks for easy application.
For sure you have often seen the word “SPF” on sunscreen products. Have you ever wondered what it is and what it stands for? SPF stands for “sun protection factor”. It indicates the amount of protection it can give your skin from harmful UV radiation of the sun. A product may have SPF 15, 30 or 50. Basically, the higher the SPF of the sunscreen you apply, the more protection you have.
Dermatologists recommend that sunscreen application should be done some 30 minutes before exposing yourself to the sun. This will give the protective chemicals to set in and work effectively. Make sure that you apply it liberally on exposed parts of the body. When you skimp on it, you might not get full protection.
Also, don’t expect for it to keep your skin from UV rays all day long. For prolonged exposure to the sun, it’s advisable to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours. This is because it naturally wears off, not to mention stuff like sweating or using a handkerchief. The same is true with waterproof ones – they should be reapplied after a specific period of time.
Some people, however, may develop some form of skin irritation with use. If you have sensitive skin, you should first test the item you have bought before applying it. You do this by applying it on a small patch of your skin, then placing it under direct sunlight. If after some time redness, rash or itchiness occurs, it means you should go for a different brand.
There are also other ways to protect yourself from UV rays apart from applying sunscreen. As much as you can, bring an umbrella with you when going out. Conceal your arms by wearing shirts with long sleeves. Long pants and skirts are great for your legs. Wear tinted eye glasses and wide-brimmed hats for your face’s protection.
Try to limit your exposure to intense sunlight as much as possible. But if not, do yourself a favor: use sunscreens. This way, you can prevent yourself from getting sunburn and skin damage. And most especially, you are minimizing your risk for developing skin cancer.
Discover the best sunscreen to use for your protection. Go online and read about the many sunscreens that you have to look into. Get the best one today online.