10 Important Things to Know About Sunscreen
It’s well known that wearing sunscreen prevents skin cancer, wrinkling and premature aging. The
rays of the sun expose us to ultraviolet radiation. Sunscreen changes
the way your skin responds to sunlight. The active ingredients in the
lotion either absorb, reflect or scatter the UV radiation.
There are so many choices on the
market that it can be confusing to know which one to buy. Few people
know which sunscreen factors are effective and what sunscreen actually
does.
1. Sunscreen is only the second line of defense
The
most important thing to know about sunscreen is that it cannot offer
100% protection. It is equally important to spend time in the shade,
wear protective clothing, UV blocking sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats.
Another healthy sun behavior is to avoid the sun between 10am and 4pm
when the UVB rays are most intense.
Choose clothes made of UV reflective
materials. Bleached cotton and pastel shades might seem lighter to wear
in the heat, but they actually absorb more UV radiation than other
materials. Shiny materials and dark or bright colors reflect radiation
better.
2. What is SPF?
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor
and is a measurement of sunburn protection from UVB rays. UVB rays are
the rays that redden the skin and cause sunburn. The effectiveness of an
SPF rating depends on how quickly your skin burns in the sun. What
activities you do and the sun’s intensity also play a role. For example
if your skin burns 10 minutes after being in the sun and you’ve applied
sunscreen with SPF 15, you can stay in the sun for 15 times longer. In
other words 15 x 10, or 150 minutes.
3. Choose 15-50 SPF
The Environmental Working Group’s
guide to sunscreen recommends you choose an SPF between 15-50. An SPF
higher than 50 is only marginally more effective. Numbers higher than 50
offer little additional protection and may have higher concentrations
of irritating or even allergenic ingredients.
|
||
SPF only refers to UVB rays, which burn the skin. UVA rays are more prevalent and can penetrate deep into your skin. UVA rays can penetrate clouds and glass, and don’t weaken when the sun lowers. When choosing a sunscreen be wary of the term broad spectrum. To ensure your sunscreen is protecting you against UVA rays you need to read the label. It’s the ingredients that count. Look for stabilized avobenzone, ecamsule (a.k.a. Mexoryl), oxybenzone, titanium dioxide, or zinc oxide. | THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE
HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES. PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO VIEW MY BLOG- HTTP:GSEASYRECIPES.BLOGSPOT.COM
FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-
HTTP://KNEE REPLACEMENT-STICK CLUB.BLOGSPOT.COM/FOR CROCHET DESIGNS |
Labels: broad-rimmed sunhat, Mexoryl, oxybenzone, SPF ( sun protection factor), sunburn, sunscreens, titanium dioxide, UV blocking sunglasses, UVA rays, zinc oxide
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home