Is your skin? What about your hair?
It's that time of year again. When those of us who haven't been religious with our sunscreen in the winter decide maybe it's time to dig out the SPF (at least when we go play outside). I get tons of questions about sunscreen so I thought I would post some of them here. The Number 1 rule of sun protection is that it won't work if you don't use it, and you won't use it if you don't like how it feels. Sunlight is your skin's (and hair color's) worst enemy. UVA & UVB rays can attack you in your car, in the shade, and through almost any window. UV rays cause premature aging, skin cancer, and cause hair color to fade.
Sun damage doesn't begin at a certain age, but we know now that anytime we are outside we need to have something on SPF15 at the bare minimum to reduce the chance of hyperpigmentation and age spots later on. So if you are young protect your skin now! You can still get a tan, just do it the right way. If you are older and already notice signs of your indiscriminate youth remember it's never too late to start taking better care of your skin.
When should I wear sunscreen?
Every day. Period. 365 days a year, rain or shine. Ultraviolet rays penetrate even on cloudy days and glass. I blame my tiny Native American heritage for my ability to tan no matter what even when I wear a low SPF. I rarely burn, but I put sunscreen on my face every morning, because I don't want to look like Magda in the There's Something about Mary movie. So, even if you have dark skin, do not neglect the sun protection. You'll thank me later, trust me.
What exactly is SPF?
Sun Protection Factor. It is how we measure the ability of a product to block UVB rays. The rating is calculated by measuring sunburn time with and without sunblock. If it takes you 30 minutes for my bare skin to burn, then using an SPF15 will lengthen that amount of time to 15 times longer (7.5 hours).
What SPF is right for me?
This is where your skin complexion comes into account. The lighter your skin, the higher SPF you need. SPF 15 blocks 92% of the UVB rays. This should be the absolute minimum for everyone. Medium to light skin tones could use SPF 30 which blocks 96%. SPF 45 blocks 95%. My advice is to start with 30 and go from there. (Ladies... buy cute hats to match your bathing suits. Fewer lines and wrinkles)
UVA? UVB? UV-huh?
UVB rays are shorter, ultraviolet rays thatburn the outer layer of skin causing redness. UVA rays are longer wavelengths penetrate the deeper layers of skin, and are believed to be responsible for pre-mature aging and skin cancer. Make sure your sunscreen protects from both kinds of UV rays.
Chemical Sunscreen vs. Physical Block?
Chemical sunscreens absorb into the skin and absorb the sunlight when it hits the skin. Physical sunblocks sit on the surface of the skin and reflect sunlight away. Most people like the chemical sunblocks because they rub in to the skin. Physical blocks are great for people with sensitive skin or allergies to chemical blocks.
What's the best time to put on sunscreen?
I think the easiest time is when you put on your make-up. The baseline is 30 minutes before sun exposure, so before you go outside to the pool. Most sunscreens should be reapplied every 3-4 hours, and immediately after swimming or perspiring.
What's the deal with anti-oxidant boosted sunscreens?
Antioxidants like Vitamins A, C and E help neutralize free radicals, which can dehydrate your skin and add to concerns of pre-mature aging. Vitamin E has tremendous healing powers as well. Any sunscreen that has antioxidants added is a bonus.. just like the power booster in our Jamba Juice smoothies.
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