Be Sun Smart And Get Schooled In Sun Protection!

The one golden rule to sun-safe life is choosing the right sunscreen and applying it right every day. Well, do men need sunscreen? Is sports sunscreen better than regular sunscreen? Does sunscreen alone keep you safe? How to get a perfect sun-kissed yet rightly sun-protected Instagram worthy picture on your beach day?

Let’s dig into simple and effective sun protection and sun care solutions,

Who should use a sunscreen?

First things first, everyone regardless of gender needs sunscreen, especially children and adolescents are more prone to the harmful effects of UVR due to their eye and retina structure. Moreover, additional caution is advised to those on photosensitizing medications, family history of skin cancer, and who have had childhood sunburns as they tend to have an increased risk of skin cancer in later life. However, infants below 6 months of age are advised to switch to non-sunscreen methods of sun protection due to their highly sensitive, delicate skin prone to rash.

What is the right way to apply a sunscreen?

The bad news is about 80% of the sun’s UV radiation reaches the earth’s atmosphere on a cloudy day which means the best practice is to apply your sunscreen every day and rub thoroughly on the skin at least 20 minutes before going outdoors. Well, an equivalent of three fingers full is the right amount of sunscreen to be applied to the skin supposed to be exposed to the sun. Primarily face, neck, and décolleté need sunscreen for the first line of defense, and those easy-to-miss spots like lips, washed-off hands, ear tops, neck back, and behind knees also need sun defense during an overcast day to avoid sun-induced skin damage. Well, reapplication is the key and let’s see why.

How long does a sunscreen provide sun protection?

Simply, 2 hours with sweat or water. Keep in mind, NO sunscreen can provide you 12 hours of protection and NO sunscreen is waterproof because sunrays either break down some sunscreens, some get clumped to lose effectiveness or some get washed off by sweat or water. The best idea is to reapply your sunscreen every 2 hours particularly when outdoors. However, did you just feel confused about the Water-Resistant label on your sunscreen right now?

Let’s then decode the water-resistant labels below,

• Water resistant / Water resistant 40 minutes: Reapply sunscreen after 40 minutes in water.
• Very water resistant / Water resistant 80 minutes: Reapply sunscreen after 80 minutes in water.

What is a Broad-spectrum sunscreen?

Broad spectrum sunscreen means the sunscreen will protect your skin from scorching UVB (burning) rays as well as UVA (aging) rays. Many of you may be surprised to learn that SPF only refers to UVB and leaves out the UVA rays to almost attack your skin when both tend to cause sun damage to your skin sooner or later. Keep reading to know how to look for specific UVA protection.

What is the PA rating on sunscreen?

PA stands for Protection grade of UVA rays and measures how well your sunscreen blocks your skin from UVA rays. The significance of this label is currently gaining popularity and awareness to improve sun protection.

Let’s get down to the details of these sunscreen labels,

• PA+ means preventive effect against UVA rays.
• PA++ means significant preventive effect or Moderate protection against UVA rays.
• PA+++ means High protection against UVA rays.
• PA++++ means Very high protection against UVA rays.

What is a Sports sunscreen?

Someone who enjoys soaking up, splashing some water, or sweating out hours in the sun needs water or sweat-resistant sunscreen. All sunscreens are not water resistant and neither they are sweatproof or waterproof. Although the FDA has not defined this term, a sports sunscreen generally means that it will stay active on wet skin for 40 or 80 minutes as specified on the label.

Difference between Chemical vs. Mineral Sunscreen?

The Chemical sunscreen acts like a sponge and contains chemical actives like oxybenzone, avobenzone, octinoxate, and several others which protect the skin by absorbing the sun rays and converting them to heat through a chemical reaction and thereafter released by the skin. Physical or Mineral Sunscreen acts like a shield and contains mineral actives like Zinc Oxide or Titanium dioxide which defends your skin by absorbing the sun rays and deflecting much off the skin. The mineral sunscreen is the ideal one for babies and adults with sensitive skin as they are non-irritating and gentle.

The Final rules:

• Keep sunscreen handy in your work desk, handbag, or beach bag. It’s the simplest skin saver!
• Protective clothing helps: Clothing serves as a great barrier against UV rays. The advantage is that it does not wear off like sunscreen and provides long-term protection. The more you cover up probable skin, the more you stay protected. Long-sleeved shirts, pants, broad-brimmed hats to cover the face and neck, and sunglasses will limit your skin’s exposure to the sun.
• Look for UPF on clothing: Ultraviolet Protection factor labels on clothing measure the amount of UV rays that penetrate through the fabric. A UPF 30 labeled sunhat allows just 1/30th of the UV rays to reach your skin.
• Go for a sun-protective umbrella, prefer cool shades to walk, or stay indoors during your 10 AM to 3 PM strong sun curfew as the sand and water reflect off sun rays as well.
• Your window glass at home or cars even airplanes or buses blocks UVB well and allows UVA to pass through, therefore UV protective window film is a good option to rely upon.
• Say No to tanning beds or artificial sun beds which pose a high risk of skin cancer.
• You would probably get a sunburn on your beach day because you did not wear a protective broad-spectrum sunscreen, or you did not reapply it or you did not apply it sufficiently as directed.
• Wrap your sunscreen in a towel and store it in the shade on a beach day away from direct sunlight.
• Reapply, Reapply & Reapply your sunscreen on for the forever healthy and beautiful glow-up!

Disclaimer: The content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as a substitute for advice from a Healthcare Professional.