Finally the SUN is here! Part of a good health and wellness plan is a good sun protection program.
I know I soaked in a few rays this weekend sitting outside with family and friends. I thoughtfully applied sunscreen at the start of my day and reapplied every so often, but it was helpful to review the information below.
Here are some great tips direct from the Skin Cancer Foundation:
- UVB (short rays) are mostly responsible for sunburn
- UVA (long rays) penetrate the skin more deeply, are associated with wrinkling, leathering, sagging
- Both types of rays have carcinogenic effects
- Up to 40% of the sun’s UV rays reach the earth on a completely cloudy day.
- SPF=Sun Protection Factor=is a measure of a sunscreen’s ability to prevent UVB from damaging the skin.
- Ex: if it takes 20 minutes for your unprotected skin to start turning red, using an SPF of 15 sunscreen theoretically prevents reddening 15 times longer-about 5 hours.
- SPF 15 filters about 93% of all incoming UVB rays
- SPF 30 filters about 97% of all incoming UVB rays
- SPF 50 filters about 98% of all incoming UVB rays
- Those seem like negligible differences, but if you are light-sensitive or have a history of skin cancer, those extra % make a difference.
- You need to apply 1oz – or a shot glass full to get the full benefit. Studies show that most people apply half to a quarter of that amount.
- During a long day at the beach, one person should use around one half to one quarter of an 8oz bottle.
- Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before sun exposure to allow the ingredients to fully bind to the skin.
- Reapplication is recommended every two hours and immediately after swimming, toweling off, or sweating a great deal.
- Typically men over the age of 40 who spend the most time outdoors get the highest annual doses of UV rays.
- Don’t just rely on sunscreen alone to protect your skin against UV rays; it is just one vital part of a complete sun protection program.