Posted on March 2, 2008 in Latest News
Summer is back again with all aplomb. The warmth of the sun is a god experience especially after the long cold winter. But it carries with it certain health factors to take care of. This importantly pertains to the skin. We all naturally go liberal on sunscreens to protect our skin from the ill-effects of the sun. But how many of us know whether we are using the right sunscreen after all? Here are some tips and factors to consider before hitting upon a sunscreen lotion.
- Broad-spectrum” sunscreens—those that are effective against UVA as well as UVB rays—are preferred.
- SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. The higher the SPF number, the better protection against the sun’s harmful UVB rays. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends wearing an SPF of 15 or higher for maximum protection. SPF is available in factors from 2-60.
- If you are looking for a sunscreen to use while in the water, choose a sunscreen that is “waterproof” or “water resistant”.”Waterproof” sunscreen should provide protection in the water for 80 minutes, while “water resistant” provides only 40 minutes of protection.
- Read the ingredients. Zinc and titanium oxides are sun blockers. From the research we’ve reviewed, both are effective broad spectrum UV blockers, and though both can be toxic if ingested, they are not absorbed by living skin cells and are considered safe for topical use.
- Children should use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a SPF of 30 or higher. It should be applied liberally, and put again after swimming.
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