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Choose and use your sunscreen wisely
Have you ever stood in front of the London Drugs sunscreen section and felt dizzied by the array of choices? Should you choose a regular sunscreen or a mineral block? One that says “broad spectrum” or one that has an SPF of 60? One for the body and one for the face or one to cover all of you? A lot depends on where you plan to spend time in the sun and for how long. Read on...
Have you ever spent time in the sun and, despite your SPF 30 sunscreen, ended up red and sore? Does the sunscreen you use on your face make your makeup look greasy a few hours after application? Are you wanting to prevent premature aging, but seeing wrinkles you know weren’t there a year ago?
Today’s “smart” sunscreens come in a variety of formulations to suit your lifestyle and the purpose for which you are using the sunscreen. You wouldn’t, for example, want to use a product that makes your face look like an oil slick by lunchtime. Neither would you want to wear a non waterproof product if you intend to go swimming. Here’s the lowdown on what’s available in the London Drugs sunscreen aisle and how best to apply it.
How to apply your sunscreen
To provide maximum protection against the sun’s harmful rays, sunscreen should be applied 20 to 30 minutes before going outside. This allows the active ingredients to bond to the upper layer of the skin.
Make sure you apply the product to your ears, neck, hands and feet, as well as your face and body. Special emollient sunscreens are available for the lips.
Most sunscreens should be reapplied every two hours, except for waterproof sunscreens, which only offer between 40 and 80 minutes of protection. Always check the manufacturer’s instructions for use, as some sunscreens contain Mexoryl® or Helioplex® which provide longer protection against UV light.
Be sure to wear your sunscreen on cloudy days as well as on bright, sunny days. The skin is still susceptible to the damaging rays of the sun when there is cloud cover.
Finally, make sure you apply enough sunscreen. Most people apply less than half of what is required to provide the SPF marked on the bottle. A 120 ml bottle of sunscreen will cover the average adult’s body only four times when the correct amount is used.
UVA protection is a must
The SPF rating applies only to the product’s degree of protection from UVB rays. It does not tell you how well you are protected from UVA light. (In Europe, the PFA rating provides information on the degree of protection from UVA rays. No such rating has yet been approved in North America.) When UVA protection is part of the formulation, it should be marked on the packaging.The term “broad spectrum” often denotes that the product protects against UVA and UVB damage.
Physical or chemical blocks?
Recently, some concerns have been raised about the safety of the components in chemical sunscreens, when applied consistently over the long term. For this reason, some people prefer to use a physical sunblock. Physical sunblocks usually contain zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide and form a barrier over the surface of the skin that prevents UV light from penetrating. While they are effective against UVB rays, they provide lower protection against UVA light.
If you are concerned about the prolonged use of sunscreens, remember that staying out of the sun and wearing protective clothing and a sun hat is the sensible way to prevent sun damage.
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