Your guide to choosing the best sunscreen
By
Staff, AccuWeather
Published May 4, 2020 7:04 PM EST
You always need sunscreen to protect yourself form ultraviolet rays, but how do you know which one is right for you
Nothing can enhance your mood and give you a boost of energy like a dose of Vitamin D from the sun. However, being exposed to the golden rays for too long can cause serious problems. Thankfully, you have sunscreen to protect you from overexposure. The only issue is that there are so many types of sunscreen products on the market that you may have a difficult time finding the best one for you. Should you go with a spray, gel, or lotion sunscreen, and what SPF do you need anyway? Well, here is a guide to help you ensure your day of play doesn’t turn into a painful experience.
Photo by Muhammad Faris
Muhammad Faris on Unsplash
The first thing that you want to look for in sunscreens is one that is labeled for its broad-spectrum coverage. The American Dermatology Association, or ADA, recommends that people use one of these varieties of sunscreen as it gives you protection from both UVA and UVB rays. Are you confused about the rays and what all this terminology means? Well, UVA doesn’t cause you to burn, but they can cause your skin to age prematurely. They can cause unsightly age spots and wrinkles too. If you don’t want to age before your time, then you need protection from the UVA rays. The UVB rays are the ones that cause you to burn while outdoors. Both UVA and UVB rays can cause cancer, so protection against both is vital.
Photo by Chezbeate
Chezbeate from Pixabay
What does SPF stand for? SPF is an abbreviation for sun protection factor. It essentially gives you an indication of how much of the UVB rays it can filter. It's recommended that a person use at least with a sunscreen with an SPF 30, which is called the “magic number.” However, it never hurts to go with a higher number for more protection. How does SPF work? An SPF 15 sunscreen will shield you from roughly 93 percent of the UVB rays; yet, when you go with an SPF sunscreen product of 30 or above, then you are getting coverage of around 97 percent. Some coverages go all the way to 100. These higher SPF ratings are reserved for children, those with fair skin, and those who are on medications that cause sun sensitivity. The one that provides the best coverage is the one being used. So many people stock their cabinet for the upcoming season and never use it. The sunscreen cannot protect you unless you put it on.
Photo by Kelsey Knight
Kelsey Knight on Unsplash
You want a safe and effective sunscreen that can accommodate your skin type. For instance, those who have oily skin don’t want a sunscreen that is going to block the pores and cause or aggravate problems with acne. Ask any dermatologist, and they will recommend using sunscreen products with an indication that they are “non-comedogenic,” which simply means they are not going to clog your pores, causing more problems. People with dry skin need different type of protection. They don’t want a susncreen that has drying ingredients like the person with oily skin. So they should look for a susncreen that has hydrating components. Look for keywords like ceramides or hyaluronic acid. If your skin tends to be sensitive, then you need something that has a mineral in it for additional protection. Elements like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are both great additives to help protect your delicate skin. Additionally, these additives make the sunscreens safe so they won’t burn your eyes should they come in contact. Plus, these ingredients sit on top of the skin rather than being absorbed, so they form a robust level of protection.
Photo by Chezbeate
chezbeate from Pixabay
The most significant debate among sunscreen shoppers is what type to buy. Spray sunscreen is helpful because it provides an even layer of coverage and can help you to reach areas that you might not be able to get alone. However, lotion sunscreen tends to have ideal coverage. Sprays can miss certain areas and cause burning when you thought you had protection. When it comes to children, the color-changing sunscreens are helpful. They let you see what areas of the body you have protected, and it quickly fades to clear after the sunscreen has been applied. Each person has preferences and needs. Thankfully, the market is full of anything you can desire. Just make sure you don’t buy for price but opt for the level of SPF coverage you need and your skin type.
Any area of your body that is exposed to the sun needs to have a layer of sunscreen applied. Put the sunscreen on about 30 minutes before you go outdoors to ensure it has time to dry. Anytime you are going to be outside for more than a few minutes, you need to have a sunscreen with SPF 30 or above coverage. Additionally, you need to reapply your protection every two hours, especially if you’re swimming or sweating a lot. You need to remember that there is not a sunscreen on the market that can completely shield you from the sun. You can slather sunscreen all over your body and still get burnt. The key is to reapply the sunscreen protection as needed, and you must also add protective clothing to the mix. If you have no hair on your head, then you need a hat too. There are also sun-protective swimwear lines that can shield you from the rays. Plus, if you are outside for long periods, opt to stay where there is shade.
Photo by Dimitris Vetsikas
Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay
Sunscreen is something you don’t want to skimp on, and it only works if you use it. It takes three minutes to get a sunburn, 2-3 hours for the damage to be apparent, and 3-5 days to get over the painful situation. So it’s worth slathering on a heaping amount of lotion to ensure you don’t have to deal with the discomfort. Additionally, if the UV rays are dangerous, your local weather forecast will give you the updates so that you can protect yourself and your family.
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Your guide to choosing the best sunscreen
By Staff, AccuWeather
Published May 4, 2020 7:04 PM EST
You always need sunscreen to protect yourself form ultraviolet rays, but how do you know which one is right for you
Nothing can enhance your mood and give you a boost of energy like a dose of Vitamin D from the sun. However, being exposed to the golden rays for too long can cause serious problems. Thankfully, you have sunscreen to protect you from overexposure. The only issue is that there are so many types of sunscreen products on the market that you may have a difficult time finding the best one for you. Should you go with a spray, gel, or lotion sunscreen, and what SPF do you need anyway? Well, here is a guide to help you ensure your day of play doesn’t turn into a painful experience.
Photo by Muhammad Faris
Understanding UVA and UVB rays
The first thing that you want to look for in sunscreens is one that is labeled for its broad-spectrum coverage. The American Dermatology Association, or ADA, recommends that people use one of these varieties of sunscreen as it gives you protection from both UVA and UVB rays. Are you confused about the rays and what all this terminology means? Well, UVA doesn’t cause you to burn, but they can cause your skin to age prematurely. They can cause unsightly age spots and wrinkles too. If you don’t want to age before your time, then you need protection from the UVA rays. The UVB rays are the ones that cause you to burn while outdoors. Both UVA and UVB rays can cause cancer, so protection against both is vital.
Photo by Chezbeate
Selecting the right SPF
What does SPF stand for? SPF is an abbreviation for sun protection factor. It essentially gives you an indication of how much of the UVB rays it can filter. It's recommended that a person use at least with a sunscreen with an SPF 30, which is called the “magic number.” However, it never hurts to go with a higher number for more protection. How does SPF work? An SPF 15 sunscreen will shield you from roughly 93 percent of the UVB rays; yet, when you go with an SPF sunscreen product of 30 or above, then you are getting coverage of around 97 percent. Some coverages go all the way to 100. These higher SPF ratings are reserved for children, those with fair skin, and those who are on medications that cause sun sensitivity. The one that provides the best coverage is the one being used. So many people stock their cabinet for the upcoming season and never use it. The sunscreen cannot protect you unless you put it on.
Photo by Kelsey Knight
Choosing sunscreen based on skin type
You want a safe and effective sunscreen that can accommodate your skin type. For instance, those who have oily skin don’t want a sunscreen that is going to block the pores and cause or aggravate problems with acne. Ask any dermatologist, and they will recommend using sunscreen products with an indication that they are “non-comedogenic,” which simply means they are not going to clog your pores, causing more problems. People with dry skin need different type of protection. They don’t want a susncreen that has drying ingredients like the person with oily skin. So they should look for a susncreen that has hydrating components. Look for keywords like ceramides or hyaluronic acid. If your skin tends to be sensitive, then you need something that has a mineral in it for additional protection. Elements like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are both great additives to help protect your delicate skin. Additionally, these additives make the sunscreens safe so they won’t burn your eyes should they come in contact. Plus, these ingredients sit on top of the skin rather than being absorbed, so they form a robust level of protection.
Photo by Chezbeate
Is spray, lotion, or gel sunscreen best?
The most significant debate among sunscreen shoppers is what type to buy. Spray sunscreen is helpful because it provides an even layer of coverage and can help you to reach areas that you might not be able to get alone. However, lotion sunscreen tends to have ideal coverage. Sprays can miss certain areas and cause burning when you thought you had protection. When it comes to children, the color-changing sunscreens are helpful. They let you see what areas of the body you have protected, and it quickly fades to clear after the sunscreen has been applied. Each person has preferences and needs. Thankfully, the market is full of anything you can desire. Just make sure you don’t buy for price but opt for the level of SPF coverage you need and your skin type.
Photo by Retha Ferguson
How to properly apply sunscreen
Any area of your body that is exposed to the sun needs to have a layer of sunscreen applied. Put the sunscreen on about 30 minutes before you go outdoors to ensure it has time to dry. Anytime you are going to be outside for more than a few minutes, you need to have a sunscreen with SPF 30 or above coverage. Additionally, you need to reapply your protection every two hours, especially if you’re swimming or sweating a lot. You need to remember that there is not a sunscreen on the market that can completely shield you from the sun. You can slather sunscreen all over your body and still get burnt. The key is to reapply the sunscreen protection as needed, and you must also add protective clothing to the mix. If you have no hair on your head, then you need a hat too. There are also sun-protective swimwear lines that can shield you from the rays. Plus, if you are outside for long periods, opt to stay where there is shade.
Photo by Dimitris Vetsikas
Sunscreen is something you don’t want to skimp on, and it only works if you use it. It takes three minutes to get a sunburn, 2-3 hours for the damage to be apparent, and 3-5 days to get over the painful situation. So it’s worth slathering on a heaping amount of lotion to ensure you don’t have to deal with the discomfort. Additionally, if the UV rays are dangerous, your local weather forecast will give you the updates so that you can protect yourself and your family.
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