How does powder sunscreen work?

In most parts of the United States, winter is bowing out, and spring is about to take center stage. It makes you want to run outside and soak up some warm, revitalizing rays. While our sun provides warmth and helps our bodies produce Vitamin D, you still need protection from too many ultra-violet rays or UV rays. The statistics are staggering. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, one in five Americans will develop some type of skin cancer. Nearly 90% of nonmelanoma skin cancers are linked to UV rays from the sun. Now is the time to choose the best sunscreen for you and your family.

What are UV Rays?

Our closest star, the sun, is over 93 million miles away. However, it still projects enough energy to warm the Earth and make life possible. The sun emits a plethora of electromagnetic rays, including light, x-rays, infrared rays, and invisible ultraviolet radiation. Earth’s atmosphere filters some of this hazardous radiation, allowing enough UV rays to benefit our bodies.

How can UV Overexposure Be Unhealthy?

We cannot survive without some of the sun’s ultraviolet rays. There is nothing like a brisk walk or lounging on the beach to feel the sun’s uplifting warmth. Like anything else, you can get too much of a good thing. In this case, it can cost your life. This is why sunscreen is so vital. UVA and UVB are two types of ultraviolet rays produced by the sun. UVB rays have shorter waves and cause mild sunburns with over-exposure. The more harmful one, UVA rays, are longer waves and can penetrate your skin deeper, causing lasting damage. The appearance of a life-long sun worshipper is undeniable. You can easily spot the people who skipped sunscreen for tanning lotion. For decades, the media suggested that suntans made people look younger, healthier, and more attractive. Now, we know the opposite is exact. An overdose of UV rays invades the body and affects skin cells. That “sun-kissed glow” tan is the result of damage to your skin. Repeated overexposure robs the skin of elasticity and moisture, causing it to age prematurely. The skin soon has that notorious haggard, wrinkled and leathery look typical in serial sunbathers; UV overexposure actually makes you appear older than you are. Still, it can also trigger deadly skin cancer or melanoma. The UV rays can damage your skin cells so much that they can mutate into cancer cells. Melanomas often appear on the face or any place that is overexposed to the sun. Tanning beds use the same hazardous rays and are not a safe substitution for sunbathing. Using sunscreen in a tanning bed sounds counterintuitive. Often, melanomas can be surgically removed in cancer clinics and the patient becomes cancer-free. However, thousands of people still die each year from skin cancer. The iconic reggae musician, Bob Marley, had a small melanoma from underneath one of his big toenails. That tiny cancer spread and took the life of a legend. Avoiding overexposure to UV rays is a matter of life and death.

Your Guide to Sunscreen Protection?

Before you go outside, even during the winter, protect your body with sunscreen. With the countless brands and formulas on the market, how can you choose the most effective sunscreen for you and your family? What strength do you need, and should you use liquid or powder?

Sunscreen has been around for nearly a hundred years. Modern formulas are rated by their Sun Protection Factor or SPF The higher the SPF rating is, the longer an application of that sunblock will protect your skin. SPF is ranked from 15 to 100, with 100 being the most effective. But did you know that many sunscreen brands only block the less potent UVB rays? If you want better armor against UVB and UVA rays, consider applying a formula with broad-spectrum protection.

Which is Best? Liquid Vs. Powder

You are probably familiar with the liquid sunscreens as sprays or creams. Both are available in broad-spectrum formulas up to SPF 100. The advantage of cream sunscreen is that it penetrates deeper into your skin and may add a little more protection. Both types must be reapplied during the day for optimal performance. Powder sunscreen has a large following because it does not affect oily skin like a spray or cream, and it can be worn under makeup. It also comes in different SPF and broad-spectrum strengths. A powder sunscreen might be useful if you are attending a formal outdoor event and do not want to mess with liquids. However, numerous studies warn that powdered sunscreen may not protect against UVs rays as well as liquid ones.

Whichever you choose, never leave home without sun protection. Enjoy the sun without damaging your skin and endangering your health. Stay tuned to your local forecast to hear the latest UVA and UVB report for the day.

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