Here Is Everything You Need To Know About Sunscreen

During summers you need to protect your skin from sun. Everybody knows it cause tanning. Let’s understand how it happens and how sun effects our skin.

It is important to put sunscreen as it protects from harmful UV rays.

There are two types of UV rays, long wave ultraviolet A (UVA) and short wave ultraviolet B (UVB). UVA rays penetrate deep into the skin’s thickest layer. This may cause wrinkling and premature ageing. UVB rays usually burn the top layer of the skin. The intensity of UVB rays varies with time and location, usually between 12-4 pm UVB rays are at peak. This can also cause skin cancer. Sunscreen blocks these harmful UV rays and keeps our skin healthy. It also reduces the risk of skin cancer and premature ageing.

It keeps your skin healthy.

The proteins of skin such as keratin, elastin and collagen are protected by sunscreen. These proteins keep skin healthy and flawless. So it is importnat to use sunscreen during summers.

They provide better protection than clothes.

If you are wearing full sleeves clothes and not applying sunscreen, it will still tan your skin. So always apply sunscreen on your body weather you are wearing clothes or not.

There are numerous brands that are available in market but you need to take care of these things before buying a sunscreen.

1. Sun Protection Factor(SPF), SPF is a measure of how well a sunscreen protect our skin from UV rays. There are different numbers for that, like SPF 15, SPF 30, SPF 50. There is a misconception that SPF 30 sunscreen is twice as good as SPF 15,but the truth is SPF 15 blocks 92% of sun’s rays, SPF 30 protects 95% of sun’s rays. and SPF 50 blocks about 98% of sun rays. There is no need to go higher.

2. You must have noticed PA+, PA++, PA+++ written on sunscreen bottle along with SPF. PA stands for protection grade of UVA rays. The SPF will protect from the UVB rays of sun, but PA ratings will tell about the protection from UVA rays of sun.  This plus sign indicates more protection from UVA rays. PA+++ is the highest grade that is available in the market.

3. There are different sunscreen for body and face. For face always use thin layered sunscreen and for body you must use thick layered sunscreen.

4 .Always buy a good brand sunscreen. Try to buy US brands as they are certified by FDA.

5. Always buy water resistant sunscreen.

6. Dry skin people can use creamy sunscreen and the oily face people can use gel based sunscreen.

How to apply sunscreen if you don’t use makeup.

1. When you apply a sunscreen the right quantity is very important. it is measured but 1 finger tip unit (FTU). If you want to cover your whole face you should apply approx 2 FTU.

2. Make sure your skin is dry before applying sunscreen, because if your face is wet sunscreen will not spread properly.

3. Take the sunscreen and apply it as dots on the face.

4. Spread it with your fingers. Do not massage it on your face. It does not get absorb in your skin, it will just form a protection layer on your skin.

5. It will look little cakey or you will see cream still there but don’t worry it will be absorbed in by itself in the skin within 15 minutes. This will only happen if your sunscreen is of good quality.

If you use makeup.

1. You can use sunscreen as a base of your makeup. It will also act as a good moisturizer. After applying sunscreen as I mentioned above you can apply makeup of your choice.

2. If you are using foundation try to buy a foundation which has SPF incorporated in it. This will give you extra protection.

Things to keep in mind while applying sunscreen.

1. Reapply sunscreen after every 3-4 hours.

2. If you have used make up on your face, you can buy sunscreen which comes in translucent powder form. You can apply this powder on your face with a brush. As this powder is translucent it will not mess up with your make up.

3. Apply sunscreen 20-25 minutes before going out in the sun.

4. Always try to use a scarf on your face, gloves on your arms before stepping out in sun.

Remember: Prevention is always better than cure.