Sunscreen Saga

Everyone advises you to wear sunscreen in the summers. Others tell you to wear it throughout the year. However, is it enough to just wear sunscreen? Find out the actual essentials of sunscreen use. What is it?  A sunscreen is a formulation that protects the skin from the damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun. Always applied on the skin, it mainly protects those parts of your body that are exposed to the sun. Skin damage  The first visible effect that the sun has on your skin is a deep browning called tanning. Sunburns progress naturally from tanning and are quite common in people with fair or sensitive skin Long, unprotected hours in the sun have been found to cause premature wrinkles, allergic reactions and other skin problems, even skin cancer. And this damage happens all year through. Therefore, protection is required every time you go out. Types of sunscreen  Two types of sunscreen lotions are available in the market. One type seeps into the outermost layer of your skin and absorbs harmful UV rays. The other coats the skin surface to physically block the UV rays from damaging the skin. What is SPF?  The effectiveness of all sunscreens is rated on the sun-protection factor (SPF). The SPF tells you the extent of protection against UVB (ultraviolet B) rays the product is designed to provide. It is the ratio of the time required for sunlight to burn your sunscreen-wearing skin to the time it would take for unprotected skin. Hence, if your unprotected skin would begin to burn in ten minutes, using a product marked as SPF20 you can safely stay in the sun 15 times longer before it is tanned.  Remember that the SPF rating on a sunscreen indicates protection only against UVB rays. There are other types of UV rays that you need protection from and research on this is in progress. So advanced products that shield you from all types of UV rays may be available soon. In the meanwhile, broad-spectrum (coverage from UV rays than UVB) sunscreen may also be a good choice. Choice  Today sunscreen lotion makers cater to highly specific populations. Hence, do not be surprised to find different products for the office-going crowd, the beach-combers and swimmers, athletes and, even for, children. These products usually hold good to their claims. Sunscreens for children take special care of the very sensitive nature of their outer skin, while products for athletes are usually sweat-proof.  Users can now choose between different products based on the added scent or extracts of natural ingredients found in them. Sunscreens with the goodness of aloe vera, vitamin E, or the scent of mint are quite popular. Use  To get the best out of your sunscreen, like most other formulations, you have to use it correctly. Most importantly, you have to wear it in adequate amounts and be sure it remains on you. The SPF value range that works adequately for most skin types is 15-25.  Ingredients in sunscreens require a while to be absorbed by your skin, and then protect it effectively from the sun. Hence, it is best to apply your sunscreen half an hour before you want to venture outdoors.  Do not be stingy in the application of the product. Only adequate amounts of the lotion can shield you, so use it as per the package instructions. A thumb rule suggests that application of about two tablespoons sunscreen lotion is enough for an average adult to protect his face and exposed parts of his arms. Also, it is advisable to combine the use of sunscreen with the kind of clothes you wear. For example, if you wear fabrics with very loosely woven fibers, like kota, you may need to go in for a higher SPF sunscreen, since these clothes may not shield the skin adequately.  In humid or tropical climates, or while playing sports, especially water sports and swimming, sweat and water may wash off the sunscreen from your skin. Re-application of the lotion then becomes very important. All sunscreens are effective only for a few hours. Always re-apply the sunscreen after it has completed its service cycle. If you wear a moisturizer with your sunscreen, it may be best to wear the sunscreen before you apply the moisturizer. Alternatively, you may want to pick a product that combines qualities of both the products.