33 Sunscreen Tips
July 23, 2008 by kal
Filed under Healthy Living
33 Tips Sunscreen Tips and an explanation of what sunscreens are and how to use it. Sunscreens are important skin-care products used to prevent photoaging and skin cancer. Until recently it was believed that blocking UVB radiation and sunburn were the only measures needed to prevent sun damage. The SPF rating was developed to measure the ability of a sunscreen to block UVB radiation. Now we know that UVA radiation also contributes significantly to damaging the skin. These chemicals are used in sunscreens to absorb UVA radiation.
Benzophenones
The benzophenones, oxybenzone and dioxybenzone, are the second most commonly used components of sunscreens. They provide effective protection in the 320-340 nm portion of the UVA range (not the complete UVA spectrum). Oxybenzone is actually a more efficient UVB absorber and boosts the SPF when added to other UVB absorbers.
• Advantages - Does not stain clothing and does not cause skin irritation
• Disadvantages - Not water resistant
Avobenzone
Avobenzone (Parsol 1789) is the only chemical that absorbs the whole UVA spectrum at 310-400 nm. It does not provide any UVB absorption. There has been controversy about whether avobenzone actually breaks down in the presence of sunlight, but it appears that these claims have not been backed up with further studies.
• Advantages - Does not stain clothing and does not cause skin irritation
• Disadvantages - Controversy of stability in sunlight
33 Sunscreen Tips
Read our 33 tips and find out how to get the most protection from your sunscreen.
1. Know your sunshine
The sun produces two types of ultraviolet rays and both are believed to cause skin cancer:
UVA penetrates deep into our skin and it’s difficult to get full protection from these rays.
UVB doesn’t penetrate the skin as deeply and so are the rays that turn us red.
2. Know your sunscreen
Bottles sun protection comes in two forms:
Sunscreens are chemicals that absorb the radiation as it hits our skin. Broad spectrum sunscreens offer protection about both UVA and UVB – although UVA protection is limited.
Sunblock physically block both kinds of UV rays by reflecting them away from the skin. The most popular are zinc oxide (ZO) or titanium dioxide (TiO2), both which leave a tell tale white mask on the skin. Newer formulas have been micronized to become transparent. And, just to confuse us, they are also called sunscreens.
3. Understand SPF
Sun Protection Factor (SPF) measures the UVB rays NEVER UVA! That classic formula of multiplying the SPF factor by ten to get the length of time doesn’t work! Most sunscreens give between 60 to 90 minutes of protection so SPF should be used to determine how much UVB is blocked:
2 SPF blocks 50 percent
10 SPF blocks 90 percent
15 SPF blocks 93 percent
30 SPF blocks 96.67 percent
50 SPF blocks 98 percent
4. UVA protection
Since UVA rays are impossible to measure accurately, the FDA created the following UVA ratings:
One star: low UVA protectio
Two stars: medium protection
Three stars: high protection
Four stars: highest protection available in an over-the-counter (OTC) sunscreen product.
The European rating is low, medium or high. Canada has yet to adopt a rating for UVA protection. Mexoryl SX, a popular UVA blocked used in Canada and Europe for many years has just been approved for use in the USA. Find out more about the sunscreens available with Mexoryl SX at Makeup Alley.
5. Use the teaspoon rule
To prevent sunburn use the teaspoon rule: one teaspoon per body section. (One for face and neck area, one for the front, one of for the back, one for each exposed arm and leg.) A typical plastic twist-off cap is about a teaspoon worth. Pay attention to those classically overlooked areas: ears, nose, lips, feet and toes.
6. Treat your sunscreen properly
Store your sunscreen in a cool place — not in your car on a sunny day. Heat does strange things to the chemical compounds, rendering them ineffective. Most of us don’t realize sunscreen has a shelf life so checks yours for the expiry date. It won’t work very well past the due date.
7. Be realistic
If you burn easily then the only safe protection is to stay out of the sun during peak hours between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.. Afternoon siestas were invented for a reason. Sunscreen rubs off easily so should be reapplied every two hours even it claims to be sweat or water resistant.
8. Buyer beware
Don’t believe all the claims by manufacturers. An investigation by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found 4 out of 5 of the 952 name-brand sunscreens tested were inadequate. Check with the Skin Deep, Cosmetic Safety Database to see how your brand measures up.
9. Read the labels
Protection has a downside. Micronized ZO and TiO2 sunblock may pose a threat by being small enough to be absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream. The Australian government recommends nothing smaller than 100 nanometres (nm). Powder and sprays should be avoided because the particles are easily inhaled.
Hormone disrupting chemicals such as Benzophenone, homosalate and octyl methoxycinnamate (also called octinoxate) and DNA disruptors Padimate-0 and parsol 1789 (aka avobenzone) are also killing our marine life and coral reefs. Doctors are recommending you don’t use them on small children.
10. Let your skin breathe
Canadians and Americans are so dangerously low on their Vitamin D that many doctors are recommending “safe sun” — 15 minutes without sunscreen a couple of times week to get your dose of the sunshine vitamin. Read more about Vitamin D.
11. Try to avoid the sun’s most intense rays by staying out of the sun during the middle of the day — and don’t be lulled into complacency by overcast days, since most of the sun’s harmful rays will get through the clouds. Be especially careful if you are around water, sand, snow, or any surface that will reflect and therefore intensify the sun’s rays. Remember, the sun’s rays are more intense the higher you get in elevation.
12. When purchasing sunscreen, select a PABA-free brand with an SPF of at least 15, preferably greater.
13. In general, infants’ skin is much thinner and more sensitive to the sun than adults’ skin, even in individuals with darker complexions. The amount of sunscreen needed depends on how light the child’s complexion is. I would recommend using sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 for very fair-skinned children.
14. The AAP used to recommend not putting sunscreen on infants under six months of age. This is no longer the case, because the danger from sunburns outweighs the risk of sensitivity to sunscreens.
15. Sunscreen is most effective if first applied 20-30 minutes before sun exposure.
16. Use sunscreen whenever you expect to be in the sun for thirty minutes or more, and re-apply after swimming.
17. Even waterproof sunscreens should be re-applied every 80 minutes or so, after being in the water.
18. Make sure effective use of clothing, hats, and other physical barriers to protect the skin from the sun.
19. Don’t apply body lotion before sunscreen, it will act as a barrier to your sunscreen.
20. Keep sunscreen it in a cool dry place. Extreme temperatures affects potency.
21. unscreen has a shelf life of about 2 years. Check the manufacturing or expiry date when your purchase it.
22. Apply sunscreen 15 minutes before to allow it to dry properly.
23. Even waterproof sunscreens should be re-applied every 80 minutes or so, and right after being in the water.
24. Try to put a a generous amount on, and not be stingy on this.
Proper Use of Sunscreen
25. Exposure to ultraviolet light, UVA or UVB, from sunlight accounts for 90% of the symptoms of premature skin aging such as wrinkles and skin cancers. The most important skin-care product available to prevent wrinkles and skin cancer is sunscreen, but most people do not use sunscreen correctly.
26. UV Radiation
The sun gives off ultraviolet (UV) radiation that we divide into categories based on the wavelength. UVC radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere and does not cause skin damage. UVB radiation affects the outer layer of skin, the epidermis, and is the primary agent responsible for sunburns. UVB does not penetrate glass, and the intensity of UVB radiation depends on the time of day and the season. UVA radiation penetrates deeper into the skin and works more efficiently. The intensity of UVA radiation is more constant than UVB without the variations during the day and throughout the year. UVA is also not filtered by glass.
27. Sunscreen Ingredients
Sunscreens ingredients can be divided into compounds that physically block radiation or compounds that absorb radiation. The radiation blockers are very effective at reducing the exposure of the skin to both UVA and UVB radiation. Older formulations like zinc oxide are opaque and may be cosmetically unacceptable. However, a newer formulation of micronized titanium dioxide is not as opaque and provides excellent protection. The radiation absorbing ingredients are differentiated by the type of radiation they absorb - UVA absorbers and UVB absorbers.
28. Picking the Proper Sunscreen
The SPF measures the amount of UVB absorption, but there is no method of reporting the UVA absorption. The only way to determine if a sunscreen protects against UVA and UVB radiation is to look at the ingredients. A good broad-spectrum sunscreen should have an SPF of at least 15 and contain avobenzone, titanium dioxide, or zinc oxide.
29. Applying Sunscreen Properly
Most people use sunscreen improperly by not applying enough. They apply only 25% to 50% of the recommended amount. Sunscreen should be applied liberally enough to all sun-exposed areas that it forms a film when initially applied. It takes 20-30 minutes for sunscreen to be absorbed by the skin, so it should be applied at least a half an hour before going out in the sun. Sunscreen should also be the last product applied especially on the face since some sunscreens can break down in the presence of water contained in water-based foundations and moisturizers.
30. Reapplying Sunscreen
Most instructions on sunscreen labels recommend reapplying sunscreen “frequently”, but the definition of “frequently” is vague. A common instruction is to reapply sunscreen after 2-4 hours in the sun. However, one study has shown that reapplying sunscreen 20 to 30 minutes after being in the sun is more effective than waiting 2 hours. It is possible that this time period is more effective because most people do not apply enough sunscreen initially, and this second application approximates the actual amount needed. Sunscreen should also be reapplied after swimming, excessive sweating, or toweling.
31. Daily Sunscreen
Sunscreen should be applied daily. The daily use of a low-SPF sunscreen (15) has been shown to be more effective in preventing skin damage than the intermittent use of a higher SPF sunscreen.
32. Sunscreen and Insect Repellents
Insect repellents reduce the sunscreen’s SPF by up to one-third. When using sunscreen and insect repellent together, a higher SPF should be used and reapplied more often.
33. UVA Absorbing Sunscreens
Chemicals Used in Sunscreens to Absorb UVA Radiation
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