Here’s the truth: we all need to wear sunscreen. Every day. It seems like an additional chore and sometimes unnecessary (its cloudy outside, right?) but with a little effort it is worth the behavior change to avoid skin damage, cancer and premature aging.
It’s that time of year again for all the facts about sunscreen as we spend more time outside. Knowledge is power!
What are the different types of sunscreen
There are two different classifications of sunscreen.
1. A physical sunscreen protects you by deflecting the sun’s rays and contains ingredients such as zinc-oxide.
2. A chemical sunscreen protects our skin by absorbing the sun’s rays and converting them to heat to be released by the body.
Some products have both components for added protection. SPF stands for “Sun Protection Factor”. The number SPF indicates relays how much UVB (burning rays) light a sunscreen can filter out. There is no sunscreen that can filer out 100% of the sun’s UVB (burning) rays but combining SPF application with protective clothing and shade can help significantly.
There’s no such thing as “waterproof” sunscreen but there is truth in “water-resistant” labeled products. Sweat and water wash away sunscreen over time regardless and depending on the details it either lasts 40 minutes in the water or 80. At that time it is important to reapply. Even if you haven’t been in contact with water while wearing sunscreen it is highly recommended to reapply every 2 hours for best protection results.
We can’t stress enough how important it is to find a sunscreen product that you like and can get in the habit of applying every day not just when you have a vacation or being outside for an extended amount of time. Harmful rays from the sun can affect our skin through the window of the car as we drive and other scenarios.
At Dermablue we offer many options for health, correction and prevention for all your skin concerns. Whether its starting with general dermatology visits for full skin exams or using laser, dermal fillers and other options to help correct and repair skin damage we can help make the right treatment plan for you! Contact us today to get started!
