We all know that sunscreen is the most important skincare product. Whether it’s summer, winter, or monsoon, you need to apply sunscreen regularly to protect your skin from harmful sun rays. Most of us use sunscreen only, knowing that it will protect our skin from getting tanned. However, you should know many other facts before choosing the right sunscreen for your skin. Let’s discuss some interesting facts about sunscreen in detail.
The SPF Math
SPF refers to the Sun Protection Factor. This is a number that usually ranges between 2 to 50. These numbers tell you how many hours you can stay in the sun after applying sunscreen. The SPF 10 says that you can be under the sun ten times longer without burning than you could without sunscreen. Therefore, if your skin starts feeling sunburned in ten minutes without sunscreen, then with sunscreen, you can extend it up to 100 minutes. Thus, a higher SPF means higher protection. However, no sunscreen can block the sun rays completely.
UVA or UVB
You would have heard or read about how sunscreens protect your skin from UVA or UVB rays. However, not all sunscreens can protect your skin against both rays. UVA rays tend to damage the skin beneath the surface, which makes skin age more quickly, whereas UVB rays cause sunburn on the surface of the skin. Therefore, the solution is to look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays.
Cloudy days need sunscreen as well.
Most of us only use sunscreen when there is a harsh sun; however, according to the experts, the sun rays can damage your skin even on cloudy days. Around 80% of the UV rays can reach your skin on such days. Therefore, it is vital to apply sunscreen to your skin on cloudy days. Make a habit of using sunscreen throughout the year.
Not only fair skin needs sunscreen.
Generally, people with fair skin are most likely to burn; however, even those with dark skin also need protection from harmful sun damage. Talking about skin cancer, it can be difficult to spot for people with dark skin tone until the later stage. This applies to babies as well. However, doctors always suggest keeping the babies away from sun rays or using a small amount of sunscreen on the exposed areas if the baby is six months and older.
Sunscreen has an expiry date.
You can easily spot the export day on the bottle of the sunscreen like other products, and you need to stop using it after the particular date. Experts also suggest stopping using the sunscreen that changes the color or consistency over time. Avoid using specific sunscreen for more than three years is always advised.
Final Thoughts
Using sunscreen regularly is the best solution to protect your skin; however, it is also important to stay away from the sun rays between 10 am to 4 pm. The sun is strongest during this time and can do more harm to your skin.
