The sun's rays not only cause skin cancer but also promote premature ageing in the skin. A couple of months ago I went to my local drug store to buy sunblock. My partner and I planned a hiking trip through the Virginias so naturally I wanted to make sure I had my sunblock. I was very suprised to find that spf #'s went as high as 100 even 110. I grabbed waterproof and sweatproof spf 70 and was on my way.
SPF stand for sun protection factor. If you are like most people you will start to burn after 15 min in the sun without protection. The spf number tells you how long you can be out in the sun without getting burned. The formula for your protection time is the spf number multiplied by 15. For example the spf on my sunblock was 70, so 70 x 15 = 1050 min. So theoretically that means I could apply that sunblock and stay out in the sun for 17+ hours. That sounded too good to be true. I've done some digging around and found a few facts about sunblock you need to know.
But before we get to those facts, let's cover an old one. If you don't use sunblock you should know that the American Cancer Society is saying that the rays from the sun are definitely carcinogenic to humans and are as harmful as cigarettes and asbestos. And something for the indoor tanners out there: if you think tanning salons are the way to go you, you should pay particular attention to number 5 below.
Here are 5 facts you need to know about protecting yourself:
1. No matter what the spf number, all sunblocks should be reapplied after 2 hours regardless of how much you put on.
2. Make sure your sunblock says "full spectrum". This means it protects you from uvA and uvB rays. Both have been linked to skin cancer, the most common type of cancer. Many sunblocks only protect from uva.
3. Waterproof doesn't mean you can go swimming and still be protected after you come out of the water. Waterproof really means water-resistant. If you get sprayed by a water gun (not drenched) or sweat a little your sunblock won't come off. If you are submerged in water for any length of time you will need to reapply your sunblock.
4. Check the expiration dates. You can't keep sunblock from one year to the other and neither should the stores. Sunblock is only good for one year so unfortunately you can't wait for the end of the summer sales to stock up.
5. All types of uv rays are harmful. Even the uvA used in tanning beds.. The younger you are the higher the risk of skin cancer from indoor tanning. These rays also cause premature ageing
If you really crave that sunkissed look try spray tans and lotions. They have really improved over the years and most of all they won't damage your skin. Remember to take all consequences in to account when you make a decision to tan, and get regular check ups for melanoma.
Written by Joann Agoglia
Edited by Robert Marshall
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