The Facts About Sunscreen
It is a common misconception that only certain shades of skin need to protect themselves from the harmful rays of the sun. It does not matter your skin color, if you are as pale as Snow White or extremely deep toned. EVERYONE, I repeat EVERYONE needs to be protecting their skin from the sun. It is true that people with deeper toned skin have more melanin so instead of burning like someone with very little melanin (pale skin), they tan, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t still damaging your skin. Anyone is susceptible to skin cancer no matter your ethnic background, your age, or your gender. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, one in five Americans develop skin cancer in their lifetime. Here at The Preserve MedSpa & Wellness, we want to educate you and offer you some tips to keep you and your loved ones healthy and protected while you spend time enjoying the warm and sunny weather.
TIP #1: BUY THE CORRECT TYPE OF SUNSCREEN
Must be Broad-spectrum protection (protects against UVA and UVB rays) -UVA (aging rays from the sun-causes premature aging, hyperpigmentation, wrinkles) -UVB (burning rays from the sun- causes painful sunburns)
Spf 30 or Higher
Water resistance -even if you aren't swimming, this will help when you are sweating
TIP #2: CORRECT APPLICATION
Most adults need about 1 ounce of sunscreen to cover their whole body -enough to fill a shot glass
Don't forget to apply to the tops of your feet, your neck, your ears, and the top of your head where your hair parts. The lips are often forgotten but still extremely important to protect. Use a lip balm or lipstick with an SPF of 30 or higher.
Physical sunscreens and Chemical sunscreens are both great options to choose from to protect your skin but both require different application times to start working. -Physical sunscreen works right away, just like a shield or barrier. (Active Ingredients: Zinc Oxide and/or Titanium Dioxide) -Chemical sunscreen requires you put it on 15 minutes before sun exposure so the product can penetrate the top layer of your skin to protect. (Active Ingredients: Oxybenzone)
For maximum efficiency, your sunscreen should be applied every two hours no matter how high your SPF is. -Layering SPF does not increase the protection. (Ex: SPF 30 + SPF 20 does NOT mean you are protecting your skin like an SPF 50)
Last but not least, sun rays still penetrate through the clouds on those rainy and cloudy days so be sure to still apply your sun protection.
