As a ginger of the world I feel it is my duty to explain how to effectively protect yourself from the sun. So slather your sunblock on and enjoy the Great Outdoors.
Now let’s compare the different sun rays:
UVB- Causes:
Surface sunburns
Epidermis
Skin cancers
Freckling
Age spots
UVA- Causes
Aging
Tanning
Permanent DNA Damage
Penetrates deep into the skin and affects the DNA of the dermis
But how do we protect ourselves from the sun? And what do all those abbreviations mean anyways?
Most U.S. sunscreens protect from UVB rays, but many Asian countries have developed a wide range of UVA protective sunscreens. Protection Grade A (PA) system is in used in many Asian countries and Persistent Pigmentation Darkening(PPD) is in many European countries.
PA+ = Some UVA protections = PPD 2-4
PA++ Moderate UVA protection = PPD 4-8
PA+++ High UVA Protection = PPD 8 and up
PA++++Extremely High UVA Protection = PPD up to 16
In the U.S. Broad Spectrum(FDA certified) is the only approved UVA protection rating. It is a pass fail test so either sunscreen is broad spectrum or not.You need effective protection from both UVA and UVB.
SPF- Sun protective factor
-It measures how well the sunscreen is going to protect your skin from UVB sun rays
-It measures how long you can stay in the sun without getting burned.
Higher SPF does not =higher protection. It is the duration of time you can be protected from the sun.
If it takes you 10 minutes to burn unprotected if you have a SPF of 15 then it will take 150 minutes to achieve the same burn.
10 x 15 = 150 minutes until burned
Note that increasing SPF is not linear (see picture below).
Dramatically increasing SPF, while it may help a little, doesn’t really mean you are “super protected”.
Anything over SPF 50 should be labeled spf 50+ because it does not improve protection.
Other ways to protect yourself
Clothes are also a great way to protect yourself, but not all clothes are as protective
-Jeans offer the best protection
-Polyester, nylon, block 98% of UV
-White cotton shirts 75% UV (which is the same protection as SPF 5)
Glass as a sun protectant is a misconception
-Glass offers protection from UVB
-UVA can pass through glass
-Usually in cars only the windshield of a car is UVA protected, although tinted windows can help.
There are two ways you can use sunscreen to protect yourself
1. Chemical Sunscreens
Contains chemicals like octocrylene, avobenzone ect.
Work by absorbing the UV rays as enters skin and chemically transforming them into heat that exits the skin as infrared rays
Perks: lightweight,blendable, easy to reapply
Cons: chemicals irritate skin
2. Physical/Mineral Sunscreens
Contains Zinc and titanium oxide
Work by active minerals on the surface of the skin reflecting UV rays
Perks: Works immediately after applied, better for sensitive skin
Cons: Heavy and more visible(you can but tinted options)
Application Tips
-Apply 30 minutes before sun exposure or before going in the water so it does not just wipe off and binds to your skin.
-Make sure you reapply every 2 hours
-To get the full benefits of the SPF you are using you need the correct amount of sunscreen
¼ teaspoon on your face and approx. a shot glass for body
-SPF in makeup products is not enough to have the correct amount of protection.
Misc.
-Getting a base tan at a tanning salon does help prevent short term burning fast, but it exposes you to more cancer causing UVA.
-Skin tone more pigment melanin in your skin equates to more time without burning but every skin tone is still susceptible to UVA.
-Check UV index for the day.UV is highest 10-4 pm.
Stay safe outside!
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