If you spend too much time in the sun, you will likely suffer from wrinkles and age spots. To counter this, you need the right protection to keep those blemishes at bay and protect you from skin cancer. This article teaches you how to choose the best sun protection product.
Top Sun-Safety Tips
- There are a few basic rules to follow to keep your skin healthy, included:
Restrict your time in the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the UVB rays are strongest. - Wear a broad-brimmed hat, broad-spectrum sunglasses for blocking UVA and UVB rays, and clothes to cover skin exposed to the sun.
- Rub sunscreen at least every 80 minutes and more often if you’re swimming or sweating a lot.
All About Sunscreen
There are different types of sunscreens with various ingredients and levels of protection. Here are key details you need to know about sunscreen:
- Broad-spectrum: This means that a product can filter two types of sunlight. These are UVA, which causes damage like wrinkles and fine lines and can lead to skin cancer, and UVB, which causes burns and can also result in skin cancer.
- SPF: This measures the product’s ability to filter out UVB rays. The higher the SPF, the more protection it offers from sunburn. However, you must put more on at least every 2 hours, regardless of your SPF.
- Water resistant: Sunscreens with this claim on the label will keep working for 40 to 80 minutes after you get wet. You should also remember that each product has its level of water resistance. As such, you should read the labels and follow instructions for how often to reapply.
Other Ways to Shield Your Skin
- If sunscreen doesn’t interest you, these are some alternatives you can try:Hats: You should use hats with brims at least 3 inches wide. This will help protect your nose, cheeks, and neck.
- Clothing: Your clothes are often the best sun protection you can get. For instance, tightly woven fabrics like denim, twill, or spandex filter out more UV rays than “open-weave fabrics like linen. Darker clothes can also block out more UV rays than lighter ones.
Conclusion
If you will be in the sun for a long time, you should consider investing in quality sunscreen. Alternatively, you can use hats and clothing to protect your skin from prolonged sun exposure.
