Sunscreen : Some important tips for protection from sunlight

Most people know that they should wear sunscreen to protect their skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays, although many do not know how to choose and use sunscreen correctly

Therefore, through this article, we will learn in detail about the most important tips related to sunscreen

Some important tips for protection from sunlight

You should know that the way you use this product and other preventive measures you take can significantly affect how you protect yourself and your family from sunburn, skin cancer, premature skin aging, and other risks, especially when overexposed to sunlight.

Some important safety tips for sun protection include:

Limit the time in the sun, especially between 10 am and 2 pm when the sun’s Rays are at their strongest.

Wear clothes that cover sun-exposed skin, such as long-sleeved shirts, pants, sunglasses, and a wide-brimmed hat.

Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher regularly as directed.

Reapply sunscreen at least every two hours, and more often if you sweat or jump in and out of the water.

How to apply and store sunscreen

An olfactory condom should be applied for at least 15 minutes before going outside. This allows enough time for sunscreens (SPF 15 or higher) to provide maximum benefit.

In addition, you should use enough to cover the entire face and body and avoid the eyes and mouth, as an adult or an average-sized child needs at least one ounce of sunscreen (about the amount needed to fill a small cup) to cover the body evenly from head to toe.

The most important places and spots that are frequently forgotten:

Ears

The nose

Lips

Back of the neck

Hands

Thus, you should thoroughly familiarize yourself with your skin before touching and using sunscreen, since under the same conditions light-skinned people may absorb more solar energy than dark-skinned people.

Also, be sure to reapply it at least every two hours, or more frequently if you are swimming or sweating.

Nothing like waterproof sunscreen. People should also be aware that no sunscreen is waterproof. “All sunscreens wash off eventually, so sunscreens classified as water resistant should be tested according to the required SPF testing procedure, and the label should also state whether the sunscreen stays effective for 40 minutes or 80 minutes when swimming or sweating, and all sunscreens should schedule a reapplication.

How to store your sunscreen correctly

To keep the sunscreen in good condition, the FDA recommends not exposing sunscreen containers to direct sunlight.

Thus you should protect the sunscreen by wrapping the containers with a towel or keeping them in the shade, sunscreen containers can also be placed in coolers while outside in high heat for long periods of time time

That’s why all sunscreen labels should say: “protect the product in this container from overheating and direct sunlight.”

Sunscreens for babies and children

It is not recommended to use sunscreen for babies. The US Food and Drug Administration recommends keeping children out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and wearing protective clothing if they should be in the sun. Children are more likely than adults to experience sunscreen side effects such as skin rashes. The best protection for children is to keep them out of the sun completely. Talk to your doctor before applying sunscreen to babies under 6 months of age.

For babies over 6 months of age, the FDA recommends using sunscreen according to the directions on the Drug Facts label.

What are the types of sunscreen?

Sunscreens come in many forms, including:

Lotions

creams

sticks

gels

Oils

butter

pastes

sprays

Instructions for using sunscreen products vary depending on their shape. For example, never apply sunscreen spray directly to your face. This is just one of the reasons why you should always read the labels before using sunscreen products.

Note: the FDA does not allow the sale of over-the-counter sunscreen products in the form of wet wipes, body washing powder, or shampoo.

Understanding sunscreen stickers

01 . Broad spectrum

Not all sunscreens are broad-spectrum, so it’s essential to look for them on the label, as it protects broad-spectrum sunscreens from ultraviolet radiation from the sun

Thus you need to protect yourself from two types of ultraviolet radiation – UVA, and UVB. The broad spectrum display is prevented by providing a chemical barrier that absorbs or reflects UV rays before they harm the skin

Therefore, non-broad-spectrum sunscreens or sunscreens with an SPF of at least 15 should carry the following warnings:

Skin cancer/skin aging alert: sun exposure increases the risk of skin cancer and premature skin aging. It is proved that this product only helps prevent sunburn, not skin cancer or premature skin aging. “

02 . Sun protection factor (SPF)

They are products for which sunscreens are made with multiple SPFs.

The SPF value indicates the level of sun protection provided by a sunscreen product. All sunscreens are tested to measure the amount of UV radiation needed to cause sunburn when using sunscreen, and the amount of UV radiation needed to cause sunburn when not using sunscreen. Sunscreen. Then the product is labeled with the appropriate SPF value. Higher SPF values (up to 50) provide better protection from sunburn. Since the SPF values are determined by tests that measure protection against sunburn caused by UV rays, the SPF values represent only the UV and sunscreen protection.

And to get maximum protection from sunscreen, choose one with an SPF of at least 15.

If you have fair skin, you may need an SPF higher than 30 to 50.

There is a common misconception that SPF is related to the time of exposure to sunlight. For example, many people think that if they usually get sunburned within an hour, sunscreen of 15 SPF will allow them to stay in the sun for 15 hours (for example 15 times longer) without getting sunburn. This is not true because the SPF is not directly related to the amount of sun exposure, but the amount of sun exposure.

Compared to the early morning and early evening, the sun is stronger at noon. This means you have a higher risk of sunburn in the middle of the day. Solar intensity is also geographically related, with greater solar intensity occurring at lower latitudes.

What are the components of sunscreen?

Each drug has active and inactive components. In the case of sunscreens, the active ingredients are those that protect the skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. Inactive ingredients are all the other components of an inactive ingredient, such as water or oil, which can be used to formulate sunscreens. Below is a list of acceptable active ingredients in products labeled sunscreen:

Aminobenzoic acid

Avobenzone

Cinoxate

Dioxybenzone

Homosalate

Meradimate

Octocrylene

Octinoxate

Oxybenzone

Padimate O

Ensulizole

Sulisobenzone

Titanium dioxide

Trolamine salicylate

Zinc oxide

Although the protective effects of sunscreen products occur on the surface of the skin, there is evidence that at least some of the active sunscreen substances can be absorbed through the skin and into the body. This has led to research to determine whether and to what extent the use of sunscreen products according to directions may lead to unintentional long-term systematic exposure to sunscreen activators.

Sunscreen expiration dates

FDA regulations all sunscreens and other over-the-counter medications are required to have an expiration date unless a stability test by the manufacturer indicates that the product will remain stable for at least three years. This means that sunscreen products without an expiration date should be three years after purchase to be considered expired.

To ensure that your sunscreen provides the promised sun protection on its label, the FDA recommends not using a sunscreen product that has exceeded its expiration date (if any) or has no expiration date, and has not been purchased within three years of the deadline. Expired sunscreens should be discarded as there is no guarantee that they will remain completely safe and effective.