Sunscreen is your friend. Whether you have darker skin or lighter skin, you never seem to burn or you turn into a lobster after the slightest exposure, sunscreen can always offer helpful protection from harmful light rays. Believe it or not, prolonged sun exposure without proper protection can lead not only to skin cancer dangers, but premature wrinkles and aging of the skin. So to take care of your health and appearance, it’s important to know the effects of sunscreen, as well as some come misconceptions about it.
You may not realize it, but you probably aren’t using sunscreen often enough. It’s especially useful if you plan on spending a sunny day outside, but even a short amount of time spent in the sun on an overcast day can damage your skin. Those ultraviolet rays can still pack a punch, so you may want to keep at least some SPF 15 on hand wherever you go.
There’s no such thing as waterproof sunscreen. Even brands that are “water resistant” won’t protect you all day at the pool or beach. If you plan on going in the water or breaking a sweat, it’s best to wait 10 to 15 minutes after applying sunscreen, usually something with SPF 30 or higher, and then reapply every hour or so.
Even if you avoid water, one application of sunscreen generally doesn’t last all day. It becomes less effective as you wear it out during the day. So to make sure you get the most protection, keeping some sunscreen with you and reapplying every few hours should do the trick.
All sunscreen isn’t the same, and so some may offer you more protection than others depending on the ingredients in them. Using a full or broad spectrum sunscreen can keep you shielded against both harmful UVB and UVA rays. A higher SPF can also give you stronger protection.
Next time you head outside, if you don’t feel like donning a hat and longer sleeves, consider layering with some sunscreen. It may be a little sticky to touch, but prioritizing your skin protection can help you maintain health and beauty on a long-term basis. Don’t worry, you can still soak up plenty of Vitamin D.