Greetings everyone,
Sun protection is essential to protect your skin from the damages caused by harmful UV radiations. These can harm your skin and increase the chances of premature ageing. Nowadays, each and every cosmetic offers you SPF to provide sun protection. SPF refers to the Sun Protection Factor that acts as a protective layer from UVB rays. Some sunscreens come with a broad-spectrum formula which can provide you sufficient protection from both UVA and UVB rays. And, there is no such thing called total protection or all-day protection so, choose your companion wisely. You all must be aware of the basic things about sunscreen still, there are certain misconceptions you need to stop believing. Since summer is here, I thought of writing this post. So, let’s read further.
1. Sunscreen is only for the face:
A big no! Sunscreen is not only for your face. It should be applied all over the body, the covered parts as well, to enjoy the maximum protection. I mentioned the covered parts because some people often make this excuse of not applying sunscreen. The UV rays are really smart and evil that they can pass through your clothes. So, apply the sunscreen on your neck, arms, legs, ears and lips as well which are prone to the sun damage.
2. Dusky skin or already tanned skin doesn’t need sunscreen:
You need a sunscreen regardless of your skin tone or skin type. It may be possible that you could have genes more vulnerable to sun damage even if you have a dark skin tone. On the other hand, if you fall into the category of who “burns rarely and tans easily”, then also you must not skip the sunscreen. Besides, if you think that a base tan can protect you, this is also a misconception. Not using a sunscreen thinking that you already have tanned skin is not going to do any good for your skin.
3. Sunscreen blocks vitamin D:
If you skip using a sunscreen thinking that you need vitamin D, then you are harming your skin. Sunscreen doesn’t block your skin from absorbing the vitamin D. While many people don’t consider the fact that only a few minutes are quite sufficient to produce the optimum level of vitamin D, they are more willing to get tanned or burnt. If you really want to get vitamin D into your system, you can include Vitamin D rich foods your diet or an occasional sun exposure would also do the work.
4. All sunscreens are similar:
Not all sunscreens are same as some have zinc oxide or titanium oxide while some have chemicals like avobenzone. The formula of each sunscreen can differ based on the SPF level and the broad-spectrum labelling. So, not all sunscreens are similar, and not all of them provide a complete protection.
5. Sunscreen is only needed during peak hours:
We clearly know that sunscreen is needed even on cloudy days, so it is essential to use it during peak hours also. UVB rays are not active throughout the day, but UVA rays that cause tanning and damage to the skin are active throughout the day. Besides, clouds block only the infrared rays so that you don’t feel hot, but they cannot block UV rays completely.
6. A little amount is enough:
You need a generous amount of sunscreen, and it should be applied frequently. Allow it to sink into the skin before going out in the sun. I have seen many people not re-applying the sunscreen after few hours. If you are wondering about the step of applying the sunscreen, then the correct sequence is cleansing, toning, moisturising, sunscreen and makeup. Also, you can use a moisturiser with an SPF instead of applying a separate sunscreen. Now, if you are thinking how to reapply it over your makeup, then I will clear this as well. Sunscreen provides an effective protection when applied to bare skin. If you have makeup on and thinking to reapply over the makeup, then it would not be as effective as on the bare skin. So, you have to re-apply the sunscreen and redo the makeup. If you do not want it to be a hassle, you can opt for a physical sunscreen or powder sunscreen as it will block the rays from penetrating, and you don’t have to wait for it to absorb into the skin.
7. Sunscreen with SPF can prevent tanning:
If you think that using a sunscreen with SPF will not cause tanning, then you are wrong. SPF in the sunscreen refers to the protection from UVB rays that cause sunburn and a minority of tanning. Actually, UVA is responsible for the majority tanning of your skin. To make this more clear, you need a sunscreen labelled with a broad-spectrum or claims to provide UVA protection as it will prevent your skin from tanning and it offers protection from both UVA and UVB rays.
Best Sunscreens for Dry and Sensitive Skin
Lacto Calamine Sun Shield Daily Use Sunscreen SPF 30 PA++
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