You know it’s important to wear sunscreen. You know it’s important to wear it even when it’s not summertime. You also know it’s even more important to use sunscreen in the summer when we are outside longer hours and when the sun is the hottest.
You know all these things and try to put them into practice, but do you know how to choose the right sunscreen?
Be Safe In the Sun
This summer we will be heading to the beaches and lakes in droves. Lockdowns are a thing of the past and we crave the outdoors. Just make sure your rush to worship the sun keeps you and your family safe from the damaging rays of the sun.
Nasty sunburns can prevent you from enjoying warm-weather activities to be sure, but even worse is what that burn can do to your skin after it fades.
What you want is the right amount of fun – with the right sunscreen – and the right amount of sunscreen.
You WANT Broad Spectrum
Check the label on your sunscreen bottle for the term broad spectrum. This means it protects you from both UVB and UVA rays.
UVB rays are the most damaging, causing skin cancers as well as those painful sunburns. UVA rays also cause damage and make your skin look older with wrinkles and spots. Less intense, but still damaging. You want a sunscreen that has both, or one labeled “broad spectrum”, to give you double the protection.
You WANT A High Sun Protection Factor
You want an SPF of 30 or more to be fully protected. Anything below SPF 15 is labeled as not protective against skin cancer, only sunburn.
No sunscreen protects you completely, but the higher the number, the more protected you are.
You WANT Water Resistance
You want to know when you go into the ocean, a pool, or a lake, the sunscreen you just slathered all over isn’t going to come right off and leave you unprotected. While it is not going to be water-proof, being water-resistant helps. It will protect you for 40 to 80 minutes before you need more.
If you towel off, you probably want to apply more. After two hours in the sun, re-apply.
You WANT Even More Protection
If you truly want to protect yourself and your family members from the damaging rays of the sun, add in a brimmed hat, cover up when you can, and even little ones should wear sunglasses. Sit under an umbrella or in the shade when you can.
Enjoy the summer fun, but protect your skin.
Contact Goodless Dermatology at (407) 566-1616 for a skin evaluation at our Orlando office or our Celebration office before you go out in the sun this summer.