Have you held a sunscreen & ever wondered if it really is the right one for you?
Well, this post talks about all the important factors that you need to consider, so the next time you choose the one that's exactly made for you.
First, let’s talk about why you require a sunscreen in first place?
Ultraviolet(UV) light is one of the Electromagnetic Radiation that reaches the Earth’s surface from the Sun.
There are 3 types of UV radiation - UV A, UV B & UV C.
About 95% of the UV radiation from the sun is UV A & the rest 5% is of UV B. UV C does not reach the Earth’s surface as it gets absorbed by the Ozone layer.
The Effects of UV light on the skin are :
Premature Ageing
Wrinles
Dark Spots
Pigmetation
Sunburns
Skin Cancer
You might have come across Sunscreens that read "broad spectrum". Well, it means that the sunscreen acts as a shield for the skin. Thereby, the skin is protected from both-UV A as well as UV B radiation.
Next, what does the SPF on the sunscreen mean?
The most important thing to look out in a sunscreen is the SPF that it provides.
SPF is the Sun Protection Factor, which indicates the time for which the sunscreen offers skin protection from the UV radiation.
A simple calculation would help you select a sunscreen with the perfect SPF based on your requirement.
Multiple the SPF of the sunscreen by 20.
This gives you the time (in minutes) that the sunscreen provides a protection from the damaging effects of sun exposure.
For example, if the sunscreen is of SPF 15, it means your skin is protected for 300 minutes
(SPF 15*20). So you need to reapply the sunscreen after 300 minutes since the shielding effect of the sunscreen is gone.
So, which SPF is ideal for you?
You need to select the SPF of the Sunscreen based on the duration of sun exposure & also on the color of your skin. The following chart will help you decide on the SPF that you require.
For example, if your skin tone matches the left most column & if you plan to spend 3 hours outdoors in the sun, a sunscreen having an SPF 50 is the ideal one for you.
Which are the ingredients to look out for?
Most of the sunscreens contain either minerals like Zinc Oxide & Titanium Dioxide or chemicals like Oxybenzone, Octinoxate, Homosalate, Octocrylene.
These work by reflecting the sun rays from the skin, thereby the radiations don't penetrate the skin.
Based on scientific studies carried out, it is found that minerals are safer for not only for the skin but also for the health.
The chemicals affect the health in a negative way. It leads to hormonal disruption, organ system toxicity, reproductive toxicity, allergies & more.
You definitely want to go for sunscreens containing minerals and not the ones that contain those harmful chemicals.
In a nutshell, the main points to be mindful of while selecting a sunscreen
Look out for the SPF based on your skin tone & times of sun exposure.
Choose the mineral-based sunscreen instead of chemical-based one.
Be careful while using a sunscreen spray.
Reapply after few hours.
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