We’ve already talked about why sunscreen is important and also about how to make the most of our sun care.
Today, I thought it might be fun to give you your own little tool kit so you can more comprehensively understand the basics of proper sun care.
Perhaps it’s because I live in the tropics, but I’ve always treated sunblock as an afterthought. I’m used to the sun’s rays beating down on my back and feeling the heat with each step I take outside. The usual outcome of a long day out in the sun is a massive tan and just a little dehydration for me, so I’ve thought of myself as #tooblessed2bstressed. But the more I learn about the skin damage I’m taking from that big ball of fire, the more I realise I need to get my house in order.
Sun exposure can cause various skin issues: pigmentation, dark spots, redness, enlarged pores, uneven skin tone, and fine lines. All of these issues together push your skin into premature ageing, not to mention how it increases your likelihood of developing melasma or skin cancer.
The culprits behind this damage are ultraviolet (UV) radiation. There are three types of uv light: UVA, UVB, and UVC, and they each need to be handled differently. UVA and UVB protection is vital. UVA rays have long wavelengths that penetrate deep into your skin, killing your skin cells. They are also responsible for your tan as well as premature skin ageing. UVB rays are shorter and damage your skin’s top layer - sunburn, sunspots, and hyperpigmentation. UVC rays are also short but largely filtered out by our ozone layer, so we don’t need to worry too much about those yet. As a rule of thumb, the shorter the UV ray wavelength, the more damage it can do. It’s a good idea to go for a broad spectrum sunscreen to ensure you have coverage from both UVA and UVB rays.
Now to decode those initialisms: SPF and PA. SPF stands for “sun protection factor” and is to protect skin from UVB rays. The number that follows the “SPF” represents an estimate of times of protection you have from the sun. Let me explain. If your skin starts to burn after 10 minutes of sun exposure, an SPF15 sunscreen will allow you 15 more times that, 150 minutes, before your skin burns. The amount of time is not the same for everyone. How much protection you will get depends on your skin type, the intensity of the sunlight, and the amount of sunscreen you have applied. PA is the protection grade of UVA; the more “+” symbols you see, the more protection from UVA rays you can expect.
But the level of protection isn’t everything and it’s dangerous to think a sunscreen with high SPF can last you a whole day. When it comes to keeping yourself from the attack of the sun’s radiation, reapplication is key. If you’re spending a day out in the sun, you’ll want to be applying sunscreen every 2-3 hours. As a general rule of thumb, you should apply two fingers worth of sunscreen at a time (use your index and middle fingers to estimate this) - don’t forget to apply it to your neck!
The type of sunscreen that will work best for you will depend on your skin type as well as your fun-in-the-sun activity! There are two types of sunscreen: chemical sunscreen and physical sunscreen. The main difference of these lies in how they block rays. Chemical sunscreens absorb UV rays into your skin, and convert them into heat whilst releasing them from your body. To help you identify them you can usually find sun protection chemicals such as oxybenzone, avobenzone or octinoxate on the ingredient label. If you are going to sweat or planning to go for a dip in the pool or sea, this is a more effective choice for protection. Physical (mineral) sunscreen on the other hand, usually contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide ingredients that sit on top of your skin to reflect UV rays directly. Experts usually recommend this for those with sensitive skin.
You can also take your skin’s preference into consideration! What kind of texture are you looking for, moist stick or non-sticky? Watery or fresh cream? Or would you prefer something that’s just non-greasy or non-comedogenic? The best way to know is to go to a place where you can try how these textures feel on your skin before springing for the one (or few) that you want! You may need a different sunscreen for different occasions like daily, tone-up, or intensive.
With all the different types of sunscreen there are out there, it can be a challenge to feel like you’re making the right choice. What’s important is that you are incorporating some type of sun care at the end of your morning skincare routine. And of course, it won’t hurt to pick out a good sun cream for the rest of your body too!
The long and the short of it is “always use protection”.
Gi