Summer holidays are here and you are still not sure what to do to protect your skin? A studyShows if you are not using sun protection irrespective of strong harmful rays, it is causing suffering to you in the long term. So, it is safer to use adequate sun protection to ensure your skin protection from harmful rays like UVB and UVA. Keep reading the blog post to know ways to safeguard from it.
Use it appropriately for effective sun protection
I will highly recommend you use sunscreen with a sun protection factor(SPF) of 30 or higher when you spend time outside.SPF 30 will guard against roughly 97%of UVB rays. If you think 30 is not enough, you are wrong. You can use sunscreens with SPF greater than 50, but it will provide a very small increase in protection against UV radiation.
It’s important to wear sunscreen regardless of skin color to protect yourself from the adverse effects of UV radiation. If you are a lighter skin tone beauty, you must use sunscreen. According to The Americans of Pediatrics, it is unsafe to use sunscreen on children younger than six months.so, They are said to emphasize minimal sun exposure and to ensure adequate clothing and shade.
Sun protection with physical sunscreens(inorganic filters)
Physical sunscreens tend to provide more broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB light. Inorganic filters are mineral compounds such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide that hypothetically work by reflecting and scattering UV light to guard your skin. Studies found that these compounds work by absorbing UV radiation and transforming it into heat. These physical sunscreens are supposed to be used in the formulations used in children’s sunscreens, as they are easy on sensitive skin. The texture of these sunscreens is thicker and may appear whiter.
Sun: the advantages and disadvantages
Sunlight is essential for human existence. It is crucial for proper bodily functions, including manufacturing vitamin D and controlling your circadian rhythm and mood. Yet too much sun exposure can also be dangerous and affect you severely. Ultraviolet (UV0 radiation may cause short-term and long-term skin damage, including signs of aging, sunburn, and even skin cancer. Roughly, one out of five people in the United States may form skin cancer in their lifetimes.
Generally, 95 %of the UV radiation reaching our skin is ultraviolet A(UVA)light, which is mainly responsible for chronic effects such as wrinkling, photoaging, and age spots. Ultraviolet B(UVB)rays are responsible for a smaller percentage but may be even more damaging, as they are the primary cause of sunburns. Both UVA and UVB may result in skin cancer.
Even with all of these risks, many people still head to the beach with nothing more than their bathing suits, hoping to get a tan. For some, a lobster-red burn is considered a badge of a successful beach day. This is not recommended. Any prolonged UV light exposure can put you at risk even if it isn’t summer, such as if you are out skiing in the winter with the sun reflected from the snow, or if you are indoors but using a tanning bed. So what can you do to protect yourself from these harmful rays?
Though many people desperately visit the beach with nothing more than their bathing suits, wishing to get a tan. The perfect tan body is then the disease-free body. For some people, a lobster-red burn is known as a badge of a successful beach day. This is quite dangerous and not recommended anyhow. I will highly recommend you avoid any prolonged UV light exposure even if it’s not summer. Then what can you do to save yourself from these harmful days?
Two types of sunscreen are seen in the market. They are distributed into two groups. One is “organic filters” and the second type is “inorganic filters”. Sunscreens are known to give protection from UV rays as they contain filters that reflect, scatter, or absorb UV radiation that otherwise would enter your skin.
Sun protection with chemical sunscreens(organic filters)
In the case of organic filters, these filters absorb UV radiation and transform it into a small amount of heat. If you check the ingredients listed on the bottle, you may see compounds such as oxybenzone, octocrylene, and avobenzone. For UVA radiation, oxybenzone and avobenzone are good filters. In addition to this, for UVB protection, these filters are paired with other agents such as homosalate, octisalate, and octocrylene to stabilize them. Also, in other parts of the world, newer compounds including TinosorbM/S, Mexoryl XL, and Mexoryl SXhave been manufactured that are now being used as broad-spectrum sunscreens.
Proper dosages of sun protection
I will highly suggest you follow the teaspoon and shot glass rule while using sunscreen. In this process, you should use 1 teaspoon of sunscreen for the face and neck and 1 ounce for the exposed parts of your body. Gently apply sunscreen in an adequate amount before sun exposure. Now, wait for 10 to 20 minutes before getting dressed. It is advised to follow for re-application of sunscreen at least every two hours, In addition to this, if your sunscreen is labeled as water resistant, still reapply after every water exposure.
Apart from sunscreen protection, Drink enough water. You will need to wear appropriate protective clothing such as long-sleeved clothing, wide-brimmed hats, and full pants as much as possible. Always try to keep yourself under the roof and sunglasses to protect your beautiful eyes. Also, it is best to avoid tanning beds.
If you suffer from sunburn
If you have any concerns like this consult with your doctor immediately. If you already suffer from sunburn, it’s urgent to treat it right away. First of all, try to avoid sun exposure and keep yourself in shade. Also, to treat sunburn care, you have to take adequate water. Actually when you have a sunburn .you lose more water from your body. because the sunburn sucks fluid to the skin’s surface and the extra heat transfers to increased evaporation.
You can go for topical therapies that may soothe your symptoms including gentle moisturizers, and cool baths. If you feel extreme discomfort, go for over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream. If you have head-spinning discomfort, you should opt for aspirin or ibuprofen as directed by health professionals. Always talk to a doctor before proceeding.
Source: https://www.health.harvard.edu/
