In the real world, people tend to apply spray sunscreen as if its “spray and walk away” cologne. However, in practice it’s a different story. Are these equally effective?ĪA: Creams, lotions and sprays are equally as effective in theory. Q: You can get sunscreen in different forms these days – cream, lotion, spray, for example. “Water resistant” means that the sunscreen maintains its level of SPF protection after 40 minutes, while “very water resistant” maintains protection after 80 minutes. ![]() However, sunscreen manufacturers can market “water resistant” and “very water resistant” for their products. In 2011, the Food and Drug Administration banned the use of “waterproof” on marketed sunscreens. Q: What about when you are swimming?ĪA: It is important to understand that no sunscreen is waterproof. This works out to about a teaspoon for your face and 1 teaspoon for each arm/hand. You should apply 1 shot glass full (about 1 to 1.5 ounces) of sunscreen to cover your entire body. Remember to reapply sunscreen every 2-3 hours because its protection wears off over time. Q: How frequently should people reapply? How much sunscreen do people need to lather on to get the advertised sun protection?ĪA: Sunscreen should be used daily, but most importantly it should be used when you know you are going to be outside in sunlight for a long time. Therefore, dermatologists recommend that everyone use sunscreen of at least SPF 30. However, all skin types can get sun burned and suffer damage from UV rays. The lighter your skin, the more easily it will get burned by the sun’s UV rays. “The effectiveness of a base tan has been studied before, and it only offers SPF of 3 or less.” – Ade Adamson Q: Does how much SPF you need vary by skin type? Do people with darker skin need sunscreen? Therefore, dermatologists recommend using sunscreen as sun protection and not base tanning. ![]() The effectiveness of a base tan has been studied before, and it only offers SPF of 3 or less. That is an incredibly low level of protection. Therefore, getting a base tan is actually promoting injury to the skin. When you get a tan, that’s the body’s response to injury from UV rays. Is this true?ĪA: The base tan is a commonly held misconception. Sometimes people say that you’re less likely to get burned if you have a base tan. ![]() “I usually recommend patients use an SPF 50+ so that they are covered if they do not apply their sunscreen very well.” – Ade Adamson Q: Could there be any harm in getting a really high SPF sunscreen?ĪA: There is no evidence to suggest really high SPF is harmful for human health. I usually recommend patients use an SPF 50+ so that they are covered if they do not apply their sunscreen very well. ![]() However, most people do not apply a thick enough layer, so their SPF 30 may be more like an SPF 20. If you apply sunscreen appropriately, the benefit from higher SPF amounts is marginal. So, doubling the SPF does not double the amount of protection one gets from sunscreen. Is that true? How much SPF do people need?Īde Adamson: The amount of UVB radiation blocked by SPF 15, 30, 50, 100 sunscreen is 93 percent, 97 percent, 98 percent and 99 percent, respectively. Some people say anything higher is just marketing. Q: There’s been debate about whether using SPF over 50 really makes a difference. We spoke with Ade Adamson, an incoming assistant professor of dermatology at Dell Medical School beginning July 1, to set the record straight on sunscreen. Now, companies are offering higher and higher SPF options in the triple digits, each promising more sun protection than the next.Įven the most seasoned sunbathers can be overwhelmed by the variety of options these days. In the past, SPF 30 was the highest you could get. SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, and it represents the ability of sunscreen to protect against ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation that burns skin and can lead to skin cancer and signs of aging. Skin protection is a hot topic this time of year, but do you know how much SPF you really need when you head outside? Summer is here, and that means spending time in the sun.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |