sunscreen

By: kristen falik

Now that summer is here, it is essential to talk about the importance of wearing sunscreen. In this article, I will be talking about how sunscreen works, how to put it on properly, and why it is important.

How does sunscreen work?

The two main parts of sunscreens are the active ingredient and the emulsion. The active ingredient does the work of protecting our skin from the sun. These come in two forms: UV absorbers and UV reflectors. UV absorbers are chemicals that absorb UV radiation and then convert that into a very low level of heat that is unnoticeable. These are called organic since they contain carbon atoms which is the basis of all organic matter. Some of these absorb UVB which is known to cause sunburn and contribute to the risk of skin cancer. Others may absorb the UVA part which is important since UVA wavelength can penetrate deeper into the layers of the skin and contribute to skin cancer because of messing with the immune response to DNA damage. When looking for a sunscreen, look for one that says broad spectrum because that offers the best protection to both UVA and UVB. The other form, UV reflectors, is made up of oxides that absorb and scatter the UV radiation. In most sunscreens, there are up to six or more of these active ingredients.

The other part of the sunscreen is the emulsion which is the actual lotion, cream, oil, gel, etc, that holds the active ingredient that does the actual sun protection work. These preserve the active ingredient so it lasts longer and helps with water resistance and how well it sticks to the skin.

Risks of not wearing sunscreen:

UVA and UVB rays from the sun contribute to skin ageing, eye damage, sunburn, melanoma, and other skin cancers. UVA causes cellular damage that increases the risk of ageing and skin cancer and UVB causes sunburn and a high risk for melanoma. These effects can be very dangerous so that’s why it is extremely important to wear sunscreen.

What does SPF mean and what number should I use?

SPF stands for sun protection factor and is measured by how much UV passes through the screen of the sunscreen. The higher the number means the less UV that passes through. An SPF of 30+ is recommended. An SPF of 30 allows one-thirtieth or 3.3% of UV to actually reach your skin. So it filters 96.7% of UV. For SPF 50, 98% is filtered, one-fiftieth or 2% gets through. It is important to reapply sunscreen if you will be staying out in the sun for a long time. Also, when you tan it is damaging your skin because your skin is trying to increase your melanin to protect from the sun so while it may look nice, doing it too much is actually damaging. And your tan is only working an SPF of 2 so you can still burn.

When do I apply it and how much should I put on?

It is recommended that adults should use about one teaspoon for the face, neck, and ears; each arm and leg; each for the back and stomach of the body. Lathering on sunscreen around 20 minutes before sun exposure allows enough time for the product to bind and flow into the skin properly. Most sunscreens recommend reapplying around every 2 hours but you should reapply more often if you are active because if you’re sweating or towelling off the sunscreen can rub off. Closer to midday, around 12:30 pm, usually has the highest UV so you should make sure you are staying protective using sunscreen, hats, shade, etc. It is also recommended to protect your skin from the sun when the UV index is 3 or above. Weather apps usually show the UV index for the hour or there is an app called SunSmart that gives real-time readings.