Hi Puzzlers,
Summer officially begins June 21st and this is the time of year when most of us start thinking about sunscreen and sun-protection in general. I’m kind of a crazy person when it comes to blocking the harmful effects of the sun. I do all I can to prevent burning and over exposure which leads to skin cancer. But every year I get more perplexed by all the choices in protection and which SPF’s are actually the best. Should I pay more for the 100 SPF and is it really that much better than 30SPF or 50SPF? Does a brand name guarantee a better product? Here is a quick look at what I found.
The best SPF choice for protection is the 15SPF to 30SPF range. Higher SPFs (Sun Protection Factor) only add 1%-2% more protection. Choose the higher SPFs if you are not diligent about re-application and also the 30SPF if you will be vacationing in an area with higher a UV indexes such as the Caribbean. Also, there’s not much difference between adult sunscreen and child or baby sunscreen. Don’t forget your lips - they burn too! Use SPF15 and above.
Buy products that state they are a “Broad Spectrum” protectorant or UVA/UVB protectorant. UVAs give you wrinkles and skin cancer and too much UVB exposure results in sunburns and skin cancers. Be sure to read the ingredients and look for avobenzone (this one can be irritating), titanium dioxide, or zinc oxide as one of their ingredients as these products insure UVA protection. Unfortunately, some sunscreens say they are Broad Spectrum but really aren’t. Also, if your skin is sensitive look for PABA free.
Waterproof or Water Resistant: Go with the waterproof as it provides 80 minutes of water protection versus the 40 minutes of protection from the water resistant. Plus waterproof provides better protection from sweating. It is best to always go with a waterproof even if you’re not planning on getting wet or swimming.
Brand name verse store brand: Consumer Reports says expensive isn’t always better and reports that some store brands that were the least expensive rated in the good to very good range!!!
Apply sunscreen properly…unfortunately most of us don’t!
Apply sunscreen 15-30 minutes before going out. It needs this long to be absorbed by the skin. Also apply enough! No skimping here; Adults need at least 1 ounce.
Apply sunscreen to all exposed areas and don’t forget your back, neck, ears, face, hands and feet. Use it rain or shine. You can be burned in cloudy weather.
Reapply sunscreen every two hours, it does not last all day. Reapply it after you come out of the water-YES! Every time.
Sunscreen and bug repellent: The sunscreen must be applied first and you should give it time to be absorbed (fifteen minutes), then apply the bug repellent.
Wear UPF Clothing: This is different than SPF as it rates how much the fabric reduces the UV radiation to the skin. “Only clothes with a UPF of 15-50+ may be labeled as sun-protective. Also, like regular clothing, sun-protective clothing may lose its effectiveness if pulled too tight or stretched out, if it becomes damp or wet, or if it is washed and worn repeatedly.” Or you can add a sunscreen to your clothes by using the laundry additive Sun Guard. It contains Tinosorb which increases the UPF of the fabric and last for up to 20 washings.
Finally, SPF made simple and easy.
Happy Puzzling!
Summer officially begins June 21st and this is the time of year when most of us start thinking about sunscreen and sun-protection in general. I’m kind of a crazy person when it comes to blocking the harmful effects of the sun. I do all I can to prevent burning and over exposure which leads to skin cancer. But every year I get more perplexed by all the choices in protection and which SPF’s are actually the best. Should I pay more for the 100 SPF and is it really that much better than 30SPF or 50SPF? Does a brand name guarantee a better product? Here is a quick look at what I found.
The best SPF choice for protection is the 15SPF to 30SPF range. Higher SPFs (Sun Protection Factor) only add 1%-2% more protection. Choose the higher SPFs if you are not diligent about re-application and also the 30SPF if you will be vacationing in an area with higher a UV indexes such as the Caribbean. Also, there’s not much difference between adult sunscreen and child or baby sunscreen. Don’t forget your lips - they burn too! Use SPF15 and above.
Buy products that state they are a “Broad Spectrum” protectorant or UVA/UVB protectorant. UVAs give you wrinkles and skin cancer and too much UVB exposure results in sunburns and skin cancers. Be sure to read the ingredients and look for avobenzone (this one can be irritating), titanium dioxide, or zinc oxide as one of their ingredients as these products insure UVA protection. Unfortunately, some sunscreens say they are Broad Spectrum but really aren’t. Also, if your skin is sensitive look for PABA free.
Waterproof or Water Resistant: Go with the waterproof as it provides 80 minutes of water protection versus the 40 minutes of protection from the water resistant. Plus waterproof provides better protection from sweating. It is best to always go with a waterproof even if you’re not planning on getting wet or swimming.
Brand name verse store brand: Consumer Reports says expensive isn’t always better and reports that some store brands that were the least expensive rated in the good to very good range!!!
Apply sunscreen properly…unfortunately most of us don’t!
Apply sunscreen 15-30 minutes before going out. It needs this long to be absorbed by the skin. Also apply enough! No skimping here; Adults need at least 1 ounce.
Apply sunscreen to all exposed areas and don’t forget your back, neck, ears, face, hands and feet. Use it rain or shine. You can be burned in cloudy weather.
Reapply sunscreen every two hours, it does not last all day. Reapply it after you come out of the water-YES! Every time.
Sunscreen and bug repellent: The sunscreen must be applied first and you should give it time to be absorbed (fifteen minutes), then apply the bug repellent.
Wear UPF Clothing: This is different than SPF as it rates how much the fabric reduces the UV radiation to the skin. “Only clothes with a UPF of 15-50+ may be labeled as sun-protective. Also, like regular clothing, sun-protective clothing may lose its effectiveness if pulled too tight or stretched out, if it becomes damp or wet, or if it is washed and worn repeatedly.” Or you can add a sunscreen to your clothes by using the laundry additive Sun Guard. It contains Tinosorb which increases the UPF of the fabric and last for up to 20 washings.
Finally, SPF made simple and easy.
Happy Puzzling!
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