Protect Your Skin: Essential SPF Tips for Summer
Summertime is all about soaring temperatures, making you all sweaty. But don’t you still look forward to lazing on the beach on sunny days? However, do you know that the hot summer sun can also be the cause of a host of skin and health issues? Now, if you do not protect your skin from the scorching sun, you become vulnerable to skin damage and even skin cancer. Hence, the doctors will advise you to apply sunscreen with a minimum of 30 SPF before exposing yourself to the ultraviolet rays of the sun. The general recommendation is also to apply sunscreen at least 15-20 minutes before going outdoors. Besides, make sure to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours because it wears off soon enough.
Well, we cover all you need to know about sun protection with sunscreen herein, including:
1) SPF and what it means
2) The ingredients to look for when shopping for sunscreen
3) Handy sunscreen tips
Safeguard your skin from the sun’s harmful effects via the following summer sunscreen protection tips.
Summer Sunscreen Protection Tips
1) SPF and what it means
Have you heard about SPF and how it protects your skin and do not know what it all means? Well, SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, which refers to how long you can endure the sun’s harsh rays without any skin burns.
Say, you have fair skin that burns after 20 minutes of unguarded sun exposure. Here, it is advisable to use an SPF 15 sunscreen whereby you can soak in the sun’s warmth 15 times longer without your skin burning when compared to when you are not wearing sunscreen
At Livglam, we recommend you apply the highest SPF sunscreen, ranging from SPF 30 to SPF 50. This way, you can both protect your skin and prevent skin cancer.
Comparing Chemical Sunscreens with Physical Sunscreens
There are various types of sunscreens available in the market, categorized under Chemical sunscreens and Physical sunscreens. Although both these categories of sunscreen protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays, they vary in their ways of working.
Where chemical sunscreens are concerned, they are absorbed by the skin while converting the sun’s energy into heat, preventing you from skin burns due to sun exposure. Conversely, physical sunscreens or mineral sunscreens remain on the surface of the skin, creating a barrier while reflecting the UV rays.
Which makes for a better choice?
Livglam reckons that you choose SPF sunscreen going by your preferences and skin sensitivity. Rather than chemical sunscreens that can irritate the skin, many people prefer applying mineral sunscreens to avoid any skin disorders.
Nonetheless, some physical sunscreens are not absorbed well by the skin, leaving a white cast on the skin. That’s why you must ensure you choose the improved physical sunscreen formulas that do away with all such problems, enhancing the health of your skin.
2) The ingredients to look for when shopping for sunscreen
Livglam recommends you review the ingredients of the SPF sunscreen in your shopping cart. These include
Oxybenzone:
Do not choose sunscreens containing this ingredient. Studies indicate that it penetrates the skin and mimics estrogen, which hampers hormone production. Furthermore, oxybenzone is known to bleach coral reefs, deeming it unsafe for oceans.
Para-Aminobenzoic Acid (PABA):
This ingredient has been banned in Canada and Australia because it is known to cause allergic dermatitis and photosensitivity. Thus, never apply sunscreens containing this ingredient.
Avobenzone:
Livglam advises its patients to use sunscreens that contain this ingredient. An effective chemical sunscreen, Avobenzone is compatible with all skin types, offering UVA and UVB sun protection. Nevertheless, the FDA is studying the effects of chemical sunscreens when absorbed by the skin.
3) Handy sunscreen tips
Some summertime sunscreen tips for your skin protection are shared below:
Go for the broad-spectrum sunscreens
The highest SPF sunscreen extends protection from the UVA and UVB rays, adhering to the FDAs broad spectrum requirements.
Reapply sunscreen every few hours
If you are spending time out in the sun for more than two hours, you should apply a fresh coat of sunscreen for optimal skin protection.
Check the date of expiry
Sunscreens come with expiry dates and their effectiveness also does not last for long. So, get yourself a new bottle every few years.
Avoid prolonged sun exposure
The sun’s rays are harshest between 1000 hours and 1400 hours. Now, if your skin burns easily, you must avoid sun exposure during this interval.
PROTECT YOUR SKIN WITH A SUPERIOR-QUALITY SUNSCREEN
Our Livglam experts suggest you wear sunscreen throughout the year - whether you spend time indoors or outdoors. We have a host of SPF sunscreens designed for optimal sun protection, including the popular 130 SPF sunscreen variety. Consult our representatives to help you pick out the sunscreen that is best suited to your skin. We conduct a skin analysis and prescribe a specific sunscreen as per your skin type. We offer specific aesthetic medicine pharmacy services for your skin to retain its natural glow, too. Besides, you can browse our collection of anti-aging creams and hydration masks, all of which can make your skin appear youthful and radiant.
