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What Is In Sunscreen And How Does It Protect Your Skin

By: Adrian Fletcher Skin cancer is an increasingly common disease that is thought to be caused by over exposure to Ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This combined with certain genetic predispositions, like fair skin, can make a person particularly vulnerable to developing skin cancer. Most people get exposed to UV radiation from spending time in the Sun. As it is practically impossible to avoid being in the Sun, minimizing the amount of time spent in the Sun or limiting it's impact on the skin is often advised. This article will cover some of the ways to protect yourself from the damaging affect of the Sun. It concentrates on how sunscreen can protect you from developing skin cancer.

Sunscreen is not the only thing that can be used to prevent skin cancer but should be viewed as a part of an overall strategy that limits your exposure to UV rays.

The best way to avoid UV radiation over exposure is to avoid sunlight when it is at it's strongest. Unsurprisingly, this is the period when it is at it's highest point in the sky, around mid day. Twelve noon is the worst time and the few hours around this time are also bad. Stay out of the sun during these times. If this cannot be done then take precautions.

Wear clothing that can protect your skin form sunlight. Darker colored clothing works better than lighter colors. cover your arms and legs if practical or comfortable.

Always wear a hat in the Sun. A hat with a wide brim will protect your face and scalp from UV rays. Some people use a sun umbrella to protect themselves too.

Wear UV protective sunglasses as the eyes can also be damaged by UV rays.

After taking all these precautions you should then apply sunscreen. Cover parts of your body that are not protected by clothing and come into direct contact with the sunlight.

Sunscreens come in two types. The more common type is a chemical sunscreen that absorbs UV rays. The other type is a physical sunscreen that reflects or blocks the UV rays (these are sometimes called sunblocks).

Sunscreen is often given a Sun Protection Factor (SPF). This indicates how effective the sunscreen is against UVB radiation. UVB radiation is thought to be the worst form of UV rays for skin. Most advice suggests a sunscreen with SPF of 30+ is the minimum that you should go for. However, SPF does not cover how the sunscreen works for UVA radiation. If you want a sunscreen that protects against UVB and UVA radiation then look for a broad spectrum sunscreen.

Sunscreens that act as a sun block are particularly useful if you work outdoors or spend plenty of time in the Sun. They are a thick cream that provides a barrier to the sunlight. People often put them on sensitive parts of the body like the lips and nose.

Sunblocks normally consist of titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. If you don't like the prospect of having a large white band across your nose then an alternative is to get ultramicronized titanium or zinc sunscreens. They do the same job of reflecting the sunlight but do make you look like you have warpaint on.

Regardless of the type of sunscreen you go for, remember to always reapply it every 2 hours. This may vary depending on how active you are in the Sun. Get a cream that you like in terms of texture or fragrance so that the reapplication is not such a chore.