As Memorial Day Weekend approaches and summer starts, the sun gets hotter, and we need to consider stocking up on sunscreen. It may sound alarmist, but it is a sad fact that over a milion Americans will get skin cancer this year. So, my one piece of advice, as the song goes, WEAR SUNSCREEN!
When we discuss sun damage, we are referring to the damage to the skin caused by ultraviolet light - ie UVB and UVA rays. UVB rays lead to painful sunburn. When you buy sun block that has SPF protection, you are protecting against the sun’s UVB rays. UVA rays are those potentiall more dangerous rays which penetrate deep into the middle layer of your skin. Not only do they cause wrinkles and age spots, but they can also reduce your body’s ability to protect against cancer.
What many people do not realise is that both UVB and UVA rays can cause skin cancer, but not all sun blocks on the market today protect against UVA rays. For broad-spectrum, maximum protection, you need to wear a sunscreen which contains both.
Now, lets talk about strength - or in the sun screen world - SPF - Sun Protection Factor. On the face of it, SPF 60 sounds like a lot more protection than SPF 40 or SPF 20, but on analysis, the differences may not be that great. A sunscreen with SPF 15 lets in about 6% of the sun’s UVB rays. An SPF 30 lets in only about 3%. An SPF 85 lets in a little over 1%.
So, just because you are wearing a sunscreen with a high SPF, does not mean you can stay out in the sun all day with complete impunity. Be sensible when out in the sun - always wear a hat, and try to stay out of direct sunlight from the hours of 12pm through to around 3pm. And remember, even if it is cloudy, the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays still penetrate through. And finally, reapply your sunscreen at regular intervals, especially if you have been swimming.