Sunscreen

“Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of '97... wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be IT.

The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.” 

-Mary Schmich; The Chicago Tribune

As temperatures are warming up, and some of us are already heading out to beaches and other summery spots, it’s important to be reminded of that famous graduation speech (and song!),” Wear Sunscreen”!  Because Mary was right!  We now know that too much sun exposure can cause skin cancer and definitely makes your skin more leathery and wrinkled as you get older.  Hard to imagine, but just look around you at the leathery and wrinkled people you know, and remember: they once had the skin you do now.  So protect it!

- Eighty percent of lifetime exposure to sunlight occurs before the age 18.

- UVA rays penetrate glass/windows.

- Eighty percent of damaging rays can get through clouds.

- Sixty percent of the day's sunburning radiation occurs between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

- Heat and brightness are not indicators of UV intensity.

Knowing these things should help you get in the habit of wearing sunscreen just about everyday and all the time!  But how do you do that without clogging all your pores and getting pimples?  How do you use sunscreen in the best way possible to really protect yourself?  There are ways!   

- Use a daily face cream and lip balm with a sunscreen or SPF of 15 or more.

- Acne-prone teens should use a gel or alcohol based products for sun protection on the face.  Usually the words “non-comodogenic” will be on the package, which means ‘won’t block your pores’, basically.

- Replace sunscreens each year.

- Cover all exposed surfaces, including tops of ears, scalps where there is less hair, noses and bony surfaces.

- Wear a hat and sunglasses that say they block 99 to 100 percent of the sun’s rays to prevent eye damage.

- Water-resistant sunscreens lose their SPF after 40 minutes in water; waterproof sunscreens after 90 minutes. Re-apply as needed.

- Apply sunscreen lip balm to lips.

- Sand, snow, concrete and water reflect up to 85 percent of UVA and UVB rays. Always be sure to protect your skin with sun screen especially in these environments.

- Sunblocks : contain zinc oxide or titanium oxide that reflect or scatter rays and act as a barrier.

- Sunscreens: are chemical and absorb harmful rays.

- It has been determined microscopically that sun damage can be reversed by using sunscreens.

- Sunscreens are labeled with a sun protection factor (SPF). A sunscreen with SPF 15 gives you 15 times as much sun exposure before getting a sunburn.

Going to a tanning booth to get a ‘base tan’ before a big beach vacation is a bad idea all around.  Not only are tanning booths bad for your skin in general, they create a certain kind of tan that doesn’t even relate to the kind of tan you’ll get in nature.  The SPF you get from a tanning bed tan is about a 4, and even the least powerful sunscreens are better than that!  So by going to a tanning booth, you’ve not only damaged your skin unnecessarily, you also haven’t even saved yourself from a possible burn at the beach!  Pretty silly for the money, don’t you think?

Artificial tanners don’t help you either, unless it specifically gives an SPF on the package!

So basically, nothing beats Sunscreen!  Just for fun, we’ve added a few options you can look into, but as always, check with your parents or doctor for possible allergies, and test a little before using any new product all over your body.

This product is specifically designed for use on the face, around the eyes and on the lips. Chemical free formula and broad spectrum protection (protection against UVA & UVB rays).  Product need only be applied every 10 hours.

This portable sun stick is ideal for the forgetful sunbather. Just twist the case and swipe the balm wherever sun protection is needed, including the face. Must be reapplied after swimming and heavy sweating.

This very lightweight sunscreen has nothing to do with the famous actor, and is great for guys and girls. It feels like nothing on the face, is not greasy or heavy, and offers protection against both UVA and UVB rays. If you avoid sunscreen because it feels too sticky on your skin this is the product for you.

Spray on product offers medium range protection (SPF 14) in a light weight, non-greasy, water resistant formula. Great for active sunbathers, as it resists the effects of sweat and water. Lightly scented. Suitable for guys and girls.

A great choice for those with sensitive or acne prone skin. Can be used on the face and body. This unscented cream offers high SPF protection against UVA and UVB rays. It goes on a bit greasy but quickly sets. Highly recommended for fair skinned people.