Whether you are going to the beach for a relaxing day swimming, or hiking in nature, sunscreen must be an important part of your day. Follow the instructions in this article to choose the right sunscreen for your needs.
Steps
Step 1. Choose a broad spectrum sunscreen that offers UVA and UVB protection
The ideal product should provide a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 15.
Step 2. Read the product labels
- Look for a water resistant brand if you will swim or sweat.
- Buy a non-burning product or one specially formulated for the face.
Step 3. Choose a brand that does not contain 4-aminobenzoic acid if you are sensitive to this ingredient
Step 4. Try a sunscreen with different chemicals if your skin has an adverse reaction to what you are using
Not all products contain the same ingredients.
Step 5. Use a water-based sunscreen if you have oily or acne-prone skin
Step 6. Know that the high price does not guarantee the best protection
While an expensive brand may have a better scent or texture, it doesn't mean it's more effective than cheaper products.
Step 7. Pay attention to the expiration date as some ingredients contained in the cream can go bad over time
Advice
- Medical associations, such as the American Cancer Society, recommend the use of sunscreens because they protect against certain skin cancers, such as squamous cell skin carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma.
- Beware of sunscreens that claim to have an extremely high SPF. Sunscreens with SPF above 70 are no better than those with SPF 50-50, and you could be spending a lot more money on a product that isn't actually any higher quality at all.
Warnings
- Excessive exposure to the sun's rays is harmful to the skin. If you will be in the sun for long periods of time, be sure to put on sunscreen.
- Understand the meaning of SPF. A higher SPF doesn't mean you need to apply it less frequently. The SPF only indicates the levels of protection provided by a product (for example, an SPF 15 provides 15 times higher protection than natural skin protection). Put the cream on at least every two hours or more often if you swim.
