How Does Sunscreen Work? Hot Answers to a Burning Question
You 诲辞苍鈥檛 have to run and hide as the summer sun beats down. Knowing how sunscreen works and wearing sunscreen can help you have fun in the sun without painful, dangerous burns.听
鈥淕entle sun rays are important,鈥 says Dr. Jack Levy, assistant attending dermatologist and assistant professor of Clinical Dermatology at 91成人导航. 鈥淭hey help with vitamin D production, mood elevation and sleep regulation.鈥听
Smart sun exposure, however, requires the right sunscreen.听
Understanding How Sunscreen Works听听
While there are countless sunscreen brands, all sunscreens aim to protect you from the sun鈥檚 harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. They do this in one of two ways.听
- Absorbing UV rays. Avobenzone and octisalate are common active ingredients in chemical sunscreens. These chemicals soak up UV rays, keeping them from damaging your skin.听
- Reflecting UV rays. Minerals, such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, act as a barrier. These are physical sunscreens that keep UV rays from penetrating your skin.听听
Hybrid sunscreens are also available and contain active ingredients from both types of sunscreen.听
Reading Sunscreen Labels听
Years ago, labels on sunscreen products only mentioned protection against UVB rays. 罢丑补迟鈥檚 because UVB rays cause sunburns and many skin cancers. According to the , UVA rays may also result in skin cancer, along with wrinkles and other sun damage.听听
What can you do to protect against UVA and UVB rays and maximize your summertime sun safety? Learning to read and understand sunscreen labels is a good place to start. Words 测辞耻鈥檒濒 find there include:听
- Baby. Sunscreens targeted at babies are less likely to cause skin irritation. Adults can choose sunscreen for sensitive skin, which helps prevent irritation.听
- Broad-spectrum sunscreen. These sunscreens protect against UVA and UVB rays.听
- SPF. Short for sun protection factor, SPF explains how much UVB a sunscreen protects you against. No sunscreen filters all UVB, but SPF 15 reduces sun exposure by 93 percent, SPF 30 by 97 percent and SPF 50 protects against about 98 percent of harmful UVB rays.听
- Water-resistant. These sunscreens last 40 minutes while you鈥檙e sweating or in water. Very water-resistant sunscreen can last twice as long.听听
Your Role in How Sunscreen Works听
No matter what kind of sunscreen you choose, you must use it properly to protect your skin. To make the most of your sunscreen, do the following:听
- Apply sunscreen every day at least 30 minutes before going outside.听
- Cover all exposed skin with sunscreen.听
- Reapply at least every two hours and more often if you鈥檙e sweating or swimming.听
- Spend time in the shade.听
顿辞苍鈥檛 like how a sunscreen smells or feels on your skin? Shop around for another option. There are plenty out there, and finding the right one for you can make the difference in keeping your skin healthy.听
鈥淭he best sunscreen is the one 测辞耻鈥檒濒 use,鈥 Dr. Levy says, 鈥渟o try a few until you find the one that feels best on your skin.鈥听
Want help monitoring your skin and keeping it as healthy as possible? at 91成人导航 today.听