By Janice Wacuka
Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is an element in skin products that protects against harmful Ultraviolet B rays from the sun.
Using lotions and creams with SPF will enable one to stay longer in the sun without burning. For instance, if a person usually gets burned in 15 minutes, a lotion with SPF 15 protection would allow them to stay in the sun 15 times longer (or for 225 minutes) without burning. Products with at least SPF 15 are recommended.
UVA and UVB
When you’re looking for lotions and sunblock products, be sure to check out the protection they offer from Ultraviolet A (UVA) and UVB rays. UVA rays result in skin ageing and they may also cause skin cancer. Without UVA protection from Coppertone lotions or any other sunscreen lotion, you’re sure to get more wrinkles as you expose your skin to the sun.
UVB rays, on the other hand, cause sunburns, and if severe, can cause skin cancer.
There are also waterproof sunscreens, which allow you to swim without worrying about sun’s damage.
Cosmetic companies today also add SPF factor to different products such as moisturiser and foundation. Look out for these products for added protection.
Sunscreen should be applied to all sun-exposed areas in the body so that it forms a film. It takes 20-30 minutes for sunscreen to be absorbed by the skin, so it should be applied at least a half an hour before going out in the sun. Sunscreen should also be the last product applied especially on the face since some sunscreens can dissolve if water-based foundations and moisturisers are used.
Exposure to ultraviolet light, UVA or UVB, from sunlight accounts for 90 per cent of the symptoms of premature skin ageing. Both UVA and UVB radiation cause wrinkles by breaking down collagen, creating free radicals and inhibiting the natural repair mechanisms of the skin.
Although cancer is much more terrifying to consider, most women think it is farfetched and hence aren’t motivated to protect themselves. However, all women are concerned about wrinkles, which should be enough motivation to protect your skin.
And with so many products in the market for every day skin protection, there is no excuse not to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays.
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