Sunscreens

The summer breeze is setting in, and people are already starting to soak up the sun. But before you grab your bottle of sunscreen, there are things you should know about the product.

For years, people worldwide have been using sunscreen, especially when the summer season sets in. But over the years, an alarming trend concerning sunscreens has presented itself. Studies have shown that there has been a significant increase in the cases of malignant melanoma. This is a form of skin cancer that is potentially fatal, if not treated early on. These results have caused people to question just how effective sunscreens and such products are.

It has always been thought that it was only the sun’s UVB rays that can cause skin damage. And the goal of sunscreen ingredients is to absorb the sun’s UVB rays before they hit the skin and potentially harm you. All’s well that ends well, you might say. But not quite. Recent studies show that the sun’s UVA rays, which are of a longer wavelength, are more harmful than UVB rays. What were once thought to be the harmless rays of the sun are actually the ones sun screens and such should look after. This is because UVA rays are able to penetrate the skin more because of their longer wavelengths. And when this happens, then there’s strong potential of damage to the skin cells in the deeper recesses of the skin.

Right now, it does not really matter if you’re using titanium dioxide sunscreen or some other kind. What you need to look for in all natural titanium dioxide sunscreens is whether or not they contain a certain component called avobenzone. Avobenzone is actually also known as Parsol 1789, and this component is capable of absorbing UVA rays.

But a sun screen brand that contains this component does not really hold a 100 percent guarantee that you will be protected completely. There is this certain psychology to people who wear sunscreen: because they wear sunscreen, most people think they are protected and they now stay out in the sun longer. People may not realize this because they are using the product, but this can still increase the risk of developing skin diseases and such.

Which is why if you are into wearing sunscreens, there should be certain things to remember. The first is that people do need to wear sunscreen, no matter how dark or tan you already are. Being deeply tan is not protection enough from the harmful rays of the sun. Another thing to remember is to choose your brand of sunscreen well. It does not really matter whether or not you’re using fragrance free sunscreen spray or other variations of the product. What matters is that your sunscreen should have a broad spectrum. This way, your sunscreen can protect you from both UVB and UVA rays. Choose a sunscreen that’s waterproof and hypoallergenic. Yes, there are indeed sunscreen allergy reactions. This is not a matter that is not unheard of. So, it’s certainly better to choose a sunscreen that is hypoallergenic.

Also, when choosing sunscreens, go for the one that has an SPF of 15. SPF pertains to the sun protection factor of the product. SPF 15 is the ideal for sunscreens. But if your skin is quite fair, then you should choose a sunscreen with a higher SPF. The same goes if you are venturing into mountains or in the areas of the tropics.

When applying such to the nose or other sensitive areas, you can actually use titanium dioxide sunscreen or zinc oxide sunscreen. These components are perfect for areas that are highly sensitive.

Take it upon yourself to refrain from staying outdoors too long. This is true even if you are wearing sunscreen. Such a product can indeed protect you from the sun, to some extent. But the best protection would be to stay indoors as much as possible. And this is something people should be doing when the summer season kicks off.