Suncare Fact And Fiction
Most people now understand that using sun protection is essential to protect skin from ageing, to avoid cancer and to stay healthy. There’s still a lot of mis-information around about sun lotions, however. So here’s a handy guide to how sun lotions work and a few home truths about sun care.
Top Sunscreen Myths
1. The higher the SPF, the better the protection.
FALSE. It sounds like it should be true. If I wear a sun protection factor of 100 then it should be twice as protective as SPF 50, right? WRONG! It’s only a few percentage points more effective. An SPF of 15 screens 93% of the sun’s rays and an SPF of 30 screens 97%. But the number becomes irrelevant if you aren’t applying enough in the first place.
2. It’s OK to use last year’s bottle of SPF.
TRUE. Most sunscreens have a shelf life of about two years.
3. Sunscreen only needs to be applied to exposed skin.
FALSE. The average T-shirt offers an SPF of about 7. Fabrics and tighter weaves provide more protection, but it is much safer to apply sunscreen to your entire body before you get dressed.
4. Sunscreen can cause cancer.
FALSE. The only way sunscreen could be hazardous to your health is if it is absorbed into the body, which does not happen.
Understanding Sunscreen Labels
To ensure that you’re getting the best protection possible, look for a broad-spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen. How do you know you have the right product? Even if the front label of the bottle advertises UVA and UVB protection, turn to the back and scan for a combination of these ingredients. Sometimes the front labels can be misleading.
These ingredients block UVA rays (the rays that cause aging):
Avobenzone
Ecamsule (Mexoryl)
Zinc oxide
Titanium dioxide
These ingredients block UVB rays (the rays that burn skin):
Octyl methoxycinnamate
Octyl salicylate
Octocrylene
Zinc oxide
Titanium dioxide
