If you’ve ever suffered from serious sunburn then you probably don’t need to read this as you’ve undoubtedly learnt your lesson and are taking proper precautions now.
But can we ever know enough about the harm UV rays can do to our skin? How can we possibly make any sense of the whole business when so many brands and products are out to get us? Here’s a quick run down of what we need to know this summer.
What you need to know first of all is that the sun works in two ways: UVA and UVB rays. The UV stands for Ultra Violet and they’re like microwaves and light waves but the solar variety. The UVB rays are the more serious ones and can cause skin cancer. They are a shorter and stronger wave. The UVA rays are longer and can affect your skin even from behind clouds and causes wrinkles.
Sun cream
Creams a measured using Sun Protection Factors (SPF). This number is the amount of time you can stay out in the sun with the cream applied without the risk of burning. If you apply simply multiplication then it’s easy. A factor 2 will allow you to spend 2 times as long as you could without any cream on without burning, factor 10 is ten times and so on. Everyone has a different threshold as to how long they can stay in the sun for and there are 7 grades. People with paler skin shouldn’t be in the direct sunlight for longer than 15 mins without additional creams. If this is you then you should always go for factor 30 or more to be safe.
In terms of the brand, scientists are keen to encourage us to go for reputable brand names such as: Ambre Solaire, Vichy, Vaseline Intensive Care’s range, Piz Buin, as they will be properly tested. Always apply more than you think too, as most people don’t use enough. Make sure it’s well rubbed into the skin to avoid blotches.
Sunblock stick
You might have seen the colourful war paint on cricketer’s faces? These are the solid blocks that you rub onto your skin and don’t smear in any cream. They’re a no mess option and come in all the factors cream does. They are a non-greasy stick that many people find easier to transport and keep in their pockets while they’re out in the sun for long periods. You just need to be sure you’ve applied enough and managed to evenly spread it over your skin.
After sun
In the unlikely event that you get home and find yourself sun burnt then there are products to help us sooth the discomfort by all the leading brands listed above. This acts as a moisturiser for the skin and cools it down, but it must not be thought of as a cure and therefore something that allows us to lower the guard we show in the sun. Some are thought to enhance the process of tanning, but again, this shouldn’t be something that encourages sunburn in the first place.
Photo of blond girls sun tanning in Saubadia, Italy by Rickydavid
Topic: General Travel |
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